Students, residents want theater group to return to COD
Nearly two years after the Buffalo Theatre Ensemble's last performance on the College of DuPage campus, residents and current and former students are urging the school's board of trustees to bring back the professional theater group.
College of DuPage officials in May 2014 ended the school's relationship with the ensemble, which had been in residence at the Glen Ellyn-based community college since 1987.
But during this week's board of trustees meeting, a number of speakers called for the group to return to the McAninch Arts Center stage.
"It is my personal hope that you reconsider the previous decision of eliminating BTE and restore them as the college's permanent professional theater company," said Ed Garzaro, who presented the board with a petition containing more than 1,000 signatures.
Trustee Frank Napolitano said Friday the board is expected to hear a Sept. 17 presentation about why the Buffalo Theatre Ensemble was eliminated at COD and what it would take to bring it back.
"I'm interested in bringing it back," Napolitano said. "I need all the details, but at a high level I think it would be a good idea."
Napolitano said having the ensemble at COD benefited the students, faculty and the community.
When school officials announced the ensemble would no longer perform at COD, they said it was for financial reasons.
The ensemble received half its revenue from ticket sales and the rest through contributions that included support from the college.
However, the group had to end its 2013-14 season early because it was facing the possibility of losing about $80,000 if it did the remaining shows.
After looking at the numbers, including the costs associated with each production, COD officials decided not to bring back the ensemble.
Resident Don Westlake, who has seen all of the ensemble's productions, said the decision to drop the group was one of many mistakes made in recent years at COD.
"This is a mistake that I believe can be corrected," he said. "And I encourage you to make every effort to do that. It (the ensemble) was a community treasure funded by the community. It can be that again."
Craig Berger, a retired COD professor and one of the founders of the Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, said ensemble members served as role models for aspiring actors.
"In a four-year university or college, there are seniors and grad students and they act as models for the people underneath them," Berger said. "We don't have a grad school here. We don't have juniors and seniors here."
In addition to watching rehearsals and performances, some COD students got the opportunity to work backstage and even act.
"Students who are asked to audition or work behind the scenes represent the best that the college has to offer," Garzaro said.
Amber Mitchell said she worked as an assistant stage manager for several Buffalo Theatre Ensemble productions. The experience taught her the skills she needed to further her professional development, she said.
"I would love to see COD students to once again have the opportunity to experience quality theater mentorship that BTE has had to offer over the years," Mitchell said.