On and Off York Street Taking a Chance A new magazine about the theatre is born. Chance is the brainchild of a consortium of YSD alumni that includes Edgar (Trip) Cullman ’02, yc ’97, Lee Savage ’05 (Faculty), Camille Assaf ’04, Junghyun Georgia Lee ’01, Sean Cunningham ’01, Drew Lichtenberg ’08, dfa ’11, Fitz Patton ’01, Claire Lundberg ’02, yc ’98, and Matthew Richards ’01. The core mission of the magazine is nothing less than to change the way the theatre is photographed and documented. To achieve this goal, Chance commissions an original photo session illustrating various aspects of theatrical production. The first issue highlighted Tom Watson’s wigs for Wicked, Susan Hilferty’s hat designs, an interview with set designer Andrew Lieberman, and the Transport Group’s site-specific production of Three Sisters, as well as feature stories about Jane Greenwood (Faculty), Ben Edwards, and Adrian Jones. Through photos shot in a studio space, the reader can see exactly how something is built and tailored and the true color and texture of the fabrics. As the sets are seen in full detail, carefully and cleanly illuminated for photography, the viewer can examine the set dressing and the paint elevations and read what the designer has to say about them, often in conversation with another designer whose work also appears in the magazine. Chance is a place to look at design, to consider the work, and to enjoy grounded, serious engagement about the theatre. Editor Fitz Patton encapsulates the belief of its founders when he says, “Superior visual documentation will transform the way people see and think about both the theatre itself and the people who design for it.”
The first cover of Chance magazine.
USITT Honors Neil Mazzella This year, Neil Mazzella ’78 (Former Faculty) was honored by the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) for Distinguished Achievement in Technical Production. It was fitting that his former mentor and teacher, Ben Sammler ’74 (Faculty), himself a past USITT honoree, should have made the comments that accompanied the presentation of the award. Here are some excerpts from Ben’s remarks: The year was 1975. I was facing my second class of incoming graduate students at Yale School of Drama. Still a bit anxious about my responsibilities, I found myself staring at a very serious but much younger version of Neil and thinking: incredulous farm boy meets uncompromising hippie! Since then we have both had a profound impact on each other’s professional lives and share a deep committed friendship. Since his business is technical production, it is more than fitting that USITT recognizes Neil’s unparalleled performance in commercial scenery with the Distinguished Achievement Award in Technical Production. Neil founded Hudson Scenic Studio in 1980 with Gene O’Donovan. The company began in a small shop in upstate New York with five
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employees and 5,000 square feet of shop space and now makes its home in a 120,000-squarefoot complex in Yonkers, where it regularly employs over one hundred people. Hudson Scenic Studio has constructed and engineered scenic elements for Broadway plays, musicals, and touring companies, international cruise ships, and live events, such as the Tony Awards, Pope Benedict’s Mass at Yankee Stadium, and countless New Year’s Eve events in Times Square. Yet in his unbelievably busy life Neil has always had the time to give back. He is one of the most charitable figures in the business. He was the first to provide financial support for the inaugural USITT Technical Theatre Exhibit. He served many years as the Chair of the Yale School of Drama Board of Advisors, encouraging not only generous donations but also the giving of time. He taught graduate classes in technical theatre at Yale and at Columbia. From his mentorship of young technicians to his support for training institutions, from sharing his expertise with whoever needs it to providing hours of his time to manage both celebratory and sad occasions in the theatre world, Neil has been a beacon in the industry. After I grew accustomed to his appearance I knew that Neil would succeed in any
YSD 2013–14
Ben Sammler ’74 (Faculty) presents Neil Mazzella ’78 (Former Faculty) with the 2013 USITT Distinguished Achievement Award in Technical Production. endeavor he chose. He set himself on a course to learn at a time when many did not believe that an MFA in technical production was necessary, and he was an avid learner. He set himself on a course to realize a scene shop business, and we are all witness to his unmitigated success. Life has not always been kind to Neil, but he has always been kind to life. I am proud of him for his accomplishments, professionally and personally. And I am proud to be his friend.