From the Editor’s Pen

Wow, what an exciting few months! Since having my inaugural issue of the magazine published in March, I have checked off several more “firsts” on my quest to become a true Laker.

In May, I attended the elegant and very moving Commencement Eve Torchlight Dinner and Ceremony. The inclement weather did little to diminish the powerful symbolism carried by the Torch of Learning. In fact, the tranquil lighting design by Greg Brewster ’05 and resonant acoustics within the Marano Campus Center activity court seemed the perfect setting for the ceremony.

Brewster, the theatre department’s electronics specialist who was on the national tours of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Les Miserables, transformed the rain location into an ethereal setting with blue gels and white stars projected throughout the court. In this issue of the magazine, we recognize our backstage stars—those like Brewster and George Dummitt ’69—who share their talents to create a seamless experience for their audience members.

In preparation for the issue, I had the pleasure of traveling to New York City to interview George, who graciously gave me the behind-the-scenes look at “his theatre,” the Belasco. While in the Big Apple, I helped host my first mini-reunion for theatre alumni and met some of Oswego’s other backstage stars.

Then in June, I participated in the “biggest show” of the year for the Alumni Association—Reunion! What a treat it was to work alongside our own backstage stars like Laura Pavlus ’09, who, by all accounts, did a marvelous job “calling the show” for her first time as director of alumni relations. I met some of you over the weekend, and many of you kindly shared stories about your Oswego experience, which helped deepen my institutional knowledge.

By our next issue of the magazine, I will be through many of my firsts—including my first year—and hope to have shed my “rookie” status. Until then, I am grateful to all of my Oswego family who have welcomed me into the green (and gold!) room.

—Margaret Spillett, editor

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