Page 89 - Best Chapter Spring 2017

When Alexander joined the College in

1986, the theater program was thriving.

He made it part of his personal mission

to continue the good work of his

predecessor and bring the program into

the modern era of theatrical technology,

and in hopes of one day renovating and

expanding the fine arts facility. %

xx/Theaters are highly technical and 6

things had changed dramatically from

the time the original theater was built,” \

Alexander said. “It took almost 20 years

but in 2005 a newly renovated theatre _ .

and educational space was opened. That :-

was a huge success for the program.” V’ '

. 0 Y W

As important as bringing the facilities 0 0

into the 21st Century, Alexander and O '

other school leaders also acknowledged

the changing economy and its ‘ W \‘\‘

impact on students studying the arts.

Wilmington College continues to v ‘ \ A ' ' _ 9

encourage students to diversify their . . ? ‘

education, but Alexander is also realistic

about life after graduation—and the

need for every student to find a job that

can sustain their livelihood while also

encouraging creativity and performance.

“We’ve always prided ourselves in

giving students the opportunity to

develop their love for the arts with a

U116 CHICCI path,”AlCXaI1dCf Said. “IVS Wynn Alexander, director of Wilmington College Theatre, performs in the
Very dif-ficult for students today to summer theatre production, “Titanic.”

make a living by doing the arts. We

are constantly examining how can we connect a department will highly encourage the student to
students passion and love for the arts while helping take courses in other areas of study, like business and
them find a career that can pay for their living.” communications.The reverse is also true: students

who are pursuing more historically profitable majors

That frank understanding of today’s economy is part are highly encouraged to take classes within the
of Wilmington College’s “open-program” policy theater and fine arts department or get involved with
when it comes to the theater program. If a student the school's productions. >

decides to pursue theater as his or her primary area

of education, Alexander and other professors in the

BEST CI IAVTER 89