Clubs

Question: Where can you see a Shakespeare production; meet the managing director, key staff and cast; tour the set and enjoy discussions with alumni and insights from faculty; see the American Dance Festival and have dinner with members of Pilobolus; discover the relationship between colonial North Carolina and John Wentworth; learn to spin flax; visit with alumni; and learn from a favorite professor?

Answer: a Dartmouth club alumni seminar. Alumni continuing education & travel works in collaboration with regional alumni clubs to create educationally stimulating seminar programs. Seminars are open to club members and their families, Dartmouth parents, friends and invited guests. Many Dartmouth clubs have hosted educational events and seminars for many years and continue to provide opportunities for alumni. Events hosted by the Dartmouth Club of the Piedmont (DCP), which started its seminar program in 2003, are highlighted here.

The DCP's first alumni seminar took place in conjunction with the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival' productions of A Midsummer Night'sDream and The erchantofVenice at the High Point Theatre in High Point, North Carolina, In September 2003. Professor Peter Saccio, Dartmouth's renowned Shakespeare scholar and teacher, was the guest lecturer and discussion leader. The weekend began with hors d'oeuvres and dinner on Friday, followed by Saccio's lecture on A MidsummerNight's Dream. The group attended the play, followed by a dessert reception and conversation about the play. Saturday afternoon the festival's managing director, costume designer and two of the leading actors joined the group for a lively discussion of the festival's history and mission, the plays, their directing, costuming and acting challenges and a tour of the set. Fridays format was repeated Saturday evening with The Merchant ofVenice. Sunday wrapped up with brunch and an unusually lively discussion of the serious modern issues raised by The Merchant of Venice and by any effort to stage it.

In June 2004 the DCP attended an evening of fine dining and dance with the Pilobolus Dance Theatre as part of the American Dance Festival. Artistic director Michael Tracy '73 joined the DCP for dinner and gave an informative and humorous pre-performance talk about the company and the dances that would be seen, including a new piece choreographed by Michael.

The 2005 DCP alumni seminar took place at the Try on Palace Historic Sites & Gardens in New Bern, North Carolina, in September. Professor Jere Daniell '55, an expert in colonial history and de-facto College historian, was the guest lecturer and discussion leader. A continental breakfast was followed by a lecture on "Governing the Colonies: The Special Case of North Carolina." After a catered lunch, participants saw a video and took a tour of the buildings and grounds of the palace complex, learning more about the estate and local history from period players. Attendees reconvened for a lecture on "William Tryon, John Wentworth, Dartmouth College and the American Revolution." An optional dinner was followed by brief comments and discussion on Dartmouth today from Daniell. Daniell was a knowledgeable, entertaining speaker with great insights about North Carolina's early history and parallels with the founding of the College.

Have you taken advantage of the wonderful opportunities alumni seminars provide to combine a taste of Dartmouth, lifelong learning and fellowship?

For information on seminars in your area, or across the country, please visit the alumni continuing education and travel area of the alumni relations Web site, http://alumni.dartmouth.edu/conted/index.html, or contact your local club.

Special thanks to Bob Conn '61, Dartmouth Club of the Piedmont, who provided content for this column.

If you have suggestions for Club Notes, please contact me.

19 Debbi Lane, Epping, NH03042; (603) 734-2804; patricia.j.laughlin.91@alum.dartmouth.org