Two Swarthmore Theater Department alums are involved with the Broadway opening of David Henry Hwang’s CHINGLISH last night. Jeff Sugg ’95 shares credit as Projection Designer for the Broadway production with Shaun Duan after designing the world premiere of the play solo at the Goodman Theater in Chicago last Spring. Jeff was a founding member of Pig Iron Theatre Company has worked since with The Wooster Group, Moises Kaufman, and performance artist Cynthia Hopkins (who happens to be his wife). Jeff’s Broadway debut was as the Projection Designer for Kaufman’s 33 VARIATIONS, starring Jane Fonda. He returned to Swarthmore to teach our first Integrated Media Design class in 2005, when he also designed the projections for the Theater Department’s production of Robert Auletta’s THE PERSIANS. He has regularly returned to campus as a participant in the Swarthmore Project in Theater (SPT).
Also working on the sound design team for CHINGLISH is Charles Coes ’06, a recent MFA graduate in sound design from the Yale School of Drama, who will return to campus to teach Sound Design in the Department of Theater next semester.
Ben Brantley ’77 has reviewed the opening-night performance of CHINGLIGH in today’s NEW YORK TIMES, and other reviews should be appearing in the next few days.
Prof. K. Elizabeth Stevens is working on a new piece with Headlong Dance Theater at the Machine Shop (N. 21st and Washington in Philly). November 11 – 13, 2011.