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Theatre
From the 2007 Production of Sweet Charity
Rider inaugurated a formal program in educational theatre in 1959. The theatre became known as Theatre '59 only because it was established that year under the direction of Lee R. Yopp. There were four productions that first year: Guys and Dolls, Inherit the Wind, Bury the Dead, and Pajama Game. Approximately 4500 people saw those four productions.
In the four years that followed (1960-1964) there were 14 additional productions. Through 1964 (the year the college moved completely to the new campus) there was a record attendance of over 71,000 people.
In 1963, Theatre '59 was chosen by the United States Department of Defense to make an eight-weeks oversea tour to perform for the armed forces personnel in Europe. Bye Bye Birdie was presented to audiences in the European Command. In 1964, Theatre '59 performed at the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It was selected for this honor by the American National Theatre and Academy and the National Theatre Association.
On October 2, 1964, the Fine Arts Center on the Lawrenceville campus was dedicated. The back-tie event included a production of Carousel under the direction of Lee Yopp. The featured guest artist for that performance was Gordon MacRae.
Since then, Rider students have performed in hundreds of productions to thousands of audience members in the Yvonne Theater and The Spitz.
Join the tradition!
The 2008-2009 theater season includes productions of Caberet, The Pillowman, and COME BACK TO THE FIVE AND DIME, JIMMY DEAN, JIMMY DEAN. Learn more about this year's productions (pdf).
Alpha Psi Omega - Theatre Honor Society
View a "Day-in-the-Life" of Nicole (Theatre '09)
