Nearly 200 faculty, staff, students, alumni and board members gathered for the standing-room only dedication of the Genesius Theater.
President Charles J. Dougherty, the Rev. Dan Walsh, C.S.Sp., director of Spiritan Campus Ministry, and other campus administrators participated in the Aug. 25 dedication of the new black box theater.
During his remarks, Dougherty called the new theater a tribute to the generations of Duquesne performers who, in the past, made do on campus without a permanent home. He also described it as an invitation to the city of Pittsburgh to visit Duquesne’s campus.
The Genesius dedication also featured first performances in the space, which included School of Music student Gavin Horning performing a guitar solo, Law Professor Mark Yochum’s monologue from Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, Spotlight Musical Theater Group’s selection from their fall show Company and Encore Show Choir’s performance of Irish Blessing.
The first public performance scheduled in the theater will be The Red Masquers’ production of Death of a Salesman, which opens Thursday, Oct. 1. Information and ticket details can be found on The Red Masquers’ webpage.
The Genesius Theater was named for third-century saint Genesius of Rome, whose public conversion on stage led to his martyrdom. Because of his association with the theater and performing arts, Genesius is the patron saint of actors and other performers.
