If Frances Gateward had her way, the seats at Marroney Theatre will be filled with students for U of A’s School of Theatre, Film & Television current performances of “Vanities: The Musical.”
That’s one of the big goals for the newly named TFTV director.
“I would love to see more student participation to come in and see the shows,” Gateward said.
Gateward said she was surprised when she met graduate students who had finished their undergraduate degrees at the school but said they didn’t know that Marroney Theatre existed.
“We’re certainly working on getting the word out,” she said.
Her goal for this school year is to have a greater impact on the University of Arizona community.
“I don’t think students even know that they can go see these things for $5,” she said.
Before coming to the U of A, Gateward served as a professor and chair of the Department of Communication, Culture and Media Studies at Howard University in Washington, D.C. She received her bachelor’s in radio, TV and film from Philadelphia’s Temple University before earning a master’s in communication and theater and her PhD in film studies from the University of Maryland College Park.
One of Gateward’s goals is to “facilitate student success both professionally, personally and achieve their educational goals,” she said, adding that she wants her faculty to be successful in terms of creativity, research and teaching goals.
Gateward was appointed director in April, replacing interim director Brant Pope. Her tenure begins as the final class of musical theater majors enters its senior year and the school introduces a new musical theater minor, initiated by Pope and spearheaded by the school’s Associate Director Christie Kerr.
The 21-credit minor, approved by the Arizona Board of Regents in late summer, focuses on refining skills in acting, dance and voice.
Gateward also oversees the school’s film and television program, which was ranked in the Top 50 FIlm Schools nationally by The Wrap. The Wrap survey, released last November, ranked the UA School of Theatre, Film & Television No. 2 behind No. 1 UCLA among public film schools.
Kerr said she is excited about what Gateward will bring to the school.
“She’s very open to getting to know us, getting to know the school, finding out what we need, and is very focused on making change and moving us forward in a positive direction,” said Kerr, who is directing “Vanities” through its Oct. 12 run at the Marroney.
“Vanities: The Musical” (from left, cast members Noelle Robinson, Jazmine Gomez and Samantha Adams) continues through Oct. 12. (Photo by Tim Fuller)
“Vanities” is about three best friends recounting their relationship that has taken them from high school cheerleaders to college sororities to professional lives.The musical is based on the 1976 play and book “Vanities.”
Kerr said the downsized musical theater program was the perfect opportunity to do “Vanities.”
“It’s a type of show that we wouldn’t have been able to do” with a larger program, she said. “It has afforded us the opportunity to be able to do some smaller cast shows to really focus in on the three women.”
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Marroney Theatre, 1025 N. Olive Road on the UA campus. The show runs an hour and 45 minutes with no intermission.
Tickets are $38.50 with discounts available through College of Fine Arts Box office or online at tftv.arizona.edu; it’s $5 for students with ID.
Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.
