College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

• Direct from Buffalo

  Shirley Basfield Dunlap continues her professional directing career.
  

  
  
• Shirley Basfield Dunlap first heard about "The Old Settler" from her mentor.
  
  The theatre director was reading the play, preparing for an off-Broadway production and asked Dunlap to read it with him and give her opinions.
  
  "It was so awesome," Dunlap said. "You can laugh and cry in the same scene."
  
  The play by John Henry Redwood soon became the most widely produced African-American play of the season. It was awarded the 1997 American Theatre Critic Award. Dunlap harbored hopes that she would one day direct the play.
  
  A series of good fortunes soon developed enabling Dunlap to work with Studio Arena Theatre in Buffalo, N.Y. on "The Old Settler." First the original director had to bow out of his commitment. The Studio Arena Theatre's artistic director immediately thought of Dunlap, who had directed a play two years earlier at the theater.
  
  "John Henry Redwood has what is called a director's right of refusal," Dunlap said, "which is the right to approve and assign the director for each production.
  
  "I had met him (Redwood) earlier and with his blessings, I was able to direct this show."
  
  Dunlap traveled to Buffalo for a month for rehearsals, a week of previews and opening night. The show ran from Feb. 18 to March 12.
  
  An unusual romance set in a 1943 Harlem apartment, "The Old Settler" is a tender, bittersweet story spiced with generous portions of laughter. It was that quality that first attracted Dunlap to the show.
  
  "It's just a beautiful, beautiful story,' she said, "about the unconditional love between two sisters."
  
  The response to the Buffalo production has been outstanding Dunlap said. The performance during the weeklong previews received standing ovations.
  
  A reviewer in The Buffalo News gave the Studio Arena Theatre production 31/2 stars out of four and said, "Redwood and the Studio Arena are very well-served here by Dunlap, who has also beautifully directed other area and regional productions."
  
  Even though she left Buffalo and the production after opening night, Dunlap continued to maintain contact with the company throughout the play's run.
  
  "I talked to the actors every week either on the phone or e-mail," she said. "I would have loved to go back to Buffalo to see the last week of the show and see how the cast had grown."
  
  Instead Dunlap has switched her attention back to ISU Theatre. While she directs at least one professional show a year, she also directs a variety of student theatre productions. Last fall, Dunlap was the director of "The Good Times are Killing Me." On April 30, her production of "Big Mama 'N 'Em," will be performed in the round in the Memorial Union's Great Hall.
  
  Making the switch from professional actors to student actors can be difficult for a director and Dunlap is no different. "I try to bring to the students what I learn in the professional world," she said, "and hopefully that will better prepare them to succeed after college."
  
  Directing a professional play is not unusual for Dunlap. She has directed award winner Ossie Davis in a world premiere and Tony Award winner Melba Moore in two different productions. Her work has been seen at Madison Repertory Theatre, The Human Race Theater Company, Hippodrome State Theatre and the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.
  

Around LAS
March 27 to April 2, 2000

Ames, Iowa 50011, (515) 294-4111. Published by: University Relations, online@iastate.edu. Copyright © 1995-2004, Iowa State University of Science and Technology. All rights reserved.

Non-Discrimination Statement and Information Disclosures

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Ames, Iowa 50011-1302

General Information: (515) 294-7740

Academic Advising: (515) 294-4831

Email: las@iastate.edu

Michael Whiteford - Dean

Bret Larwick - Director of Technology

Dave Gieseke - Director of Communications