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October 9, 2009
Black Box Named in Honor of
J. William Bordeau
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CONTACTS:
Mary Fleischer, Ph.D., Chair of the Division of Fine and Performing Arts, Marymount Manhattan College, (212) 774-0761 / mfleischer@mmm.edu
Jean Wilhelm, B.A., Campaign Director, Office of Institutional Advancement, (212) 517-0460 / jwilhelm@mmm.edu
Manny Romero, M.A., Director of Communications, Office of Institutional Advancement, (212) 517-0451 / mromero@mmm.edu
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Professor J. William Bordeau
| (New York, NY) – On October 4, 2009, Judson R. Shaver, Ph.D., President of Marymount Manhattan College, announced that the College’s Black Box would be named in honor of Professor Emeritus J. William Bordeau, who passed away on July 25. The announcement was made following a memorial celebration that was presented in the Theresa Lang Theatre.
Professor Bordeau’s dedication, artistic vision and vibrant personality built a strong foundation for the success of Marymount Manhattan’s Theatre Arts and Dance programs. In his 30 years of teaching, Professor Bordeau was a much loved mentor and educator, who went to great lengths to nurture and challenge his students.
The Black Box, located on the lower level of the College’s Main Building, serves as a theatre classroom, rehearsal space, and a location for smaller theatre productions. Professor Bordeau worked with several generations of students in classes and rehearsal.
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Randal Tupper, Professor Bordeau's life partner | | Five former students of Professor Bordeau met with President Shaver to lead the effort in dedicating the Black Box to their former professor and mentor. Gina DeMayo ’01, Barbara Hayward ’72, Chris Stafford ’99, April Sweeney ’95, and Edward Van Saders ’95 made a collective contribution to the Professor J. William Bordeau Scholarship, which prompted the naming of the Black Box. The scholarship was created in 1999, the same year Bordeau retired from teaching at the College.
The Oct. 4th celebration of Bordeau’s life was broadcast LIVE on the Web, and can still be viewed on the College’s Web site: www.mmm.edu. The live broadcast was watched by MMC alumni groups in Los Angeles, Chicago, Upstate New York, Dallas, North Dakota, and as far away as London and Paris.
The program included remarks from Judson R. Shaver, Ph.D., President of Marymount Manhattan College, Mary Fleischer, Ph.D., Chair of the Division of Fine and Performing Arts, Robert Bordeau and Randal Tupper. Tributes were made by Regina Peruggi, President of Kingsborough Community College and President Emeritus of Marymount Manhattan College; Suzanne Murphy ’87, Vice President for Advancement of Columbia Teachers College, Charles Repole, Chair, Department of Drama, Theatre and Dance at Queens College and Tony-nominated performer, and Edward VanSaders ’95, B.F.A., CFO at WRNN (New York) and WTVE (Philadelphia).
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(L-R) Virginia Strong Mazzello '75, Mary Leonard '75, Ryan Kasprzak '03, Scott Laska '02, Ta'Rea Campbell '01, President Judson R. Shaver, Ph.D., Mary Fleischer, Chair of the Division of Fine and Performing Arts, Nick Sanchez '03, Claire McKeveny '04, Susan Slocum Melino '75, Kevin O'Malley '75. (Back: L-R) Ken Merkel '75 and Jake Warren '09.
| When Professor Bordeau arrived at MMC in 1968, he focused on teaching acting, directing and communication arts. As Chairperson of Communication Arts in the 1970s, he was central to establishing the BFA programs in Acting and in Dance. He served as the design consultant for the Theresa Lang Theatre, which was originally dedicated in 1975 as the Marymount Manhattan Theatre. For that occasion Bill directed the inaugural production of Beckett’s Waiting for Godot.
On October 4, cast members of Godot including Susan Slocum Melino ’75 (Estragon, “Gogo”), Kevin S. O’Malley ’75 (Vladimir, “Didi”), Virginia Strong Mazzello ’75 (Lucky), Ken Merkel ’75 (Pozzo), and Mary Leonard ’75 (A Boy), reunited to read excerpts from the production.
At MMC, Professor Bordeau nurtured the talents of his students, many who have successful careers in Broadway productions, television shows and movies. The memorial celebration featured performances from some of Professor Bordeau’s former students including Ta’Rea Campbell ’01, (vocal performance); Ryan Kasprzak ’03 (dance); Scott Laska ’02 (vocal performance); Claire McKeveny ’04 (dance); Nick Sanchez ’03 (vocal performance); and Jake Warren ’09 (dance).
The Professor J. William Bordeau Scholarship, which provides support for theatre majors, is a special initiative of This is the Day, the Campaign for Marymount Manhattan. Contributions to the scholarship can be sent to the Office of Institutional Advancement at Marymount Manhattan College, 221 E. 71st Street, New York, NY 10021. All pledges received by March 31, 2010 will also help MMC meet a challenge from The Kresge Foundation that will result in a $1.5 million grant to the College. Multi-year pledges are encouraged and payments can extend to March 31, 2015.
For more information about the Professor J. William Bordeau Scholarship, contact Jean Wilhelm, Campaign Director, (212) 517-0460 / jwilhelm@mmm.edu.
Marymount Manhattan College is an urban, independent, liberal arts college. The mission of the College is to educate a socially and economically diverse population by fostering intellectual achievement and personal growth and by providing opportunities for career development.
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