Those being honored by Catawba Collegeís Blue Masque Theatre Hall of Fame for their meritorious lives in the theatre arts are New York based actor Bill Tatum, class of 1970; theatre entrepreneur Jerry Moore, class of 1974; New York costumer and wardrobe supervisor Ginnie Patton, class of 1979; and Charlotte, NC designer, director and actor Jim Glouster, class of 1984.
Bill Tatum has been a working actor for 40 years. In preparation, Tatum starred in many Blue Masque productions while at Catawba College. Lending his acting talents to productions such as ěBilly Budd,î ěBecket, J.B.,î ěYou Canít Take It With You,î ěBarefoot In The Park,î ěThe Dark of the Moon,î and numerous others, he earned the Sidney Blackmer best actor award before receiving his B.A. in theatre arts. In New York, Tatum quickly earned his entry into the Actors Equity Association in 1971 and the Screen Actors Guild, as well as the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists, soon after. His union cards in hand, he has performed on the Broadway stage in productions such as ěMan of La Mancha,î in off-Broadway theatres such as the Equity Library Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, and Provincetown Rep. He has also done extensive work in regional theatres throughout the United States. Tatum has been seen on television in such diverse shows as ěLaw and Order,î ěThe Chris Rock Show,î and ěOne Life To Live.î And, he has appeared in over 100 television commercials. His film work includes ěThe Thomas Crown Affairî and ěPlutonium,î among others. Tatum is married to the Tony Award winning Broadway actress Karen Ziemba.
Jerry Moore, a Rowan County native, graduated with a Catawba College interdisciplinary major in Literature and the Arts. This concentration of English, theatre and music courses resulted in numerous entrepreneurial adventures both as student and professional. As a part of his Catawba studies, Moore directed a production of Tennessee Williamsí The Glass Menagerie, featuring both college and community players. Following this production, he raised enough capital from members of the Salisbury community to form ěPlaymoore Productionsî with the plan to tour non-equity professional productions. Mooreís first venture was the very popular musical Godspell. After gaining exclusive rights to originate and produce the first non-equity tour of this musical, his production of Godspell was cast in New York and toured the southeast and mid-west United States for almost two years. This production of Godspell launched Mooreís professional career as well as that of soon-to-be Broadway and television star Scott Holmes, also from the Catawba College class of 1974. Moore then based his center of operation in New York City, where, among other activities, he worked on national bus and truck tours of Broadway shows. Mooreís meteoric career was cut short by his early death in 1987.
Ginnie Patton has made her living for the last twenty years as a wardrobe supervisor and costumer in New York. Originally from Hershey, Pennsylvania, Patton was active in all areas of theatre while at Catawba College and received the theatre departmentís two most coveted awards, The Florence Busby Corriher Outstanding Achievement Award in 1978 and The Augustine Daly Award for ěoutstanding student of the yearî in 1979. Upon graduation, Patton went directly to the University of Illinois where she received a Master of Fine Arts in Costume Design. After arriving in New York, she first worked with the New York Shakespeare Festival, then with Playwrights Horizons, where she dressed the original production of ěDriving Miss Daisy.î Drawn also to film work, she has worked on many Woody Allen films, including ěBullets Over Broadwayî and ěMighty Aphrodite.î Other feature film work has included being wardrobe supervisor for Barbra Streisand in ëThe Mirror Has Two Facesî and working with stars such as Sandra Bullock, William Hurt, and Meryl Streep on their films. She also found time to serve ten years as wardrobe supervisor for the television series ěLaw and Order: SVU.î Patton was recently an additional wardrobe supervisor for the HBO mini-series ěJohn Adamsî and is currently principal wardrobe supervisor for the HBO series ěBoardwalk Empire.î
Jim Glouster has made Charlotte the center of operation for his successful theatre, television and film career. A talented Catawba College performer and director who was chosen to direct a Blue Masque main stage production, Glouster was honored with the theatre departmentís Florence Busby Corriher Outstanding Achievement Award in his senior year. Upon graduation, it didnít take long for Charlotte to discover Glousterís many theatre talents. Glouster received Charlotteís Best Designer Award for productions performed in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, and 2004. While his acting and directing talents were in demand, he somehow found time to begin working in film and television. Glouster received the 2001 Art Directors Guild Award for ěoutstanding production values in a TV movieî for ěThe Last Brickmaker In America,î starring Sidney Poitier. He was nominated for the same award in 2004.
Glouster currently makes his living in art direction for feature films and television. Recent credits include: ěTalladega Nights,î ěSheís Out of My League,î and ěThe Other Guys.î He has just finished his third season, in the same capacity, on the HBO series, ěEastbound And Down.î The recent film, ěAphasia,î which he wrote and directed, is currently touring various film festivals across the country.
The purpose of the Catawba College Blue Masque Hall of Fame is to recognize and perpetuate the noteworthy theatre tradition of Catawba College by honoring and memorializing individuals who have made outstanding contributions to this tradition.
This yearís Blue Masque Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held in Hedrick Theatre at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21.
Immediately preceding the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, at 7:30 pm, current and former Catawba theatre arts students will present a talent showcase in Hedrick Theatre. Tickets, which include admission to this showcase, the induction ceremony, and a reception, may be purchased through the alumni office of Catawba College.