BWW Interviews: SULLIVANT'S TRAVELS Takes Guests on Artistic Journey

After two and a half years of construction, The Ohio State University's Sullivant Hall is ready to open its doors to the public once again this weekend.

A grand reopening celebration honoring the renovation and transformation of the hall is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20 from 12:30 - 5 p.m.

The event will feature a ribbon cutting ceremony, open houses and the premiere of "Sullivant's Travels," a promenade performance work choreographed and directed by Stephan Koplowitz.

Featuring performances by various OSU student ensembles, "Sullivant's Travels" is a site-specific work that encourages audience members to immerse themselves in performance art while exploring the renovated Sullivant Hall at their own pace.

"You will see movement and sound that really accentuates the architecture; you will see aerial work accentuating the height of the studios; and you will see audience participation and the use of advanced technologies," said Susan Van Pelt Petry, chair and professor of the OSU Department of Dance. "And through it all you will experience the entire building and all its wonderful light and space."

"Sullivant's Travels" will feature 11 simultaneous performance events inspired by the architecture of Sullivant Hall, which has been transformed to incorporate natural elements such as "light and flow," Petry said in an email.

"Many new windows in many of our spaces provide a real sense of engagement with the outdoors, with the greater university and with light and energy--apt metaphors for the arts in general," she said.

Petry said she thinks that the architectural changes will bring an enhanced sense of "camaraderie, collaboration and transparency" to the performing arts departments that call Sullivant Hall home.

"The faculty, graduate students, undergraduate students and staff work together in rather open, accessible and connected spaces," she said. "The architecture invites these kinds of exchanges and engagements."

Another addition to the renovated hall is the Barnett Theater, a learning laboratory where students may practice their skills and push the boundaries of conventional performance art, Petry said.

"Our new Barnett Theater represents the first time that the Department of Dance has its own working laboratory theater," she said. "The Barnett Theater is providing ample laboratory time for interesting dance, choreography, lighting and sound design, as well as--in time--technology projections."

In addition to the OSU Department of Dance and the Barnett Theater, Sullivant Hall also houses the Department of Arts Administration, Education, and Policy; the Advanced Computing Center for Arts and Design; the Barnett Center for Integrated Arts and Enterprise; and the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library.

Petry said she hopes that the reopening ceremony encourages guests to look at OSU's performing arts programs with fresh eyes.

"(I hope guests come away with) a real sense of the fantastic talent at The Ohio State University in the arts," she said. "And (with) a new appreciation for how a building has character and life."

The Sullivant Hall grand reopening celebration is free to attend.

Performances of "Sullivant's Travels" are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Sullivant Hall is located on OSU's campus at 1813 N. High St.

Photo Credit: Nick Fancher