2016-2017 Presidential Series Recap
Beth Stelling, comedian and Miami '07 alum
Homecoming, Saturday, September 17, 2016, Wilks Theatre
Celebrating an Alum Who is a Funny Woman Succeeding in a Man's World
- Presented in collaboration with Late Night Miami and the Miami University Alumni Association for Homecoming Week
- Theatre Majors participated in a Q&A with Beth about the professional life being a comedian and writer
- Miami University's Alumni Association hosted a post-show meet & greet event uptown at The Bow Tie Barber Club
Dear World
December 7-8, 2016 | Hall Auditorium, Shade Family Room, Wilks Theatre
Giving Voice to Everyone & Creating Community
- A community building project in three acts, this live storytelling experience portrait shoot created an interactive opportunity for individuals to be heard, for strangers to become friends, and Miami to embrace differences across our campus and community.
- A day-long photo shoot and portrait reveal at the Armstrong Student Center, presented in partnership with I AM MIAMI, Student Activities, Fraternity and Sorority Life, and Associated Student Government
VIP Photo Shoot: A broad variety of campus, student and community leaders came together to write their message to the world on their skin. Portraits were shared immediately via social media to inspire participation.
Open Photo Shoot: Peers assisted participants in determining and writing their messages. Then participants sat for their portraits.
Live Photo Reveal Event: Four Miamians shared their moving stories and portrait onstage, followed by a slide show of all the portraits taken (See all photos on Facebook)
It Gets Better Tour
Feb. 20-25, Hall Auditorium
Week-long Community Residency Addressed Issues of Sexual Orientation and Bullying at Miami, Talawanda High School and Oxford through Interactive Conversations & Performances
- Miami University, the Associated Student Government and City of Oxford declared Feb. 20-25 It Gets Better Week at a Kick-off Dinner for the Steering Team and community leaders.
- We brought people together to identify issues through series of cast-led facilitated dialogues and presentations with key constituencies:
Miami employees, hosted by Miami Human Resources and Academic Personnel
Miami Student Affairs professionals
Miami Residence Life professional staff
Miami LGBTQ+ students, hosted by Spectrum and Diversity Affairs Council
Members of the Oxford community (Facilitated Dialogue hosted by United Way and Oxford PFLAG)
Talawanda Middle and High School teachers
Talawanda High School students
All participants were invited to the World Café problem-solving process, posing questions about how to address the issues that had surfaced throughout the week with the goal of identifying actionable solutions.
- Over 40 students, staff and community members formed the It Gets Better Community Chorus and performed with the cast in the show, serving as beacons of support for the community.
- Late Night Miami hosted a piano cabaret/open mic with the cast at the Armstrong Student Center.
- President & Dr. Crawford hosted a reception in their home prior to the show, inviting members of the LGBTQ+ campus community, allies, and Miami alumni via the 1809 LGBT Alumni Association, then attended the performance with their guests.
- The audience enjoyed a post-show talk-back with cast, Miami president, and community chorus director.
Judgment at Nuremberg, LA Theatre Works
Thursday, April 13, Hall Auditorium
Award-winning Play About War Crimes Tribunal Offered a Platform to Celebrate the Legacy of an Important Miamian
- The life and legacy of John Dolibois '42 was honored at the show by recognizing all Miamians who have attended or taught at the Miami University Dolibois European Center in Luxembourg. We also recognized all Miamians who have received either the John E. Dolibois Alumni Award or Dolibois Faculty Award
- Members of the cast had lunch with The Knolls of Oxford residents, sharing stories about WWII and life on the road
- Miami history professor Erik Jensen joined the cast onstage for a lively post-show talk-back with the audience