Through April 11-13, 2024, the University of Vermont's Royall Tyler Theatre marked its 50th anniversary with a memorable weekend of celebration. Alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends of the theatre gathered to commemorate this iconic institution, which has been at the heart of the university's arts scene since 1974. The three-day celebration was filled with nostalgia, laughter, and camaraderie among those who have been part of this 50-year journey.

Honoring the Legacy

The celebration began on Thursday, April 11 with a performance by film and television actor, Michael Garfield Levine '71, of his one-man show Spinning My Wheels. His touching and often humorous tale of acceptance and survival was the perfect way to kick off a memorable weekend. The festivities continued on Friday, April 12 with an improv workshop taught by Professor Zeina Salame and a musical theatre workshop taught by Professor Julie Peoples-Clark. The afternoon highlight was a panel discussion that brought together distinguished alumni and former faculty. Panelists included:

Shannon K. Hall `93 (Director of Postproduction at HBO)
Michael Garfield Levine `71 (The Sopranos, Law & Order, The Warriors)
Steve Freeman `77 (Broadway Music Director and Conductor)
Dawn Wagner `99 (former Broadway Stage Manager and VT Business Owner)
Jeffery DeMunn (Billions, The Walking Dead, The Shawshank Redemption)

The panelists offered insights into how their time on campus shaped their careers and personal growth. They celebrated the theatre as a space that nurtured creativity, collaboration, and lifelong friendships. The evening ended with an open rehearsal of selected songs from the history of musical theatre at UVM. Members from the original casts rehearsed alongside current students for a performance on Saturday evening.

Surprises and Singing!

Saturday, April 13 included a Shakespeare workshop led by alum Adam Zahler '77, a trip to Silver Special Collections for a viewing of archival materials outlining the history of theatre at UVM, and a group photo.

The highlight of the day was a musical revue entitled 50 Years of Royall Tyler Theatre. This one-time-only performance featured selected songs sung by an ensemble of current theatre students and alumni.

Before the performance, a special announcement was made by professor and head of the theatre program, Rob Shimko, honoring F. Patrick Orr ‘77, the theatre’s recently retired technical director, and his five decades of service to the program. Orr's dedication and craftsmanship have been integral to Royall Tyler Theatre's productions since it opened.

A new annual student award was created in Pat’s honor to mark his retirement and his one-of-a-kind mark on the program. The first student recipient, Trevor Gould, was announced to thunderous applause.

After celebrating Pat, Provost Patty Prelock and Executive Director of the School of the Arts Kelley Helmstutler made remarks about the importance of the arts at UVM and what the next 50 years will bring to the Royall Tyler Theatre.

Then, it was time to sing!

Alumni and students put on a spectacular showcase that paid homage to Royall Tyler Theatre's eclectic repertoire. A blend of songs from beloved productions over the years captivated the audience, leaving them with a sense of pride and anticipation for the theater's future.

“Jet Song” from West Side Story, “Suddenly Seymour” from Little Shop of Horrors, “The Impossible Dream” from Man of La Mancha, “Love Song” from Pippin, “Happiness” from You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, “Maybe This Time” from Cabaret, “Try Me” and “Will He Like Me” from She Loves Me, and “The Contrast” finale from The Contrast.

Breathing New Life into the Royall Tyler Theatre

The celebration also provided an opportunity to unveil a special fundraising effort to ensure Royall Tyler Theatre's continued impact and importance. The goal of the fundraising effort is to make important renovations and create innovative programming that would carry the theater's legacy forward for the next 50 years.

An incredibly generous $1 million gift was announced to kick-start renovations of the theatre. Prof. Shimko said this about the importance of having philanthropic support from alumni and donors:

This incredible $1 million leading gift will allow us to begin significant updates and improvements to Royall Tyler Theatre that will benefit future Theatre students for decades to come. During the 50th anniversary celebration, I spoke to many alums who remembered the tremendous excitement they felt when the theatre was new and the vote of confidence it represented for the future of theatre on the UVM campus. Now, 50 years later, we are thrilled to begin a new chapter in the Theatre Program. This is how you celebrate a milestone—by appreciating the past while paying it forward for the benefit of the next generation of students.

Relive the First Day of the Royall Tyler Theatre

In the process of celebrating 50 years of the Royall Tyler Theatre, we came across two gems in the archives.

The first is an article from the UVM Alumni Magazine from June 1974 that details the opening of the theatre. You can read the article by clicking here. The second is the image below of the program for the dedication of the theatre on March 14, 1974.