Dramatic arts prepares for new chair

McKay Coble, the current dramatic art department chair, will pass the department chair torch to fellow dramatic art professor Adam Versenyi in January.

Versenyi, who has been at UNC since 1988, said he is excited to learn more about the inner-workings of his department.

“While I know a lot about what goes on in the department and in the theater, I think what I’m really looking forward to is learning about all of (how it works) in new ways,” he said. “I’ve got a sense of what everyone does, but getting an understanding as the chair.”

Coble said the chair position entails a lot of administrative duties, including developing the dramatic art curriculum and making sure all faculty members have what they need.

She also said the chair is a leader and member of PlayMakers Repertory Company to develop a season that will provide great experiences for our students.

Coble also said Versenyi will have a smaller budget than usual because of the N.C. legislature’s unfavorable attitude towards liberal arts education.

“Dr. Versenyi can also expect to fight a little bit to make sure that the arts stay a big part of liberal arts education,” Coble said.

“He’ll be fighting a cause that a lot of artists around our country will be fighting.”

Versenyi said along with his administrative tasks, he hopes to internationalize the department during his term.

“I want to make sure that students and faculty all have the ability to interact with, learn from, be influenced by and influence theater in other parts of the world,” he said.

Terry Rhodes, a music professor who was on the dramatic art chair selection committee, said the new chair was decided a semester early so Versenyi had time to learn more about the position from Coble.

Rhodes also said a number of professors from all over the university came to her during the summer to discuss the future of the dramatic art department and what they want to see in the next department chair.

“(Versenyi) is going to be an excellent new chair,” she said. “He understands the university and the department, and I think he’ll bring a lot to the role.”

But Coble said the position is about more than maintaining the department, it’s about growing it as well.

“If people stop coming to you and asking you for stuff, then you might as well hang up your saddle,” Coble said.

“If they keep coming to you and they keep bugging you for stuff, then that means that they have hope that they’re going to be heard and they’re going to get what they need from you — and that’s a quality that I think anyone needs to develop as a chair.”

arts@dailytarheel.com