Terry Hayes
Hayes Didn’t Take it with Him; He Left Plenty of Encouragement for His Students
The Pulitzer Prize-winning work “You Can’t Take It with You” by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart was one of the late Terry Hayes’ favorite plays. The story’s theme – doing what makes you happy and encouraging others to follow their dreams – much epitomized Hayes’ approach to life. Fittingly, a tribute to the professor of theatre arts emeritus centered on a monologue presented by 10 D&E theatre students. The Homecoming and Family Weekend production also included a musical piece, “Try to Remember,” which was another of Hayes’ favorites. Produced by alumnus and Instructor of Theatre and Film Lonnie Martin ‘02, the performance was filmed and then edited giving each student a few lines from Act III. Martin chose the specific excerpt at the suggestion of Assistant Professor of Theatre Dr. Aubrey Helene Neumann. “We knew it was one of Terry’s favorite plays, and when Dr. Neumann brought me the monologue, it just seemed to fit the moment,” Martin said. Hayes died July 23, 2021, having lived a life filled with accomplishments – both his own and those of his students. “He was a very positive person,” Martin says of Hayes. “He had the best laugh and when you made him laugh, it was such a wonderful feeling.” As a student, Martin performed in Hayes’ productions of “The Apple Tree,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Look Homeward Angel” and “A Christmas Twist.” He learned a lot more than acting skills and theatre production. “Terry had a joyful, sort of romantic view of theatre,” Martin explained. “When you are a young student, you want to tell dark stories. He taught us that you want the audience to leave the theatre happy. Above all, he wanted us to understand that the making of theatre should be a lot of fun and he encouraged us to try to go make a living doing it.” That is exactly what Martin has done as a filmmaker and now as an instructor who finds himself where he had someday hoped to be – in his mentor’s place. “His space was one I wanted to occupy,” Martin said. “I always try to emulate his approach to teaching by showing support for students and encouraging them to be themselves.” After Martin began teaching at D&E, Hayes attended two shows he produced, “Murdered to Death” and “Frankenstein.” “He was impressed and that made me feel like I can do this,” Martin said. Like Martin, alumna Susan Plum ’96 is using her theatre education to help students. As an enrollment advisor at D&E, she works with prospective students who have an interest in creative arts. “Terry was an exceptional teacher, mentor and friend,” said Plum, who appeared alongside Martin in “A Christmas Twist.” “As a student, I worked in the Theatre Office for him and did repeated internships with him. He truly taught me everything I needed to be successful. His wit, humor, kindness and encouragement remain unmatched. He mentored and advised me as I took on a community showing of ‘Plaza Suite’ at Sunken Garden Restaurant as my senior project. I honestly thought the project was too big of an undertaking for me, but with his guidance, it turned out amazing.”
Alumni and students make up the 2010 cast of “The Fantasiks.” It was the last show Terry Hayes directed before retirement.
The Cast
“Try to Remember” from “The Fantasticks” Music by Harvey Schmidt, lyrics by Tom Jones. Performed by student Tobias Sears with piano accompaniment by Music Program Coordinator and Instructor of Music Donna Baroudi Huffman. A monologue from “You Can’t Take It with You” Written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. Performed by students in Beginning Acting, Daine Crouch, Uno Frederick, Doug Gabbert III, Heather Humphrey, Stephen Lester, Eli Nazelrodt, Music Program Coordinator and Walter Ridgley, Instructor of Music Donna Baroudi Giovanni Romero, Huffman and student Tobias Sears Leah Spinks, Luke Stables. perform “Try to Remember.”
Heather Humphrey and Daine Crouch, students in Beginning Acting, prepare to film a monologue from “You Can’t Take It with You” for the Terry Hayes Tribute Hour.
Hayes left his mark on more than Martin, Plum and his other students. Coming to D&E as a theatre tech instructor, he rose to the rank of department chair. There was more he could accomplish, he thought, and he did. With the Boiler House Theatre established as a performance venue, Hayes advocated for constructing an addition onto the structure and elevated the theatre program to regional and nation recognition. He also helped the program earn accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Theatre, a status it still holds today. Hayes retired from D&E in 2010 and caught up with another of his dreams – working as a train engineer for the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad. Looking back at his life, his students and others who knew him say they see the proof of a man who put joy into everything he did and made a career doing what he loved. News Around Campus
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