A New York musical theater executive will address University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point graduates and their families at the spring commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 19.
Ted Chapin, president and chief creative officer of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization, will speak to nearly 1,300 graduates who will earn associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in ceremonies at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the UW-Stevens Point Health Enhancement Center.
The student speaker at 9:30 a.m. will be Angela Stahl, an English major from Tinley Park, Ill. Welcoming the new alumni will be Frank Haeni and Kathleen Trejo Haeni, both 1970 graduates from Crivitz.
The 2 p.m. student speaker will be Anyon Rettinger, a communication-public relations major from Waukesha. Stevens Point residents David and Trina James, 2001 and 1999 UW-Stevens Point graduates respectively, will welcome the new alumni.
Graduating senior Alyson Evans, an instrumental, general and choral music education major from Reedsburg, will sing the national anthem and UW-Stevens Point's alma mater in both ceremonies. She will be accompanied by the UW-Stevens Point Band, directed by Michael Butler, assistant professor of music.
Guests may park in any campus lot (for free) except Lot F West, which will be used for handicap access.
Chapin runs the agency responsible for copyrights created by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, including the popular stage and film musicals "Oklahoma," "The King and I" and "The Sound of Music." On Chapin's watch, seven Tony Award-winning revivals have occurred on Broadway, plus a new production of "Carousel" in April.
He has worked with UW-Stevens Point alumnae such as Laura Osnes and Tatyana Lubov, who both starred as the lead in "Cinderella" on Broadway. He co-founded the Encores! Series at New York City Center, chaired the American Theater Wing and hosted three seasons of NJTV's "American Songbook."
Chapin produces the "Lyrics and Lyricists" series in New York City and wrote the book "Everything Was Possible: The Birth of the Musical Follies." He serves on the boards of several theatre organizations and has guest lectured at prestigious universities. Chapin earned his bachelor's degree in English and theater studies from Connecticut College, where he serves as an emeritus trustee.
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