By Cecil Giltz
Lifetimes staff writer
The Kent State University Museum is celebrating with Porthouse Theatre by running "The Porthouse Theatre Company" exhibition commemorating the 40th anniversary of a unique summer program that provides a select group of students, nationwide, with advanced training by experienced theater professionals. In its 40-year run, Porthouse has produced nearly 2,000 performances of 162 plays, entertaining more than 300,000 patrons to date.
The vision of Porthouse Theatre became a reality in 1971 with major challenge gifts from Cyril and Roberta Porthouse and Gerald and Victoria Read. The 450-seat performance facility and its adjacent Read Pavilion were later expanded to the present 127 acres by the real estate gift of neighbors James and Betty Hudkins.
During the exhibit's recent opening reception, more than 60 Porthouse fans, actors and KSU faculty strolled down memory lane as several of the outstanding plays became the exhibits.
Eric Van Baars, currently the associate artistic director of Porthouse Theatre, performed his first Porthouse show, "Dames at Sea," in 1993. He returned to KSU in 2001 and choreographed "Big River," while he was pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in acting. He is still impressed by the multi-talented set designer Raynette Halvorsen Smith for the eerie effect she created using an invisible phosphorescent paint, wild fire, which was revealed only under black lighting. Van Baars recalled how the river magically appeared from the decking platforms.
Even though he has been on staff at Porthouse since 2004, Van Baars just finished performing in "Anything Goes" at Porthouse and will be on stage there later this summer in "The Music Man."
Likewise, Smith continues with her set designs, but most recently has been commissioned to create "unspecified" celebratory surprises for KSU's centennial. Most of the set designs in the museum exhibit can be credited to her.
Cynthia Stillings, director of the KSU School of Theater and Dance and producing director of Porthouse Theatre, also was well represented in the exhibition for her lighting expertise.
Nolan O'Dell, from 2003 through 2005, designed the sets for "Oklahoma," "Guys and Dolls" and "West Side Story."
Not letting anything go to waste, Porthouse Theatre also utilizes the talents of its administrators. One such example is John Crawford, assistant dean of the College of the Arts. He has been the managing director of Porthouse, and this summer he will choreograph "The Music Man" from July 25 to Aug. 10.
The name Suzy Q. Campbell is credited as costume designer on nearly all the exhibit pieces. According to Campbell, she is a fashion designer first and creates and teaches fashion design techniques, whenever possible, for garments, shoes, jewelry, millinery and more.
"Porthouse has always had an educational mission," Campbell said, referring to the students that she mentors in the theater's costume shop. While practical experience in costume design can be acquired for the summer performances at Porthouse, KSU's Fashion School provides the how to's during the academic year. Campbell was quick to relay her excitement about the fall 2008 ground breaking of the new facility that will house the School of Theatre and Dance, donated by KSU alumna Roe Green. The complete remodeling will culminate with the 2010 grand opening ceremony.
Campbell attributed Porthouse Theatre's popularity, noting sell-out crowds, to Terri Kent's ability to manage. Kent, artistic director of Porthouse who has been there for 25 years, made her debut on the Porthouse stage in "Man of La Mancha."
Richard Worthing, emeritus dean of the College of Fine and Professional Arts, watched Porthouse Theatre attendance triple from 1980 until near its current size in 2004 when he retired. He said, "People in the community; individuals, businesses, and corporations, as well as the Porthouse family through the Porthouse Foundation, provide a lot of valuable support to the theater."
Crawford said the theater now has more than 2,400 subscribers.