Much ado
about a career
By Thomas Lowe
Photo by Nellie McCallum
Karen Coover Gay
attributes her successful career in entertainment, "in no small part to the
educational opportunities provided me by the College of Fine Arts at UNO."
Gay, director of public, social and cultural affairs for Cirque du
Soleil's resident shows division, and Joe Walsh, stage manager for Cirque's
"O," led several workshops at UNO in October in conjunction with Cirque du
Soleil's Delirium tour at Omaha's Qwest Center.
Gay's path to
success began in UNO's graduate theatre program. Upon hearing there was a
95-percent unemployment rate in acting, she decided to pursue areas of theatre
beyond performance. She credits the UNO Theatre program for providing her a
well-rounded education.
"At UNO I learned to
respect the entire process and history of the theatre and respect the fact that
every person working on or back stage has an important role to play and that
all the pieces are needed to make theatre happen," Gay says. "I learned the
meaning and advantages of collaboration."
As a graduate
assistant at UNO, Gay worked in box office and marketing. That led directly to
her position as the site/company manager for the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival,
where she also served as marketing director for two seasons.
Upon completing her
graduate coursework, Gay toured with the Nebraska Theatre Caravan for two
seasons as company and road manager. Between Caravan gigs she was company
manager and executive assistant to the artistic director for Opera Omaha and
company manager for its world premiere of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Requiem
Variations."
In 1992, Gay helped
organize the opening of the new UNO Theatre and the establishment of the 20th
Century Diversity Scholarship Fund. At the ribbon cutting for the new Weber
Fine Arts Building, Gay met Keryl McCord, then-president of the National
Endowment for the Arts Theatre wing.
McCord told Gay of
an NEA pilot project directed at providing artistic cultural programming to
rural American communities. Gay applied for a position with the project and was
one of only five theater arts graduate students to be chosen.
"I was overwhelmed
and pleased to represent UNO and the College of Fine Arts," she says.
In 1995, Gay began
her association with the Troika Organization as company manager and producing
associate for the national tour of 42nd Street, then company manager of Starlight
Express at the Las Vegas Hilton.
That, in turn, led
to her association with Cirque du Soleil. In early 1998 Gay became company
manager/ director of operations for Cirque's "Mystère." She began her current
position in 2005.
As her career
boomed, Gay sought to repay those who had helped her early in her career. She
became a member of the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival's Bard's Club, which
allowed her to reconnect with Dr. Cindy Melby Phaneuf, theatre professor and
NSF co-founder/producing artistic director.
Phaneuf met with Gay
on a trip to Las Vegas in summer 2006 following NSF's Las Vegas-themed
production of "The Taming of the Shrew." When they discussed Gay's career, they
realized students could benefit from hearing about her experiences.
In October the
Nebraska Shakespeare Festival brought Gay and stage manager Walsh to UNO to
conduct open workshops. Open to campus and community, they provided information
on the history and business of Cirque, as well as career advice.
Gay stressed the
importance of "staying in school," a notion that she reinforces to her own
stepchildren.
"It was indeed the
experience and education I had at UNO that set me on the path toward a
wonderful career," she says.
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Calendar of Events: September -
December
Art & Art History
Art shows
run in UNO Art Gallery, 1st Floor, Weber Fine Arts Bldg. Opening receptions
begin 6:30 p.m.
|
Dec. 3-15
Fall BFA Thesis
Exhibition, Opening Reception, Dec. 1
Jan. 16-Feb. 23
Faculty
Exhibition, Opening Reception Jan. 12
|
Mar. 2-April 6
UNO Art
Student Exhibition, Opening Reception March 2
|
Communication
Feb. 3
"Night on
the Ice," UNO vs. Michigan State hockey game at the Qwest Center, hosted by the
UNO School of Communication. Reception and dinner at the Qwest Center prior to
game. Purchase tickets for $25 by calling 554-2520.
KVNO Radio
Mid-March
KVNO's
Spring Pledge Drive. Details coming soon at www.kvno.org.
Music
A season
of preserving cultural heritage. *Sunday evenings at 5 p.m. in UNO Art Gallery,
1st Floor, Weber Fine Arts Bldg. Reception with artists follows lecture/
performances. Contact Shari Hofschire, 554-2402, for ticket information.
|
Dec. 8
Prevailing Winds VI
Symphonic Wind Ensemble, University Concert Band, Jazz I & Jazz II
Concert, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 9
Choral Concert with the
Chamber Orchestra,
7:30 p.m.
Feb. 8
Ecoutez!: Costa Rica
Trombone Quartet,
7:30 p.m.
Feb. 10
Romance and Roses Ball
with the Chamber Orchestra at the UNO Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom, 7
p.m.
Feb. 13
Concert
Choir Concert, 7:30 p.m.
|
Feb. 24
Ecoutez!: Hubert Laws,
Jazz Flute, 7:30 p.m.
March 3
Heartland Philharmonic
Orchestra & Concert Choir Concert, 3 & 7:30 p.m.
March 6
Jazz Bands Concert at
the Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom, 7:30 p.m.
March 8
University Concert Band
Concert, 7:30 p.m.
March 20
Resonate:
Shannon Salyards, voice, 7:30 p.m.
|
Theater
Performances begin 7:30 p.m. in UNO Theatre, Weber Fine
Arts Building, unless otherwise noted. Box Office opens 10 days prior to each
show. Call for tickets, 554-2335.
Feb. 22-24, 28 & March 3
Nickel
& Dimed.
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