After the Save The Fox showcase offered a promising end to last semester, Montclair State University students were shocked to learn on Sept. 26 that the L. Howard Fox Studio Theatre is being replaced with the upcoming Dreamscape Learn virtual reality (VR) lab.
Kathleen Kelley, the chairperson for the theatre and dance department, sent an email to theater and dance students informing them of the news. Demolition is set to begin early January 2025.
Kelley said that the department is looking for alternatives to offer students.
“We have some short-term plans that aren’t perfect, but would fulfill our immediate space needs for both scenic construction and performances,” Kelley said. “We also have long-term plans that are in development to create a space that is hopefully even better suited to what we do than our current situation.”
The Dreamscapes Learn lab will teach students basic skills of human empathy, ethics, equity and self care through using VR headsets, as explained by President Jonathan Koppell.
“The project consists of the conversion of Fox Theater into a classroom, computer lab and virtual reality pod for Dreamscape Learn, including a new IT server room and accessible single-use restroom,” Koppell said in a press release.
Montclair State is one of 30 institutions who received $1 million in funding through the Wake Forest grant by the Lilly Endowment. The funding will go toward community engagement and SEEDS, the planned general education curriculum that aims to emphasize social justice, equity, engagement, diversity and self-care and discovery.
The project was explained by Dr. Jennifer Urban, professor of family science and human development. “The goal of the project is to create an exciting general education course in the SEEDS curriculum that will broadly appeal to students from across [Montclair State], regardless of what college they’re in [or] what their major is,” Urban said. “It will focus on the aspects of the SEEDS curriculum that are not so much about skill development, but are about [questions such as] ‘How do I flourish as a human being?'”
Mandi Dellagicoma, a sophomore stage management major was one of many students shocked by this semester’s news regarding Fox Theatre’s status.
“We recruit from all over the country for the musical theater program, our design tech management program is building up, our acting program is building up and still they are taking away more spaces,” Dellagicoma said. “It’s hurtful because why are other majors more important than us? Why is one of our spaces getting turned into something for another major?”
Sophomore design tech management major Mandi Dellagicoma. Kaitlin Swift | The Montclarion Photo credit: Kaitlin Swift
This frustration has led to a resurgence in the Save The Fox campaign, currently organized by senior acting major Laura Jean McHale and senior musical theater major Carlita Vinciguerra. The duo also coproduced last year’s showcase. McHale and Vinciguerra are leading the student body to fight for the theater and all of the experiences it has to offer.
Vinciguerra emphasized the versatility of Fox Theatre and the professional experience it brings to students.
“Because it’s a studio theater space, it has that malleability of it, which is unique to a black box,” Vinciguerra said. “If they were to take that away, that’s taking away that opportunity to be able to have that in our education to be able to learn that style of theater.” These traits make Fox an epicenter in terms of teaching students how to create theater spectacles in smaller settings relevant to their future career.
Senior musical theater major Carlita Vinciguerra. Kaitlin Swift | The Montclarion Photo credit: Kaitlin Swift
Fox’s location also makes it the most convenient place for patchwork and quick fixes on the shows students know and love. Currently, the Pride and Prejudice sets are housed in Fox Theatre.
“The workaround plan that they have in place right now is still going to be very complicated and really hurt the creativity and the drive and the passion of these technical theatrical artists,” McHale said.
The Save The Fox campaign wants students from all majors and all walks of life to come together and support one another in their personal endeavors. Through their Instagram (@save_fox_msu), TikTok (@save.the.fox) and their upcoming shows, Save The Fox hopes to unite the Montclair State population and keep live theater alive and well for future Red Hawks to experience.
Senior acting major Laura Jean Mchale. Kaitlin Swift | The Montclarion Photo credit: Kaitlin Swift
“The thing that I love about this campaign and I love about just being here at Montclair State while this is all going on, is it shows me the power of young artists and the power that we hold in this industry and the need for our voices in this industry right now,” McHale said.
The hopes of the Save The Fox campaign are that the Dreamscapes Learn can coexist with the Department of Theatre and Dance, or be housed in a separate location on campus. “I am excited for the future of [Dreamscapes Learn],” Vinciguerra said. “It looks really cool. I just don’t want it to interfere with the future of the Fox theater.”
The university has not provided a response to The Montclarion at this time.
