Brustein Outlines Proposal for Loeb; Theater Students' Response Is Mixed

Robert S. Brustein, who may become director of the Loeb Drama Center next year, presented his proposal for an undergraduate drama program at the Loeb in a written statement made public yesterday by the University administration.

Under Brustein's preliminary plan, the Harvard-Radcliffe Dramatic Club (HRDC) would have access to the main stage of the Loeb for thirteen weeks, six in the beginning of the fall and seven at the start of spring, a reduction in the club's traditional use.

However, Brustein said in his statement, he believed the "repertory theater," which he would bring to the Loeb, "could offer the HRDC compensation of an important kind."

Brustein's repertory staff would supervise and assist HRDC productions "on a request basis," the statement said.

Students taking acting courses will be able to play roles in the professional repertory season, "when appropriate," it read.

According to the proposal, Brustein would teach the only two drama courses offered for credit: one in modern drama and one in classical drama.

Brustein also proposed 14 other non-credit courses, including instruction in directing, acting, voice and movement and technical production.

HRDC board members met yesterday with Glen W. Bowersock, associate dean of the Faculty on undergraduate education, to discuss Brustein's proposal.

Kerry Konrad '79, president of the HRDC, said yesterday that "opinion is split at HRDC."

In a written statement submitted by HRDC officers to Bowersock yesterday, the organization stated that they "foresee many problems" with Brustein's program.

The time alloted for the HRDC at the beginning of the fall and spring season will have to be renegotiated and coordinated with the school calendar, Konrad said.

Konrad added that the courses Brustein proposes in modern and classical drama overlap with courses currently offered by the English Department.

Robert H. Chapman, director of the Loeb and professor in the English department, now teaches English 160A. "Modern Dance," English 125B, "Elizabethan and Jacobean Drama," covers a syllabus similar to Brustein's suggested classical drama course.

The Loeb now offers no directing workshops such as Brustein would set up.

However, Konrad questioned the value of Brustein's non-credit workshop courses in basic acting skills. "Once they get beyond the basics," Konrad said, "I don't know how big a demand there's going to be."

Konrad added that the relationship between the repertory company and the undergraduates remains unclear.

The presence of the repertory "would not necessarily increase the amount of interaction between professionals and undergraduates," HRDC members said in their statement.

As a professional company, the repertory might not have the time required to train students thoroughly, Konrad said.

Prove It

Leo-Pierre Roy '79, an HRDC member, said yesterday he did not understand what Brustein intended to do at Harvard. "We are looking at a man whose basis is professional theater training, but Harvard theater has no such professional basis."