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RELEASED: July 10, 2003
DANVILLE, KY—Centre graduate and Helen Hayes Award winner Mary Hall Surface '80 was on campus Tuesday to speak to the Governor's Scholars at Centre, urging them to become involved in the arts.
Surface was recently awarded the Hayes Award and named Outstanding Director of a Resident Musical for Perseus Bayou in 2002. A native Bowling Green, Ky., She's a director and playwright in Washington, D.C.
Surface encouraged the GSP students to ask about, participate in and be challenged by the arts.
"I think we need the arts now more than ever," she said."They help us understand who we are."
Surface said that during an economic downturn like the United States is weathering, the arts suffer. Productions are not paid for with ticket sales alone, she added, explaining that philanthropic support from the community is needed to ensure the survival of the arts.
The arts are important because they give people a sense of hope, and students who are involved in the arts do better in their other course work, Surface said.
In conclusion, she quoted John F. Kennedy.
"I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics but for our contributions to the human spirit."
To learn about Centre's dramatic arts program, go to http://www.centre.edu/web/academic/majors/drama.html.
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