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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 18, 2000)
Theater’s 90-year-old namesake still acting ■ Horace Robinson built the University’s theater department into a top-notch program By Rory Carroll Oregon Daily Emerald For many students, Robinson Theatre is just the name of anoth er campus building. What they may not realize is that Horace Robinson, the man who built the University’s theater program, still lives in Eugene and continues to be active in the theater. Joseph Gilg, development di rector of University Theatre, said that today’s program is a reflec tion of Horace’s values. “He’s the man for our pro gram,” Gilg said, who has known Robinson since 1973. “The pro gram was built by him.” Robinson first arrived here in 1933, accepting the considerable challenge of being one of the founding teachers at the universi ty and later taking on the task of designing the theater. Born in Apache, Okla., Robin son’s interest in theater began in GALACTIC Tiir» MuivMii' MUSIC STARTS AT NOON BOTH PAYS! 1 Day; Advance $39.50 - Day of Show; $45.00 • 2 Oar- Advanc* $75.00 - Day of Show: $85.00 CAMPING $15 DOLLARS PER PERSON FOR THE WEEKEND CAMPERS MUST HAVE 2 DAT TICKET CAMPING OPENS 5/20 AT 2PM AND CLOSES AT 5/20 AT NOON • NO DOGS CALAVERAS ^ COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS ANGELS CAlM* • CALIFORNIA SATURDAY, MAY 27 PHIL Lesh e Friends The Les ClaypoolFrog Brigade with JACK IRONS. SKERBC. TIM ALEXANDER, MIRV f GUESTS The Derek Trucks Band Henry Butler ZlGABOO MODELISTE • VlVENDO DE PaO Alvin Youngblood Hart * Todd Snider Cun Dyken • Radney Foster • 008 Rooleen • Scott Huckabay SUNDAY, MAY 28 Ani DiFranco Spearhead Ozomatli • Vinyl North Mississippi Allstars Rebirth Brass Band Speakeasy • Jethro Jeremiah Band Storm • Paul Thorn Mother Hips • Essence rStStli CHARGE BY PHONE (503) 224-4400 m entertainment fri » may 19th through sun ► may 21st all events are FREE may 22nd poetry open mic 9-11:30pm Slgn-up to perform at The Break (located next to The Buzz) For more Info call Melanie at 346-3725 wed > may 17th nicole barrett 9-11pm acoustic thu • may 25th seth samuels duo 9:30-11:30pm rock band wed-may31 st tompatterson 9-11pm acoustic the buzz ► emu ground floor junior high. Robinson graduated from the University of Iowa and later went on to receive a gradu ate degree. When he arrived, the theater department consisted of only one other faculty member. Robinson began as the technical director and scene designer. He said that the theater program has changed considerably since then. “It has increased, of course, considerably in size,” Robinson said. “We had a very active pro gram at the time. We did six shows a year. It was, I guess, easi er, because there wasn’t any TV competition and very little of the theater in Eugene. So the Univer sity Theater was the main dramat ic outlet of the town at the time.” The theater began with a lot of public interest. “We had very good audiences. I would say, much more town participation than student,’ he said. Robinson said that, over time, the theater has become a pre dominately student-oriented place. Before the theater took Robin son’s name, the theater was named the University Theater. There was a move to change the theater’s name when Robinson retired In 1975. Robinson said that the Univer sity’s theater was once the major theater in the Northwest and ex cellent by 1949 standards, but that it has not progressed to meet 20th-century standards. “At the time, it was the best in the country,” Robinson said. “Things have progressed, changed considerably both in terms of plays and material and methods and technology and so forth and unfortunately the pres ent theater hasn’t kept up with those. It is, shall we say, rapidly becoming an outmoded theater.” The same can not be said for Robinson the man. Married for 76 years and having celebrated his 90th birthday last October, Robinson is still active in the the ater community. He still finds time to do a little directing, act ing and writing. “But the opportunities for that are decreasing,” Robinson said with a laugh. He added'that he never misses a campus performance. His “pet project” is a ten-year old Readers Theater Group. Robinson said that they perform four or five shows a week, and that helps him stay active. They have performed over 900 per formances and will reach 1,000 sometime in July, according to Robinson. “It’s a welcome outlet for me because it still keeps me going,” he said. ■Thursday, May 18 7 p.m. — Cynthia Beal with the Bleu Tie Affaire (torch ballads), Chez Ray’s, 30 W. 10th. Free. 7 p.m.—Campus Orchestra, Room 198 Music School. Free. 8 p.m.—The Red Elvises and The Brainwashers (surf swing), WOW Hall, 291 W. Eighth Ave. $7. 8 p.m.—Tony Rae Group (jazz), Foxfire Restaurant and Bar, 4740 Main St., Springfield. Free. 8 p.m. — “Ground Zero: Reinventing Dance in theYear2000” Spring stu dent dance concert, Dougherty Dance Theater, Gerlinger Annex. Tickets $3 for students, $6 general admission. Also runsat 8 p.m. Friday. 8 p.m.—Middle Eastern Dance 6uilde, Cafe Paradiso, 115 W. Broad way. $3. 9 p.m.—The Lazy Eights (funk), Sam Bond’s Garage, 407 Blair Blvd. $3-5 cover. 9 p.m.—Grooveyard (funk and rock), Good Times Cafe and Bar, 375 E 7th Ave. $4. 9:30 p.m. — jazz Jam Session, Jo Federigo’s Restaurant and Jazz Club, 259 E. Fifth Ave. Free.' 9:30 p. m. — Georgette Dash i el I, The Buzz Coffeehouse. Free. Ends at 11:30 p.m. 9:30 p.m. — Fritz & The Poor Boys (rock), Blackforest Tavern, 2657 Willamette. Free. 10 p.m. — 80s Night (dance), John Henry’s, 136 E. 11th Ave. No cover charge for women, men $2. ■Friday, May 19 8 p.m. — “Point Blank’’ (film), 180 PIC. $2-3. 8:30 p.m, — Madison & McCoy (acoustic), Cafe Paradiso. $2-5, 9 p.m.—Lazoo (acid funk), Good TimesCafeandBar,$5. 9 p.m.—Groove Juice Special; Wild Duck Music Hall, 169 W. 6th. $7 at the door. 9 p.m. — Easy Target, The Varicoast ers, lando Calrissian (punk, ska). 9:30 p.m. — Stone Cold Jazz. Chez Hell Cats (rock and roll), Foxfire Restaurant. Two-drink minimum. 9:30 p.m.—Three Bricks Shy (psy chedelic rock), Blackforest Tavern. Free. 9:30 p.m.—Alan Charing & Ben Gilde (acoustic), Sam Bond’s Garage. $3-5 cover. 9:30 p.m. — Freedom Funk Ensem ble, jo Federigo’s. $2 cover. 10 p.m.—Who Flung Pooh?, DMR, System 13 (alternative rock), John Henry’s. $3 cover. 10 pm.—Kerosene Dream (rock), Taylor’s Bar and Grill, 894 E 13th. $4. ■Saturday, May 20 7:30 p.m.—Young Women’s The ater Collective with Guys (drama, comedy), WOW Hall. $5-15. Also Sunday at 7:30 p.m. 9 pm.—Joni Rodgers and Rich Marks (stand-up), Kowloon's, 2222 Centennial Blvd, $6 9 p.m.—Workman Project (groove rock), Good Times Cafe and Bar. $5. 9:30 p.m, — Juba Ijo Federigo’s Restaurantand Jazz Club, $2 cover. 9:30 p.m.—Aiko Shimada and J.R, (acoustic), Sam Bond’s Garage. $3-5 cover. 9:30 p.m.—Marianne Pearl, Chez Ray’s. Free. 9:30 p.m. — Johnny Angel and the Hell Cats (rockand roll), Foxfire Restaurantand Bar. Two-drink mini mum. 9:30 p.m. —Jubal (jazz rock}, Black forest Tavern. Free. 10 p. m.—Spread Eagle, Pass Out Kings, Shapeshifter, Dim Fabian (punk rock), John Henry’s. $4 cover. 10 p.m,—Norma Fraser (Reggae), Taylor’s Bar and Grill. $5. ■Sunday, May 21 i pm—University Gospel Ensem ble, Beall Hall $3-5. 9 pm. —Open Mic, Blackforest Tav & Casey Neill, Sam Bond’s Garage. , $3*5 cover, 9 p.m, — Mark Alan (acoustic guitar and vo! ; : - ■ 1' . Nines, The Pawns (punk rock), John Henry’s. $3 cover. ■ Monday, May 22 6:30 p.m. — Open Mic sign up (show begins at 9 p.m.), Jo Federigo’s Restaurant and Jazz Club. Free. 8 p.m.—Open Mic, Chez Ray’s. Free. 8 p.m.—Open Mic, Foxfire Restau rant and Bar. Free. 8:30 p.m. — Open Mic Night, Cafe Paradiso. Free. 9 p.m.—Open poetry night, The Buzz Coffeehouse. Free. Ends at 11:30 p.m. 9 p.m. —Ty Connor, Sam Bond’s Garage. $2. 10 p.m. —Mixology 101 (house, jungle, trip-hop), John Henry’s. No cover charge for women, men $2. ■Tuesday, May 23 8 p.m. — Emerald Valley Music Ses sions (rockand roll), Foxfire Restau rant and Bar. Free. 8 p.m.—UO Campus Band, Beall Hall. Free. 8:30 p.m. — Barbara Dzuro Jazz Pi ano, jo Federigo’s. Free. 8:30 p.m.—Fred Van Vactor (acoustic), Caf£ Paradiso. Free. 9:30 p.m.—In the Dead of the Night, Chez Ray's. Free. 9 p.m. —The Original R Funkadel ic/ Parliament (funk), WOW Hall. $18-20. 10 p.m.—Justice League of Ameri ca Night at the House (house), John Henry’s. No cover charge for women, men $2. ■Wednesday, May 24 7 p.m> —John Barley, Chez Ray’s. Free. 8 p.m.—University Symphony, Beall Hall. $5-6. 8 p.m.—"La jetSe” (film with live .