Popular Theater Program Filled to Capacity
When Mario Cataffo was looking at theater program, Buffalo State rose to the top of the list because of its small size and its reputation.
“Buffalo State is small enough that you can walk into the Union and see your best friends, but big enough to have a decent-sized theater department where you can put on good productions,” said Cataffo, a senior who grew up in Grand Island and dreams of working as a sound engineer on Broadway someday.
Many students apparently agree. The theater program has reached capacity, with 25 new freshmen enrolling in the program this year—at a time when some theater arts programs are scrambling to attract students.
“We’ve really worked to define who we are as a department,” said Carlos Jones, the former theater chair now serving as associate dean for the School of Arts and Humanities. “We have developed good relationships with teachers and administrators in the community who are aware of what we offer.”
The Theater Department combines rigorous studio training with a strong liberal arts education and offers concentrations in acting, directing, dramaturgy, theater technology, and design. Students also can minor in theater or dance.
“I think there’s an upswing culturally in the importance of art, not only as a career but also as a background for other fields, giving students the creative tools they need to be successful professionals,” said Ann Emo, associate professor and and chair of theater.
Emo pointed to a unique and attractive feature, Casting Hall Productions, which provides students with the opportunity to get practical experience in all aspects of productions—publicity, costume and set construction, technical staffing, production management, and budget management.
Cataffo, current Casting Hall president, said over the past two years, he’s had the opportunity to handle the sound design for the majority of campus productions.
“I enjoy being part of decision-making and having a voice in the larger picture,” he said.
Additionally, Buffalo State offers real-life experiences from faculty who continue to practice their craft. Emo is a perfect example. A costume designer, she designs for several theaters in Buffalo and Rochester; in 2009–2010, she received the Artvoice Theater Award for Outstanding Costume Design for her work on Shakespeare in Delaware Park’s performance of The Tempest.
Danica Riddick, ’11, credits the strong faculty with her career success that began with the role of Gerda in Theater of Youth (TOY)’s 2009 production of The Snow Queen while she was still a student.
“I’ve managed to work continuously since then, landing roles with New Phoenix Theatre, the American Repertory Theater, Njozi Productions, and Erie Canal Harbor Drama,” Riddick said. “I became a member of the Road Less Traveled Ensemble this past year. I know for sure that none of it would have been possible if not for the all-encompassing education I received at Buffalo State.”
Access to internships is another benefit for theater students. Cataffo found an internship over last year’s winter break with the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia.
“I got to work on the world premiere of the musical Tuck Everlasting with a sound designer who had won two Tony awards,” he said. “I couldn’t have gotten that without the faculty connections here.”
The Anne Frank in the Schools initiative, which expands upon the campus’s annual social justice festival, also has served as an unexpected recruitment tool. Students in the Devised Theater course regularly perform original plays tackling a number of difficult topics for students in various Buffalo Public Schools. Each performance is followed by a reflection session where students can share their feelings.
“Using devised theater as a healing form of storytelling is a powerful way of communicating with kids,” Emo said. “Seeing theater having a social justice component resonates with them. And I believe that experience has inspired some students to want to join our theater department.”