How does a local community college in the middle of the San Fernando
Valley build a world class theatre arts program? Begin with two
very special people…Eugene Francis and Ellen
Albertini Dow.
After serving in WWII and seeing action in seven major battles-Eugene
focused on his acting career in NYC where he met and married Ellen
Albertini. The talented couple moved to California where both
embarked on a long and successful teaching and acting careers.
Arriving at Pierce College in 1957, Gene with Ellen at his side
founded the Theatre Arts Department, using a 35 seat tin-roofed
bungalow as its first theatre.
As a one-man department for many years, Gene produced and directed
the great dramatic literature of the world. Utilizing an abandoned
platform, he created the stage for 13 summer outdoor Shakespeare
Productions. Starting with 20 minutes of Elizabethan songs and
dances created by Ellen, then a grand procession and finally the
production.
Ellen not only created the Albertini Mime Players
which played in locations throughout the LA area, but introduced
Saturday Musical Theatre for Children to the
Pierce campus. The productions were held in the Student Union
on a cement stage with a fireplace on it and windows encircling
the entire room. The cast would arrive at 8am on Saturday to help
black out the windows and transform the stage into a magical place.
The productions were accompanied by two pianos-one played by a
Pierce student and the other by Ellen Dow.
From these beginnings the college’s Theatre Arts Program
expanded where it is today, boasting a state-of-the-art Performing
Arts Building, including a 375-seat Main Stage Theatre and a 100-seat
Arena Theatre. Both Gene and Ellen worked closely with the architect
in the design of the structure and the interior design. Gene was
instrumental in obtaining permission to expand an existing classroom
into the Arena Theatre-which we are proud to now call:
" The Eugene Francis and Ellen Albertini Dow Arena
Theatre".
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