15 years in the making

Workmen were on their hands and knees Wednesday afternoon, smoothing cement on the last few blue-green tiles to secure them to the floor of the new Theatre/Neal-Marshall Education Center.\nThe smell of finished wood and fresh paint filled every corridor of the building, from the glass-lined staircases to the top row of the theater. \nFriday, the quiet hallways and silent atriums will be filled with people for the center's official inauguration.\nThe formal dedication ceremony begins at 2 p.m. at the center's Ruth N. Halls Theatre. Accomplished actors, authors and activists Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee will be the keynote speakers.\n"I couldn't be happier to have somebody that represents the best in American theater here to help us \ninaugurate this new building," said Leon Brauner, chairperson of the Department of Theatre and Drama.\nDirector of University Ceremonies Robin Gress said plans for the event began 18 months ago. A steering committee made up of members of the Department of Theatre and Drama and the black culture center participated in choosing Davis and Dee as the speakers.\n"They are people of theater and great social activists," Gress said. "They bring so many elements in just two people."\nDavis and Dee will also give a master class at Willkie Quadrangle from 9:30 a.m.-11 p.m. and an informal lecture in the Auditorium 7:30 p.m. Friday.\nThe ceremony will be "a traditional IU ceremony," Gress said.\nParticipants including Bloomington Chancellor Sharon Brehm and IU President Myles Brand will be robed, and music will be provided by the African American Choral Ensemble. Brauner and Charlie Nelms, vice president for student development and diversity and students in both the Afro-American studies and theatre departments, will speak. \n"A University ceremony is not something students think about often," Gress said. "It will really be an interesting thing to see."\nTwo honorary degrees, the highest awards one may receive from the University, will also be presented at the ceremony to R. Keith Michael, professor Emeritus of theatre and drama, and Herman C. Hudson, Martha C. Kraft professor Emeritus of Afro-American studies.\nBrehm is looking forward to the opening of the center. She said the opportunities the new facilities provide will be beneficial for everyone.\n"It is absolutely consistent with, and a tremendous contribution to, the goal of increasing diversity on this campus," she said. "Having this center will make an enormous impact on that goal…but that does not mean we can be complacent…it is something that we have to keep focused on and keep working on."\nBrehm said her favorite part of the new facility is the dance studio, which is outfitted with light-colored hardwood floors, large mirrored walls and skylights.\nIris Rosa, director of the African American Dance Company, said the new studio is a far cry from the basement facilities the company first used when it was formed in 1974.\n"We are very excited about the space," she said. "We hope that people do notice what we do here and come support our programs."\nBrauner said opening a theater is a unique event for any community.\n"Theaters are not built often," he said. "You have a once in a lifetime opportunity to come celebrate with us an occasion that is going to add richness to our community"