Buffalo
Theatre
Ensemble
thoughtprovoking
giving stories life
ValuetoEducation
Having BTE at the MAC made realities of everything I'd learned in
classes. I was able to be a reader at auditions; sit in on
rehearsals; work backstage during performances; meet a horde of
professional actors and directors who came out to Glen Ellyn to
work for this company; and ultimately be employed as a
professional actor, even at the start of my career. Because by
getting to learn as a student amid the operations of an actual,
professional theatre--which was producing work that rivaled many
venerable storefront and midsize Chicago theatres--I was actually
receiving an apprenticeship that would provide a seamless
transition into being a professional artist myself.
Bryan Bosque
Actor/ Teaching Artist
COD’sInstitutionalPhilosophy
CollegeofDuPagebelievesinthepowerofteaching&learning
“Weendorsetherightofeachpersonto
accessibleandaffordableopportunitiesto
learnandaffirmtheinnatevalueofthe
pursuitofknowledgeanditsapplicationto
life.Ourprimary commitmentistofacilitate
andsupportstudentsuccessinlearning.”
• Not all learning is linear
• Students require more than the traditional classroom in which to learn
• BTE assists in providing education through the experience of live theatre
• Live theatre provides broadening experiences that expose students to a diverse
world populated with different people and ideas, making them more aware and
accepting of those differences
(educationnext.org/learning-live-theater/)
This learning is not only specific to “Theatre students,” but to all
students, faculty, staff and the community of DuPage County.
“The performance that (the) audience just
watched was captivating beyond words- I am
sure I am proving this now.
From your delivery- to the emotion- or lack ofdepending on the moment in time of the son’s
reflections, and culminating with the stage
presence—allowing everyone to see the tragedy
through your soul- provided the best
performance I should ever expect to watch.
So, to you Mr. Smillie- Know you have made a
difference to how this novice will compare
performances in the future--- you have set the
bar very high.”
John
and
Debby
Piha
(about Nocturne)
“The amount of practical training I
received either through performing
that many shows or working
backstage for Buffalo Theatre
Ensemble was huge!
Where else do you get that? We had
access to, and often worked side by
side with, real professionals - real
actors and directors and writers.
There was so much available to
anyone that wanted it. COD helped
me and shaped me in ways I still feel
today.”
Matt Armstrong
Cast of TV shows "Turks" and "American Dreams”; Recurring roles on "American Horror Story:
Assylum” and “Heroes”; Guest appearances on such popular shows as “Scandal,” "The Mentalist,"
"CSI: Miami," "Bones" and "Supernatural.”
COD’sInstitutionalPhilosophy
CollegeofDuPageiscommittedtoexcellence
“Weseekqualityinallthatwe
do.Toensurequality,weare
committedtocontinual
assessmentandself-evaluation.”
• AnythinglessthanBTEinresidenceattheCollegewouldbreachCOD's
commitmenttoexcellence.
• Theobjectivepursuitofanexcellentproduct,fromwhichthecollege
community,aswellaswidercommunity,canvisitregularlyand
conveniently,aswellasinteractwithandmodel,isexcellence.
• IftheCollegehasitintheirpowertoprovidethehighestqualityof
residenttheatre,theyshoulddoallintheirpowertodoso.
I have seen every play produced by
the Buffalo Theatre Ensemble (BTE) in
its 27 year history at the College of
DuPage. The ensemble has been a
community treasure, not only because
it has provided quality, professional
theatre at a reasonable price in a
convenient location, but because its
provocative selections provided a wide
range of theatre: comedy, drama,
creative interpretations, and cutting
edge treatment of social problems
Don Westlake
“BTE inspired me to do
great work.
Watching the shows
always gave me the push I
needed to pursue a career
in acting.
Without it, I'm not sure I'd
be doing this.”
Lamorne Morris
Starring Role of Winston, on Fox network's blockbuster New Girl, in its 5th season
Barbershop: The Next Cut, Jerrod, release date April 2016 BrainRush, Host, Cartoon Network
COD’sInstitutionalPhilosophy
CollegeofDuPagevaluesdiversity
“We seek to reflect andmeet the educational
needs ofthe residents ofourlarge,
multicultural district. We recognize the
importance ofembracing individual differences
and cultures and value the contributions made
to the College bypeople ofallethnic and
cultural backgrounds. We affirmour roleasa
catalystfor promoting dialogue and tolerance
on issuessupporting the commongood.”
•
Livetheatreprovideslessons indiversityinapalpableformatthatfewother
disciplines arecapableofdelivering.
•
Livetheatreallowsstudentstoseetheworldfromotherviewpoints.
•
Theperformanceofacharacterspeakingfromhis/herownexperience,“makes
present—the waysthatcurrentconstructionsofraceandgenderareshaped
throughhistory”inawaythattextualanalysisbasedonreadingcannot
(Wannamaker339).Thereisimmediacytoperformancethatengagesaudience
membersinanintellectual andemotional dialogue.
(muse.jhu.edu/login?auth= 0&type =summa ry&url=/ journals/ theatre_ topics/v023/23.1.che rne.htm l /)
Todd Mantell
System Analyst, VizientInc.
Shelley
Jacobs
Program Coordinator, UIC
Addslidehere@“allowsstudents tosee theworldfromotherviewpoints”
Isentsome messages outtoformerstudentstonight3.26
I fully support BTE. That theatre company was vital
to my education at COD and exposed me to art in a
way that wasn't an opportunity to me through other
avenues. Theatre, as part of the arts, helps mold the
way we think critically about the world and offers us
unique perspectives on our environment and culture,
a vital aspect of higher education and culture.
I did not pursue a career in theatre or acting, but I
definitely feel like I benefitted from BTE: It was great
to see professional actors in residence as a model of
what to aspire to. It was really helpful to see their
approach to their craft. Now, as a community
member, I feel that BTE is a great resource. I still
love live theatre, but I don't always want to go to the
city to see it and it's great knowing that there is
professional, quality theatre right in my backyard.
"At COD, I was surrounded by
professionals, due to Buffalo
Theatre Ensemble " she said. "I
learned how to be a professional
actor very early on so by the time I
got to Columbia, it was clear I had
been training among some of the
best actors and teachers out
there. I grew in every way
possible -- professionally,
artistically and personally.”
Robyn Coffin
Actor, NBC Chicago Fire
Over 45 professional shows, multiple commercials, Factory Theater Ensemble
–
COD’sInstitutionalPhilosophy
CollegeofDuPagepromotesparticipationinplanninganddecision-making
“We support participatory governance and the
involvement ofthe College community inthe
development ofashared vision. We believe that
allstudents, staff, andresidents canmake
meaningful contributions within arespectful
environment that encourages meaningful
discourse. We strive to buildan organizational
climate inwhichfreedom ofexpression is
defended and civility isaffirmed.”
•
BTEpromotesparticipationinplanningbecause,astheCambridge
dictionarydefinestheword“ensemble,”itismadeupof“a​group
of​people​actingortakentogetherasa​whole.”
•
Theveryvisionofensembledictatesthatwecontinuallyassesstheoverall
missionofthetheatreandhowitenhancesthestudentandpatron
experience,theArtsCenter,andtheCollege.
“Buffalo Theatre Ensemble embodies
delightful paradoxes: the cozy
exhilaration of yet another stunning
performance by a cast the community has
come to know as friends, the respectful
fearlessness of examining controversial
issues in a way that encourages
thoughtful examination rather than
malicious provocation, and the
transparent magic through which we see
the artifice of theater transform individual
experience into universal truth.”
Peggy Connolly
"COD also provided invaluable
connections, both personally
and professionally, that I
wouldn't have gotten anywhere
else… To this day, there are
things I find myself
regurgitating from classes I
took what seems like forever
ago from (COD professors).”
Actor and Artistic Director
Stray Cat Theater
Ron May
COD’sInstitutionalPhilosophy
CollegeofDuPagewillbeabenefittostudentsandcommunity.
“Theneedsof
ourstudentsandcommunity
arecentraltoallwedo.”
•
Ledbyfacultydirectors,committedtothecollegeprogramandstudents,as
evidencedbytheoutpouringsupportbyalumni,BTEhastheneedsofour
studentsandthiscommunityattheforefrontineverychoiceitmakes.
•
“Attheheartoftheaterliesuniversalhumanemotion,whichtranscends
anyspecificlevelofeducation,income,race,orgeography.Itisso
incrediblypowerfultoseeourselvesreflectedonastage,andknowthatwe
arenotaloneinourexperience.Andit’sequallypowerfultoseean
experiencethat’scompletelydifferentthanourown,andyetrecognizable.”
NEAChairmanJaneChu
I think our community is
the worse if BTE is not
brought back. It adds so
much to the educational
experience for students,
and enriches our
community by enabling us
to attend professional
theatre in the community.
Please consider this when
making your decision!
Student and Community Member
Impactof
BTEon
Students
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EVERYstudentenrolledinthe
departmenthad
interface/involvementwith
BuffaloTheatreEnsemble
(500-600seatcountsper
calendaryear,inthe
department)
BTEClass
visitations
across
campus
cc:Brendan Biele - https ://www.flickr.com/p ho tos /219 95882N 03
Dependingonthe
particulartopicfora
production,facultyacross
campusinvitedus(or
othermembersofthe
production)tospeakwith
theirstudents.
StudentParticipation- BTEProductions
BTEAuditions
BTESubscriberNights
InterfaceBackstage
PaidPositions
Possibilities
for
Season
Rabbit Hole
Amelia Barrett & Brad Walker
LargerDemographicAppeal
Cabaret
Don’tDressforDinner
HotelD’Amour
YouCan’tTakeItWithYou
Noises Off!
IntoTheWoods
ThePlayThatGoesWrong
Pippin
WomanInBlack
FoxFire
Comedy
OneManTwoGuvners
39Steps
Boeing,Boeing
LostInYonkers
Wally’sCafé
OutsideMullinger
Thoughtful
Time Stands Still
Disgraced
Sex With Strangers
The Big Meal
Wolves
Hysteria
Dead Man’s Cell Phone
Murder in Green Meadows
The Humans
The Busy World is Hushed
Between Riverside and Crazy
College
of
DuPage’s
Mission
ThemissionoftheCollege
ofDuPageistobea
centerforexcellencein
teaching,learning,and
culturalexperiencesby
providingaccessible,
affordableand
comprehensive
education.
WhatDoesAResidentTheatreEnsemble
ProvideToCOD?
•
BTEassiststhecollegeinitsbigpicturepursuitofexcellenceinteaching,learning
andculturalexperiences
•
Theguestartistsofactors,directors,stagemanagersanddesignerssupplementthe
educationalmissionandserveasincentivestobothattend,aswellasreturn,toour
college
ForaworldclassArtsCentertoexistatapremierecollegewithoutresidential,
producedartundercutsitsincrediblepotential.BTEprovidesaSteppenwolf
experienceontheCODcampus.BTEcanpresentanentireseasonofprofessional
performancesthatsupportsandcomplimentsoureducationalprograms.
“Subscribers for many seasons,
we miss BTE. The careful
selection of plays, the precise
casting, and the quality of acting
led to strong emotional responses
to each performance. Seeing
COD Theater students involved in
the productions was a bonus.
Please support the return of this
unique community asset. We
certainly will.”
John and Nancy Rutledge
• We’re here tonight because BTE is strongly supported by current
and former students, members of the College community, the
Community at large, and members of this Board.
• BTE’s value goes far beyond classroom visits and talkbacks. BTE
supports and furthers the College’s Institutional Philosophy and
Mission.
• Buffalo Theatre Ensemble is a community experience because this
theatre is a part of the structure of the community – both the
educational component of this great Community College and
DuPage County. Bring Back Buffalo Theatre Ensemble with your
vote.