04/28/2010
Audiences for the recent SUNY Cortland run of the hit Broadway musical “Rent” opened their hearts and gave generously when the all-student cast decided to raise donations in the quest to conquer the AIDS epidemic.
The students, mostly musical theatre majors in the Performing Arts Department, accepted a total of $1,708 in gifts to support the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS fundraising campaign, said Kevin Halpin, director and choreographer for the College’s first production of the rock musical by Jonathan Larson.
“I think we all should be very proud of our students and our community,” said Halpin, an associate professor who directs the College’s musical theatre program.
The musical was staged in six performances between April 9-11 and April 16-18 in the Dowd Fine Arts Center Theatre.
“After four of our performances, cast members were stationed in the lobby of the theatre to collect donations,” Halpin noted.
As it deals with love, sex, AIDS, drugs and death, the 1996 Off Broadway smash turned thoughts quite naturally to the continuing effort to control the spread of the disease.
“We are indeed proud, as this shows that our students’ education extends beyond their training in the performing arts or whatever else their chosen major may be,” observed Bruce Mattingly, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. “Our students are developing strong character and a social conscience as well.”