AACC Dedicates Theater to 'The Chief'

Having enjoyed more than 1,000 theatrical events in the area over the past 15 years, I cannot recall a more skillfully planned nor a more lovingly delivered artistic production than the Robert E. Kauffman Theater official dedication program titled “A Celebration of the Chief.”

at the age of 73.

The event was presented on Wednesday evening before a near capacity audience at the newly named theater in 's Pascal Center for Performing Arts.

In addition to this event, there was a also a "Kauffman Exhibit" by Friends of Kauffman, known as "Chief," that filled the Pascal Center Arts Gallery and afterwards a reception sponsored by the AACC Foundation in the Student Union dining hall.

Planned by a committee of 13 devoted friends and colleagues including Dorothy (Dotti) Kauffman, his wife of nearly 39 years, the celebration included the highlights of Professor Kauffman’s 30-year career heading AACC’s theater department.

Also included were performances by actors who had created roles in selected excerpts from scenes among the many AACC Moonlight Troupers productions Professor Kauffman headed.

Contributing their talents were a seven-member production crew headed by “Chief’s” long-time assistant Joy Ajello, a seven-member orchestra directed by AACC music professor Ray Ascione, and a dozen members of the fabulous AACC Dance Company directed by Lynda Plavin Fitzgerald, coordinator of performing arts-dance.

The evening began with the official theater dedication and portrait and plaque unveiling by AACC president Martha Smith, AACC Board of Trustees President Victoria Fretwell, Kauffman’s wife Dorothy and Yvonne Kauffman, sister of Bob Kauffman.

Next came "Willkommen" from Cabaret sung by the original AACC Moonlight Troupers cast member Duncan Hood, joined by members of the AACC Dance Company, accompanied by the Celebration Orchestra.

Box office and production coordinator Joy Ajello humorously recalled first working with “Chief” in Our Town, where she learned to deal with his dedication to theater and strong code of work ethic. Colleague Fitzgerald recalled their many enthusiastic discussions of theater performances along with Kauffman’s rare talent for growing tomatoes and peppers.

Manager of Event Services Peter Kaiser, who so enjoyed working with Kauffman, admiringly recalled Chief’s being a strong task master.

Touchingly, choreographer and Chief’s Facebook custodian Christy Stouffer and her gifted singer/actor husband, Walt League, recalled “Chief” coming out of retirement to open one more theater—the with Peter Pan to direct another young generation of actors who became Chief’s fans in this magical piece.

Although this was to be Kauffman’s last stint at directing, he retained such interest in these CTA young people that he attended and stayed through an entire rehearsal of this year’s Once Upon a Mattress production.

An excerpt from The Foreigner was delivered by well-known actor and Annapolis native David Reynolds as Charlie with skilled comedian Jerry Vess as Ellard and local favorite Carol Cohen as Betty.

Next, favorite local leading lady Nori Morton, who was the Moonlight Troupers’ original Dolly, delivered a stylish “Before the Parade Passes By” supported by the AACC Dance Company and accompanied by the AACC Celebration Orchestra.

An impressive excerpt from Kauffman’s award-winning The Diviners was followed by the AACC Kids in College rendition of “The Speed Test” from Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Fittingly the evening’s entertainment ended with one of the original stars to play Peter Pan—Mary Armour-Kaiser, still looking no older than 12 years, who delivered a heartfelt “Neverland.”

Afterwards she invited on stage every audience member who participated in any Moonlight Troupers’ Peter Pan production. These thespians and crew members filled the stage for an unforgettable ending to bring the audience to its feet for a prolonged standing ovation of not only the evening’s entertainment, but the amazing legacy of the “Chief.”