UB Production Represents U.S. In Spanish Theatre Festival

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Jean Anouilh's "The Orchestra," a Spring 1997 production of the University at Buffalo Department of Theatre and Dance and the Center for the Arts, recently was featured as the sole representative of the United States at the prestigious Second Biennial International University Theatre Festival held in Spain.

The festival, co-sponsored by the University de Murcia and the Universidad de Alicante, also included delegations from Belgium, Chile, France, Greece, Mexico, Morocco, Puerto Rico and Spain.

It gave UB's Department of Theatre and Dance and the student cast of "The Orchestra" a unique opportunity to represent their university, community and country in an international forum, while participating in workshops, seminars, performances and local tours.

Members of the cast include Kate LoConti, Rebecca Ruest, Christian Battaglia and Kevin Faulhaber, all of Buffalo; Liza Garcia, Amy Ritzenthaler, Michael Providence and Rachel Powers, all of Rochester; Carrie Ann Brown of Brooklyn, and Denise Elia of East Meadow.

The students participated in the festival as part of the UB International Artistic and Cultural Exchange Program (IACE), which is committed to fostering a better understanding of multicultural heritage at UB. The production was directed by Maria Horne, UB assistant professor of theatre and dance and founding director of IACE.

UB sponsors included Stephen Dunnett, vice provost for international education; Kerry S. Grant, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Letters; the Center for the Arts; the Council for International Studies, and the Department of Theatre and Dance.