Celebrated poet Rita Dove presented recent works during a reading at Lycoming College on Sept. 25, 2023. Dove was named this year’s Himes/Sweeney Visiting Scholar in Creative Writing at Lycoming. She teaches at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville where she is the Henry Hoyns Professor of Creative Writing. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her third collection of poetry, “Thomas and Beulah,” her most recent book, “Playlist for the Apocalypse,” was called “a vital collection of poems about history and mortality” by the New York Times, which named it a Top Book of 2021. Her many other books include “Collected Poems 1974-2004,” which was a finalist for the National Book Award and the recipient of the NAACP Image Award. From 1993 to 1995, Dove served as U.S. Poet Laureate at the Library of Congress, and in 2022 she received the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize. Her other honors include Lifetime Achievement Medals from the Library of Virginia and the Fulbright Association, the 2014 Carole Weinstein Poetry Prize, the 2019 Wallace Stevens Award from the Academy of American Poets, and the 2021 Gold Medal for Poetry from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 1996, she received the National Humanities Medal from President Bill Clinton and, in 2011, the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama — the only poet ever to receive both medals. “When considering literature from the late 20th and early 21st centuries, few artists would necessarily be considered truly indispensable,” said Sascha Feinstein, Ph.D., Robert L. & Charlene Shangraw Professor of English. “Rita Dove, however, is unquestionably a member of that rarefied group. That said, her prestige seems to be matched by her humility. She is an artist of the highest order.” PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING POET RITA DOVE OFFERS READING AT LYCOMING Lycoming College Summer Stock provides aspiring young actors from across the region the opportunity to exercise their acting and singing chops through a fun program that occurs during the summer months. Students grades 7-12 learn the ins and outs of being involved in a theatre production while making friends, exploring their creativity, and entertaining local audiences. Summer Stock premiered in August 2023 on the Community Arts Center (CAC) stage with Tony Award-winning Roald Dahl’s “Matilda the Musical,” the inspiring story of an extraordinary little girl who possesses courage and cleverness, as well as the gift of telekinesis. Biliana StoytchevaHorissian, Ph.D., chair and associate professor of the theatre department, served as artistic director, leading a diverse cast of 22 local students and a professional staff including several other members of the Lycoming faculty, theatre department alumni, and current students. LYCOMING COLLEGE SUMMER STOCK THEATRE The College’s orchestra and band were also involved in the production. “I am thrilled that we were able to provide students from Williamsport and the surrounding areas with the opportunity to work with theatre professionals and create art at no cost to their families while bringing the magical world of Roald Dahl to life at the CAC this summer,” said Stoytcheva-Horissian. “The Lycoming College Summer Stock production of ‘Matilda’ was a great success, captivating audiences and showcasing the incredible talent of our cast and crew while enriching the lives of the kids involved in the project and fostering a stronger sense of community and appreciation for theatre in the region.” Learn more about Summer Stock and the anticipated 2024 production of Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man” at www.lycoming.edu/theatre/ summer-stock.aspx. 8 LYCOMING COLLEGE 2024 SPRING MAGAZINE
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTA3NDk=