NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

4/2/2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES- Former students, friends, colleagues and family of Dr. Jack Wann took turns praising and gently insulting the coordinator of theatre at Northwestern State University at a recent retirement reception and roast. Wann will retire in June to purse an acting and voiceover career in New York.

More than 200 people attended the reception and roast. Former students traveled from New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Orlando, Fla. to honor Wann, who came to NSU in 1990 and built one of the South's top undergraduate theatre programs.

"Dr. Wann touched my life in ways I can't explain," said alumnus Melissa Randall, who is working in Los Angeles at a dinner theatre specializing in murder mysteries. "He was like the father figure I needed. He kept me out of trouble by making me work hard. Dr. Wann pushed me hard to pursue my career."

Wann's former students said he taught them more than how to act.

"He taught me how to handle myself and be aware about the business," said Ryan Glorioso, who is acting in Los Angeles. "He taught me not to be naïve and to listen to myself and stay focused."

As part of the roast, Glorioso showed a short film he made which featured Wann as an expert on lip-synching.

According to Wann's former students, there was no question that they would make every effort to honor their mentor when they heard about the event.

"He always stays in touch with us and remains a part of our lives," said Robert Larivierre, who is working professionally in Los Angeles. "He taught us to work hard and be dedicated. He never veered in what he wanted. Dr. Wann is a good role model."

But it wasn't all praise for Wann. Students, colleagues and daughter Regan poked fun at him for his fondness of food, his habit of creating new parking spaces near his office, his book on Shakespearean acting and common phrases he uses in classes and rehearsals. Others who took turns roasting Wann included NSU president Dr. Randall J. Webb, Leah Lentz, Jeff Williams, former NSU theatre faculty member and longtime friend Dr. Jim Stacy and mentor Dr, Bill Harbin.

"This meant a lot to me," said Wann. "It meant so much that so many people made such an effort to be here. In the arts we are like a family and the people here will always be part of my family."

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