TULANE TALK

May 6, 2005

Good morning:

Students in our Theatre and Dance Department can be forgiven for acting up lately.

First came the news that the departmentís presentation of the Civil War drama Hallowed Ground won a Big Easy Award for Best University Production. Then it was announced that Blythe Danner will join Emmy-winning writer-producer Tom Fontana (Homicide: Life on the Street, Oz) in a coaching session for theatre students May 9 from 11 to noon in McWilliams Hall, Room 104.

Blythe is a Tony-award winning actress whose career includes starring work in movies such as To Wong Foo: Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, as well as memorable roles as the long-suffering wife in The Great Santini, The Prince of Tides and Meet the Parents. She is also a longtime friend of our university through her marriage to Bruce Paltrow, a Tulane graduate and the director of television hits such as The White Shadow and St. Elsewhere.

Blythe and Bruceís 32-year marriage was the envy of Hollywood and gave the world Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow and director Jake Paltrow. Bruce passed away in 2002, but his commitment to Tulane University and its students lives on through the efforts of Blythe and others.

Have a great weekend,