Showcase features the best of Emerson

Students, faculty, and staff gathered in the Paramount Center on September 17 to preview Emerson’s latest and greatest material as well as showcase some of the interesting work the school has produced since President Pelton’s arrival in July 2011. The Student and Faculty Showcase was a part of Pelton’s inaugural celebration.

Students offered a sneak peek of the 32nd Annual EVVY Awards that will take place in May 2013.

• The event kicked off with a series of presentations by Emerson organizations. WEBN’s Mike Saccone ’13 gave the audience a peek at the broadcast organization’s upcoming events, including the broadcast Road to the Emmys. Students from Broadcast Journalism and Television Production will be boarding a plane to Los Angeles to provide up-to-date coverage on how the Emmy awards show comes together. This is one of the largest broadcasts the organization produces every year.
• The 32nd Annual EVVY Awards offered a sneak peek of its May 2013 ceremony. Student representatives spoke about the upcoming live production, which has been in development since summer 2012. Students from across the disciplines are already being recruited to participate in the largest student–produced awards show in the country.
• In addition to student organizations, Emerson’s cutting-edge curriculum was on display at the showcase. Journalism Senior Leader-in-Residence and former U.S. presidential debate moderator Carole Simpson spoke briefly about her course Road to the White House, in which students are required to remain up-to-the-minute on election coverage and critically analyze developments using contemporary technology.
• Two students delivered dramatic speeches, keeping with Pelton’s inaugural theme of civic engagement. Charvelle Holder ’13 quoted both President Obama and poet Maya Angelou as she stressed the importance of keeping hope alive. Colby Jackson ’13 told the audience about “Your Emerson Hour,” a civic engagement project encouraging everyone to give up one hour of their day to someone else. “Whatever you do,” said Jackson, “do it with the pride of being an Emersonian.”
• Attendees became audience members for the Tartuffe rehearsals in the third-floor mezzanine. As passersby came and went, student actors offered a preview of the production and a sampling of their talent as they practiced scenes from the Moliere theatrical comedy that Emerson Stage will produce. Directed by Senior Distinguished Producing Director-in-Residence Benny Sato Ambush with a student acting company of 11, the production will run October 4–7.
• A display in the Jackie Liebergott Black Box featured information about the Shakespeare Society and photos of its previous productions. The Emerson student organization is dedicated to promoting the namesake’s classic works. The group’s display discussed its vision, mission, and values, all of which center around providing students of all levels and abilities the opportunity to explore classical theatrical texts.
• Also represented were Visual and Media Arts courses in Basic Cinema and Videography taught by Emerson’s Nerissa Williams; Playwriting for and by Youth taught by part-time faculty member Courtney O’Connor; and Professional Voice and Speech, which targets a student’s ability to communicate clearly on a global scale.