In a two-night only event, the Department of Theatre and Dance honored a momentous evening in the University’s history at “Evening at the Waldorf.” Taking place at the University Club, the cabaret featured early-1960s Broadway music with live student performances and showcased classic memorabilia from the Paul W. Bryant Museum.
“Evening at the Waldorf” commemorated President John F. Kennedy’s recognition of Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and the Crimson Tide football team for their win in the MacArthur Bowl and their 1961 season, going undefeated and winning the national championship. The event displayed artifacts, such as game programs from the season, photographs and the MacArthur Bowl plaque.
“It’s a great time to learn. We have a standard of excellence here at the University, where national championships have been won by most of the sports here, with Coach Bryant having won six national championships,” said Brian Mast, education outreach coordinator at the Paul W. Bryant Museum. “To talk about somebody who has a street named after him that goes through most of Tuscaloosa, it’s important to understand the name and history associated with it.”
“Evening at the Waldorf” also featured performances by student talent from the Department of Theatre and Dance. When organizing the event, the combination of 1960s Broadway numbers contributed to the period’s theme.
“When we were recognizing this history that we were connecting to, and we had the idea to do a cabaret show with Broadway musicals,” said Matthew Davis, assistant professor and head of directing and stage management. “We could create an atmosphere and environment for the whole evening, and we really tried to connect the history to the entertainment.”
Each student performed their own two-song set, drawing from 1960s Broadway repertoires of their choice. Henry Lewers, assistant professor of theatre and music director, said the contemporary cabaret allowed students to “share something close to their heart.”
“A special feature of cabaret, in particular, is how personal and individualized it is. The students have worked hard to craft stylistically appropriate performances, and watching them grow through the rehearsal process has been inspiring,” Lewers said. “My favorite part has been seeing our students simply get to be themselves on stage, singing songs that they like and bringing a smile to someone’s face.”
Tickets for “Evening at the Waldorf” sold out both nights, hosting families of 1961 team members, Tuscaloosa residents, UA students and faculty. Mast said he admired seeing the community rally together and the performing students, who he said are “champions of what they do.”
“To have some relatives here to enjoy the performance and be honored in this way for their accomplishments, it’s something that we’re happy to help with,” Mast said. “The appreciation the community has for the sacrifice of the students, by responding and showing their respect for their hard work, is really cool.”
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