Penn announces new performing arts director

Laurie McCall has been named director of Student Performing Arts and the Platt Student Performing Arts House, the University announced yesterday.

McCall has been serving as interim director of Platt since November 2012, when the former director Ty Furman left Penn. In her role as interim and now official director, she acts as an advisor to the Performing Arts Council and provides support for all performing arts groups.

“I’m very excited to start really thinking about this more long-term,” McCall said upon learning of her appointment.

In her years working at Platt, McCall has expanded the after-school arts program and tripled the number of performance tickets donated by Performing Arts Council groups, which gives the community a chance to see the shows for free.

McCall has also served as Platt’s associate director in the past.

Students in the performing arts community are happy with the news.

“She is probably the best person for this position, and I’m really glad she’s going to be the director,” said Kelly-Ann Corrigan, Theater Arts Council Chair and College junior.

Joey Wallerstein, a College senior and former chair of the A Capella Council is also pleased about the announcement.

“I think it’s great. She has a lot of knowledge already about all of the different groups … she has relationships with a lot of them,” he said. “There won’t be really a learning curve because she’s been doing this position in the interim.

McCall said she has “lots of ideas” for the future. Currently, she is working to find more rehearsal spaces for PAC and non-PAC groups. She has already been working with the Annenberg Center to transform an existing dance studio into a student dance studio for the next academic year.

“I’m ready to ready to roll up my sleeves,” she said.

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