Clemson theater director wins Kennedy Center award for playwriting
Published: April 1, 2010
CLEMSON — Mark Charney, Clemson University’s resident playwright and director of theater, is the 2010 recipient of the David Mark Cohen National Playwriting Award given by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, the Association for Theatre in Higher Education and Dramatic Publishing Co.
The award is in recognition of Charney’s latest play, "The Power Behind the Palette," a drama developed as part of a performing arts department Creative Inquiry initiative. It premiered last November.
The award is presented to promote the writing and production of new plays while honoring and perpetuating the memory of David Mark Cohen, a professor of playwriting at the University of Texas-Austin. As the winner of the 2010 Cohen award, Charney receives a $1,000 cash award, in addition to a professional reading at the national conference of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education and an offer of publication by Dramatic Publishing.
Chip Egan, dean of the College of Architecture, Arts, and Humanities and the former head of the performing arts department, said, “Mark’s play represents what is best about his approach to theater: it is collaborative, innovative and highly educational in its treatment of the core aspects of art and creativity. I had the pleasure of working with David Mark Cohen on many new play initiatives. He would be thrilled with the choice of Mark Charney as this year’s winner.”
"The Power Behind the Palette" chronicles the life of Ambroise Vollard, a noted 19th century art dealer and publisher. An important figure in contemporary art, Vollard (1867-1939) recognized and sponsored several leading artists of the Paris School early in their careers.
“Cezanne, Degas, Gauguin, Matisse, and even Picasso, were among his clients,” said Charney. “He championed their work long before they were popular, often mounting one-man exhibitions in his gallery.”
The drama examines many moments in Vollard’s life, presenting snapshots that depict his interests, arguments, struggles and especially the mystery surrounding his death.
“Vollard purchased the art of these artists when there was no market for their works,” Charney said. “His investments were small and he accumulated their works for years. When the artists achieved both popular and critical acclaim, he sold his collections to eager patrons and dealers at considerable profits, thus acquiring great wealth.”
The play emphasizes the dependence that exists between art and commerce, revealing the resentment such dependence creates.
The production was the culmination of a year of research involving 10 performing arts students. The play was part of the university’s Creative Inquiry initiative, in which undergraduate students conduct original research and report their findings.
“The students looked into all aspects of French life, including manners, domestic life and business practices," Charney said. "And, of course, the heart of their work involved the art and the artists.”
The play featured original scenic, costume and lighting designs conceived by performing arts faculty and students. Original music for the play was developed with students and Rick Goodstein, a professor of music and chairman of the performing arts department. Goodstein also served as a co-faculty leader on the project.
END
