Theatre-Dance launches archive page in celebration of golden anniversary

• July 27, 2012 2:30pm

In anticipation of its 50th anniversary in October, the Theatre and Dance Department has created an archive page at: theatre-archive

Included are a history of the department, an archive of productions since 1990, news articles dating to 2001, and newsletters since 2010. Alumni are invited to complete a survey and include personal information, and there is a link to the CSUEB Theatre & Dance Facebook page.

Eventually, the files should extend back to 1961 when the department produced, “Imaginary Invalid,” the first of more than 700 shows.

That first play was directed by Donald B. Muir when the program was named the Drama Department of Alameda County State College, and productions were done in room W-2 of Hayward High School. At the time, tickets were $1 general admission, 50 cents for faculty, and free to students. 

Thomas Hird, current professor of theatre and dance, and department chair, has been with the department for four of those five decades. He hopes alumni, students, and prospective artists will appreciate the archives as a record of achievement.

April Rodriguez, ’02 theatre-dance, and Diana Wakimoto, at the University Library, are continuing to work with Hird on the project.

DD