WELCOME TO NORFOLK
PERSPECTIVES CITY SLICE.
I'M BOB BATCHER.
I'VE GOT TWO PEOPLE THAT ARE
GOING TO TELL US ALL ABOUT THE
BEST KEPT SECRET IN TOWN.
I KNOW WHEN I'M DRIVING DOWN
264, I MIGHT GET OFF AT BALANCE
HEN TINE, MIGHT GET OFF OVER ON
BRAMBLETON.
YOU SEE A STADIUM AND YOU SEE
SOME SPARTAN STUFF.
>> YES, YOU DO.
>> Bob: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?
>> NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY.
>> Bob: AWESOME.
I DO, I DO BELIEVE IT'S ONE OF
THE BEST KEPT SECRETS IN TOWN,
AND DR.
MILLER, YOU'RE GOING TO
BE SHARING SOME INFORMATION
THAT'S COMING UP IN FEBRUARY?
RIGHT?
>> YES.
>> Bob: WITH BLACK HISTORY
MONTH, AND PROFESSOR STOCKARD,
YOU GOT SOME PERFORMANCE IN
MIND.
>> YES, SIR.
>> Bob: AND YOU'RE GETTING CALLS
FROM SOME BIG CITIES A LITTLE
NORTH OF HERE?
>> WE ARE, ACTUALLY.
D.C. WOULD BE THE CITY --
>> Bob: AND WHO LIVES THERE?
>> THE PRESIDENT AND THE KENNEDY
CENTER.
>> Bob: YEAH, AND THEY'RE GIVING
YOU A HOLLER, SO I THINK IT'S
ONLY RIGHT THAT WE KIND OF
UNVEIL THE BOX AND LET'S TALK
ABOUT FEBRUARY A LITTLE BIT.
>> OKAY.
>> Bob: WHAT DO YOU HAVE UP YOUR
SLEEVE?
>> WELL, THE UNIVERSITY TAKES
GREAT PRIDE IN PROVIDING
EXCELLENT PROGRAMS FOR BLACK
HISTORY MONTH, AND SO THIS YEAR,
IT'S LEAP YEAR, SO WE HAVE 29
DAYS AND WE ARE TRYING --
>> Bob: AND YOU'RE FILLING EVERY
ONE OF THEM?
>> YES, EVERY SINGLE DAY, WE'RE
TRYING TO OFFER EDUCATIONAL,
ENTERTAINING AND ENLIGHTENING
PROGRAMMING.
>> Bob: I'M GOING TO DO YOU A
HUGE FAVOR.
>> OKAY.
>> Bob: IF YOU FORGET ANYBODY,
IT'S MY FAULT BECAUSE WE'RE
RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
>> EXCELLENT.
>> Bob: BUT IF YOU FORGET
ANYBODY, THEN THEY HAVE TO GO
TO?
>> OUR WEBSITE, WWW.NSU.EDU.
>> Bob: THERE YOU GO, YOU'RE OFF
THE HOOK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Bob: I'M NOT LETTING HIM OFF
THE HOOK THOUGH.
>> OKAY.
>> Bob: WHAT'S THE FIRST THING
COMING UP?
>> WE START WITH OUR KING
COMMEMORATION, BUT THAT HAS
PASSED.
THE SECOND THING THAT WE WILL
HAVE WILL BE MORGAN LECROY, WHO
IS GOING TO DO A ONE-WOMAN SHOW
FROM HARRIET TUBMAN TO MICHELLE
OBAMA AND IT'S CALLED EVOLUTION
OF THE BLACK WOMEN AND THAT'S ON
FEBRUARY 2nd AT 6:00 P.M.
IT'S OPEN AND FREE TO THE PUBLIC
AND IT'S AN EDUCATIONAL AND
ENLIGHTENING PROGRAM THAT TALKS
ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE BLACK
WOMAN ON OUR WORLD.
>> Bob: NOW, ARE WE TALKING
MAJOR COSTUME CHANGES?
>> YES, YES.
I BELIEVE SHE DOES SIX.
>> Bob: WOW.
>> SIX COSTUME CHANGES.
>> Bob: AND ONE-WOMAN SHOWS ARE
HARD TO DO.
>> THEY'RE VERY HARD TO DO.
VERY HARD TO DO, BUT THEY'RE
VERY ENTERTAINING.
>> Bob: AND I THINK I HEARD YOU
SAY FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
>> YES, EVERY PROGRAM IS FREE
AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC EXCEPT
FOR MY GOOD FRIEND PROFESSOR
STOCKARD, THE PERFORMANCE OF THE
THEATER, AND THEN ALSO THE NSU
CONCERT CHOIR WILL BE PERFORMING
THEIR ANNUAL VOICES CONCERT.
>> Bob: OH WOW.
I THINK A LOT OF GENERAL PUBLIC
OUTSIDE THE UNIVERSITY KNOW YOU
GUYS FOR, OF COURSE, THE
MARCHING BAND AND FOOTBALL, BUT
THERE'S SO MUCH MORE GOING ON
INSIDE THE UNIVERSITY.
>> THERE IS.
ACTUALLY, THIS YEAR WE'LL HAVE
TWO ART SHOWINGS.
ONE AT THE VIRGINIA BEACH HIGHER
ED CENTER THAT FOCUSES ON WALL
STREET IN TULSA, AND THAT RUNS
THREE WEEKS AND THAT BEGINS TO
FEBRUARY 1st AND WE'LL ALSO HAVE
A SHOWING AT THE WISE GALLERY
AND THEY WILL HAVE PROGRAMMING.
THEY HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE
CHRYSLER MUSEUM OF ART AND THEY
WILL PROVIDE PROGRAMMING AT THE
CHRYSLER AS WELL AS THE WISE
GALLERY AS WELL.
>> Bob: SO YOU'RE TRAVELING!
>> WE'RE TRAVELING.
>> Bob: I GO TO ASK YOU, ON THE
SECOND OR THIRD FLOOR OF THE
LIBRARY IS ALSO ANOTHER JEWEL.
>> THE ARCHIVES, THE AFRICAN
AMERICAN ARCHIVES, YES.
IT IS AN EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT
EXHIBIT THAT HAS AUTHENTIC
AFRICAN ART.
IT ALSO HOLDS VARIOUS SHOWINGS.
JUST LAST SEMESTER, WE HAD A
RETIRED PROFESSOR WHO EXHIBITED
HIS PHOTOGRAPHY THAT SHOWED THE
MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO
VISITED NSU, INCLUDING MOHAMMED
ALI AND MANY OTHER GREATS.
>> Bob: THERE YOU GO.
YOU'RE GOING TO START NAMING
NAMES.
>> I KNOW, I KNOW.
>> Bob: YOU KNOW, I SHOULD
PROBABLY FOLLOW UP WITH THE
PRESIDENT OUT THERE.
WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT, THE
KENNEDY CENTER?
>> THE KENNEDY CENTER HAS AN
AMERICAN COLLEGE THEATER
FESTIVAL.
OVER A QUARTER MILLION STUDENTS
AND 1200 PRODUCTIONS ARE ENTERED
ACROSS THE UNITED STATES
ANNUALLY, PARTICIPATING IN IT.
OUT OF THAT GROUP, IN EACH
REGION, PEOPLE ARE SELECTED IN
AREAS FOR LIGHTING DESIGN, SOUND
DESIGN, ACTING, DIRECTING,
DRAMA, RESEARCH AND CRITICISM,
AND SO --
>> Bob: I'D BE GOOD AT THAT ONE.
>> YOU MIGHT WANT TO COME JOIN
US.
AND PRODUCTIONS ARE SELECTED AS
WELL AND THEY PICK SIX
PRODUCTIONS FOR THE ENTIRE
SOUTHEAST REGION OF THE UNITED
STATES.
>> Bob: SO YOU SUBMITTED
SOMETHING.
>> YES.
>> Bob: WHEN DO YOU DO THAT?
>> THAT WAS BACK IN SEPTEMBER.
A RESPONDENT CAME TO VISIT OUR
PRODUCTION TO VIEW IT, TO
RESPOND TO IT.
THEY REPORT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE.
IN DECEMBER, THE COMMITTEE GETS
TOGETHER WITH ALL SUBMISSIONS,
ALL SUPPORT MATERIALS, AND SORTS
THROUGH THE SHOWS AND THEN THEY
PICK WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS THE
BEST THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS
OFFERED IN THE COUNTRY THAT
YEAR.
>> Bob: AND IN THE MEANWHILE,
YOU'RE MOVING ON, PLANNING STUFF
FOR THE FUTURE, RIGHT?
>> YES, YOU NEVER KNOW.
>> Bob: DID YOU GET A PHONE
CALL?
>> WE DID.
>> Bob: AND WHAT WAS THE PHONE
CALL?
>> IT SAID WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE
YOU AT THE FESTIVAL, WANTED TO
MAKE SURE WE COULD COME AND WE
SAID YES.
THEN WE CHANGED OUR PLANS FOR
THE REST OF THE SEASON.
>> Bob: I WAS GOING TO SAY, NOW
WAS?
>> YES, WE HAD TO SWAP SHOWS
OUT, SWAN ACTORS OUT -- SWAP
ACTORS OUT, TONS OF FREE
PLANNING.
AND WITH A SHOW, YOU CAN'T JUST
TAKE IT TO ANOTHER SPACE AND
LEAVE IT THERE.
WE HAVE TO TRANSPOSE OUR
LIGHTING DESIGN FOR A NEW
THEATER JUST LIKE YOU WOULD FOR
A ROAD SHOW.
>> Bob: BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE COME
IN AND WATCH A PRODUCTION, THERE
ARE TALENTED PEOPLE THAT MAKE IT
HAPPEN.
>> YES, THERE ARE DOZENS OF
PEOPLE BACKSTAGE THEY WILL NEVER
SEE.
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LIGHT
CUES, SOUND CUES, THINGS ON THE
SET, COSTUME DESIGNING, SWAPPING
OUT ACTORS AND MAKING SURE THE
COSTUME STILL FITS AND LOOKS THE
SAME ON THE NEW ACTOR,
ALTERATIONS AND AMENDING THINGS.
THERE'S TONS OF THINGS AND WE
ARE IN A FLAT STAGE ON CAMPUS
AND THEY HAVE A RAISED BLACK BOX
SPACE WHERE THEY'RE PERFORMING,
SO I HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH THE
PRODUCTION AND SORT OF AUGMENT
THINGS TO GET THE BEST STAGE
PICTURES AND STORY BEING TOLD IN
THIS NEW SPACE WITH AN ACTOR
THAT IS NEW IN THE ROLE.
>> Bob: YOU'RE SHAVING STUFF
THAT -- YOU GOT A BLACK --
SHARING STUFF THAT I -- YOU HAVE
A BLACK BOX?
>> WE HAVE A PLACE IN BROWN HALL
WHEN WE PERFORM FOR THE
FESTIVAL, WE'LL BE IN AN
ELEVATED AUDIENCE.
>> Bob: WHAT KIND OF PROGRAM
DOES NORFOLK STATE HAVE FOR DRAM
FA?
>> WE HAVE CONCENTRATIONS IN
THEATER PERFORMANCE AND THEATER
TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN ON CAMPUS.
THEY ARE NOW HOUSED WITHIN THE
ENGLISH DEGREE, BUT WE HAVE THE
NEWLY LAUNCHED AS OF LAST YEAR,
DEPARTMENT OF VISUAL AND
PERFORMING ARTS AND WE'RE
WORKING ON SOLIDIFYING AND
STRENGTHENING WHERE THOSE
PROGRAMS LIVE.
>> Bob: SHE'S TIED YOU INTO
FEBRUARY --
>> YES, THE FIRST THING WE DID
TO LAUNCH THE CELEBRATION WAS
MLK, THE REMEMBRANCE PROGRAM.
SHE CALLED ME UP, NORMALLY WE
HAVE A SPEAKER AND SHE SAID I
WANT YOU TO CREATE A PRODUCTION.
THAT'S WHAT I DID --
>> Bob: SHE CALLED YOU A COUPLE
YEARS AGO AND ASKED YOU THAT?
>> NO.
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN -- NO,
ABOUT MID SEMESTER, LAST
SEMESTER, IT WAS JUST A THOUGHT
SHE TOSSED OUT AND I SAID SURE
WE CAN DO THAT.
I TALKED TO THE STUDENTS.
WE HAVE PLAYWRITING CLASSES AND
THE STUDENTS ARE WONDERFUL
WRITERS.
>> Bob: YOU DID AN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION?
>> YES, SIR, AN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
WE SORT DID HAVE A MASH-UP -- IF
YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH "THE
MOUNTAINTOP," AND, OF COURSE,
"CHRISTMAS CAROL," AND WE
AMENDED THOSE IDEAS.
HE WAS VISITED BY HIS
GRANDMOTHER TO DISCOVER HIS
PAST.
SHE DIED FIVE YEARS BEFORE HE
WAS BORN.
LARRY PAINE, THE YOUNG MAN
DURING THE PROTESTS THAT BROUGHT
KING TO MEMPHIS, AND IF THE
TOUCH WE DID A PLAY ON THINGS
AND WE PROJECTED NALIA -- MALIA
OBAMA BECOMING THE FIRST AFRICAN
AMERICAN FEMALE PRESIDENT AND
SHE COMES IN AND TALKS ABOUT THE
DECISION AT THE LORRAINE MOTEL,
WHETHER TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> Bob: WHAT KIND OF ROLE DO THE
NORFOLK STATE STUDENTS PLAY IN
FEBRUARY?
>> THE STUDENTS ARE VERY ACTIVE.
I THINK PROFESSOR STOCKARD LEFT
OUT THAT THAT PERFORMANCE WAS
WRITTEN BY STUDENTS.
SO NOT ONLY DID THEY STAR IN IT,
BUT THEY WROTE IT AS WELL.
IN TERMS OF PROGRAMMING, OUR
STUDENT GOVERNMENT AND VARIOUS
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS, THEY ALSO
PRESENT A PLETHORA OF ACTIVITIES
AND PROGRAMS.
THEY'RE VERY INVESTED IN WHAT IS
PRESENTED TO THEM AND FOR THEM
AT NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY.
AND SO THEY HAVE A VERY ACTIVE
ROLE IN THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH
PROGRAMMING AT THE UNIVERSITY.
IN TERMS OF -- I WANT TO SAY
ALSO IN TERMS OF HOUSING AS
WELL.
UNIVERSITY PROVIDES THEM WITH
THEIR OWN PROGRAMMING FOR THOSE
WHO LIVE IN THE RESIDENCE HALL.
>> Bob: BEFORE WE STARTED
TAPING, I GOT THIS, WHICH IS A
BEAUTIFUL MAGAZINE.
>> YES.
>> Bob: I THOUGHT, OKAY, THIS IS
WHAT I'M USED TO SEEING, THE
SPORTS THING.
FLIP THIS THING OPEN, THOUGH,
AND WE'RE TALKING MEDICINE,
TALKING ACADEMICS FROM THE KEY.
THE STUDENTS ARE REALLY GETTING
ACTIVE AND THE ALUMNI --
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Bob: YOU'VE AWESOME ALUMNI,
RIGHT?
>> YES, VERY SUPPORTIVE.
>> Bob: TALK TO ME ABOUT STAFF
MEMBERS.
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE A FACULTY
MEMBER AT NORFOLK STATE?
>> IT'S VERY EXCITING.
NORFOLK STATE HAS SUCH GREAT
POTENTIAL AND PROMISE AND AS A
FACULTY MEMBER, WE'RE ABLE TO
ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THAT IN
IN TERMS OF CURRICULUM BUILDING,
IN TERMS OF HAVING A DIRECT
TOUCH ON STUDENTS' LIVES AND
BRINGING THEM CONTEMPORARY
INFORMATION, HISTORICAL
KNOWLEDGE TO BACK IT UP.
>> Bob: I WAS GOING TO SAY,
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE
TALKING CONTEMPORARY, ARE YOU?
I THOUGHT YOU WERE A HISTORIAN.
>> WE DISCUSS IT ALL, IT'S ALL
IMPORTANT.
THE LIBERAL ARTS PROGRAM AT
NORFOLK STATE IS EXCELLENT.
I'M BIASED, I'M IN THE COLLEGE
OF LIBERAL ARTS, I'LL ADMIT
THAT, BUT IT GIVES A XRENT
EDUCATION.
THE SKILLS WE FOCUS ON, CRITICAL
THINKING, RESEARCH AND WRITING,
THOSE ARE THE SKILLS THAT YOU
NEED TO DO ANY JOB AND WE
PROVIDE THAT AT NORFOLK STATE
UNIVERSITY THROUGH OUR
CURRICULUM.
>> Bob: I'M GOING TO PUT YOU ON
THE SPOT BECAUSE YOU WERE
RECRUITED TO COME UP HERE.
>> YES, KIND OF.
>> Bob: OKAY, IS IT OKAY?
>> I LOVE IT.
I MEAN THAT WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
PEOPLE -- I HAVE WORKED -- THIS
IS MY FOURTH INSTITUTION OF
HIGHER EDUCATION.
I THOUGHT AT A PRIVATE METHODIST
CHURCH AND THIS IS MY HVCU, BUT
BEING HERE, I HAVE RECEIVED
NOTHING BUT SUPPORT FROM MY
PEERING FACULTY AND STAFF
MEMBERS, FROM ADMINISTRATION.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT WHAT'S
HAPPENING AT THE UNIVERSITY, AT
LEAST SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE,
UNDER OUR LEADERSHIP IN ACADEMIC
AFFAIRS WITH DR.
DELOACH AND OUR
NEW FULLY INVESTED PRESIDENT
MOORE, IS THAT WHEN YOU GO
ASKING FOR A VISION, THE FIRST
QUESTION IS WHAT DO YOU SEE?
WHERE DO YOU FIT INTO THIS?
INSTEAD OF ME TELLING YOU WHAT
THE VISION DICTATES TO YOU, HOW
WILL YOU BECOME A PART OF WHAT'S
GOING ON?
AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN
ENVIRONMENT THAT WAS SO OPEN, SO
FULL OF POSSIBILITY AND
POTENTIAL, AND OUR STUDENTS ARE
AMAZING.
WE INCLUDE THEM IN ALL
PROCESSES, AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL
THING TO SEE WHAT I CONSIDER THE
BEGINNING OF WHAT SEEMS TO BE A
NEW GOLDEN AGE FOR NORFOLK STATE
UNIVERSITY.
>> Bob: EVERY TIME I GO FAST
THERE AND GO IN THE -- PAST
THERE AND IN THE CAMPUS, I'M
BLOWN AWAY.
>> IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
>> Bob: OKAY, THE WEBSITE
BECAUSE I DIDN'T LET YOU MENTION
ANYBODY THAT'S DOING EVENTS.
>> WWW.NSU.EDU, AND YOU CAN FIND
PROGRAMMING IF YOU LIKE SCIENCE,
ARTS, THEATER, HISTORY, ENGLISH,
WE HAVE IT.
>> Bob: AND IT'S DYNAMIC AND A
NEW TOMORROW.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO AUDITION
FOR YOU.
>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO, BUT YOU
CAN COME SEE THE SHOW.
>> Bob: YOU GOT IT.
>> WE'RE GOING TO DO AN ENCORE
OF THE PERFORMANCE.
WE'RE TAKING IT TO THE KENNEDY
CENTER AND WE HAVE REPLACED IT
FOR BLACK HISTORY NO AS THE LAST
WEEKEND -- NO -- MONTH AS THE
LAST WEEKEND.
PEOPLE CAN CATCH IT THERE AT THE
SAME WEB ADDRESS.
>> Bob: THANKS A LOT, GUYS.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
