Barb Graber takes a break
L.B. Hamilton replaces Graber as "The Music Man" director.
Long-time musical director and theater department chair Barbara Graber has temporarily relinquished her positions as chair and director due to health complications stemming from a car accident in 2003.
Graber has handed over her responsibilities as director to L.B. Hamilton. Academic Dean Marie Morris has stepped in as EMU's theater department chair. Graber continues to teach part-time and will stay involved with The Music Man.
Graber requested a reduced load for the semester when symptoms from her accident injuries persisted. "My doctors have encouraged me to step back, reduce stress, and focus more seriously on healing from what they've come to believe was a serious head injury," said Graber. "I will be able to see improvement within several months."
Though disappointed by the recent developments, Graber is "thrilled our students will have the chance to work with L.B. Hamilton."
Hamilton was the guest-director of EMU's 2002 production of "12 Angry Jurors."
"I quickly fell in love with the program, the cast and crew of Twelve Angry Jurors, and the EMU community," said Hamilton.
Hamilton has an MFA in Theatre from The University of Nevada, Las Vegas; was co-founder of the Maine Youth Summer Theater Institute (MYSTI); and was founding Artistic Director of the critically acclaimed fringe theater, Our Backs to the Wall Players, in Las Vegas.
Hamilton has high hopes for the EMU theatre department. "In the next few years, I believe we'll all see the department thrive, and that there will be exciting, positive additions and changes made to the already excellent beginnings of the theater program."
While it is disappointing for the department to see Graber step down, the solution to this difficulty is one brimming with promise and opportunity not only for the theater department, but for Graber as well as she continues the necessary healing process.
The theater program at EMU began in the early 1980s, originally offering a theater minor within the language and literature department.
This year's production of The Music Man will be showing February 17-26 at 7:30 p.m. in Lehman Auditorium.
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