Students Enjoy Benefits of UAS-Perseverance Theatre Partnership

Endowment funding supports student participation, while faculty, staff, and members of UAS Alumni & Friends attend at a reduced cost.

Juneau, Alaska

Date of Press Release: October 18, 2019

Over 30 students plus faculty, staff, and alumni from the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) enjoyed a special performance of the play Devilfish for this fall’s “UAS Night@Perseverance Theatre” on Saturday, October 12. Sponsored in part by the UAS Connie Boochever Endowment for the Arts, ‘UAS Night’ events at the theatre are held twice during the academic year. The goal is to introduce students to the theatre arts generally and specifically to Juneau’s own Perseverance Theatre. Endowment funding supports student participation, while faculty, staff, and members of UAS Alumni & Friends attend at a reduced cost. Performances feature discussions with actors and theatre staff either before or after the event.  To encourage student attendance, UAS Campus Life coordinates transportation from the Auke Lake Campus to the theatre in Douglas.

UAS and Perseverance Theatre have a long-standing memorandum of agreement providing opportunities for students to participate in practicum experiences, internships, and theatre productions.  The world premiere of Devilfish, an original play by Vera Starbard, featured UAS graduate Erin Tripp in a leading role.  Renewed this past spring, the agreement continues engagement of theatre staff with faculty and students in support of UAS’ liberal arts curriculum, as well as guest artist visits to university classes. 

Erin Tripp notes, “Education was really vital to my career as a theatre artist. It provided a stepping stone to a life in the theatre and made me more confident in my abilities. I’m so grateful for the Liberal Arts degree at UAS that allowed me to create a degree around my interests.”

The UAS Connie Boochever Endowment for the Arts, which supports these activities, was established by a gift from Judge Robert Boochever in 2006 in honor of his late wife who was a strong supporter of the theatre arts. UAS is grateful to the Boochever family for this endowment which continues to enrich the lives of students and support the arts on campus.

You can learn about theatre classes as part of the UAS Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree program by speaking to an advisor at 796-6100.