![[FSU Seal Image] - Return to Home](/design/fsudesign/images/headerFSUSeal.png)
Florida State / College of Music / Areas of Study / Performance / Music Theatre / Shelfer Chair
Shelfer Chair
The Marcus Bailey and Betty Graves Shelfer Eminent Scholar Chair in Music Theatre
In December 1994, in memory of her husband, Marcus Bailey Shelfer, Betty Graves Shelfer presented a generous gift in trust to the Florida State University College of Music. Upon her death in March 1996, this trust established the Marcus Bailey and Betty Graves Shelfer Eminent Scholar Chair in Music Theatre. With matching funds from the State of Florida, Mrs. Shelfer’s $600,000 gift created a million-dollar endowment.
With the support of the Marcus Bailey and Betty Graves Shelfer Eminent Scholar Chair in Music Theatre, the Music Theatre Program gains new opportunities to enrich an already nationally significant area within Florida State University.
THE 2003-2004 SHELFER CHAIR SCHOLARS
Our Shelfer Eminent Scholars for Spring 2004 were Richard Maltby, Jr., and David Shire, who were in residence the week of February 23 – February 27 preparing a workshop performance of their new musical Take Flight, as well as coaching material from their other musicals. The performance took place at Opperman Music Hall on February 27 as part of Florida State University’s 7 Days of Opening Nights Arts Festival.
RICHARD MALTBY, JR. conceived and directed two Tony Award winning Broadway musicals: Fosse, 1999 (Tony, Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk Awards) and Ain’t Misbehavin’, 1978 (Tony, New York Drama Critics Circle, Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk Awards), for which he also won the Tony award as Best Director. With longtime collaborator composer David Shire, he directed and wrote lyrics for Starting Here, Starting Now, 1977 (Grammy nomination); Baby, 1983, with librettist Sybille Pearson (nominated for seven Tony Awards); Closer Than Ever, 1989 (two Outer Critics Circle Awards: Best Off-Broadway Musical, Best Score); and the musical Big, 1996, with librettist John Weidman (Tony nomination for Best Score). With the team of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, he wrote lyrics for the international hit Miss Saigon (London Evening Standard Award, Best Musical, 1990; Tony Nomination for Best Score, 1991). Richard directed and co-wrote with Don Black the American adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Song and Dance, 1986, which won a Tony Award for its star Bernadette Peters. He has enjoyed a long association with the Manhattan Theatre Club, where he directed five musicals, including the original production of Ain’t Misbehavin’. The son of the well-known orchestra leader, Richard also contributes devilish crossword puzzles to Harpers Magazine. He is married to Janet Brenner and has five children: Nicholas, David, Jordan, Emily, and Charlotte.
DAVID SHIRE wrote the music for Baby (Tony nominations for Best Score and Musical) and Big (nominated for Best Score). Off-Broadway credits include Starting Here, Starting Now (Grammy nomination), Closer Than Ever (Outer Critics Award for Best Musical and Score), Urban Blight (MTC), The Sap of Life, and incidental scores for As You Like It (NYSF), The Unknown Soldier and His Wife, The Loman Family Picnic, Shmulnik’s Waltz, and Visiting Mr. Green. His many film scores include Norma Rae (Academy Award for Best Song), Francis Coppola’s The Conversation, All the President’s Men, The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3, Farewell My Lovely, ‘Night Mother, Return to Oz, and Saturday Night Fever, for which he won two Grammy Awards. His numerous television scores have earned five Emmy nominations and include Sarah Plain and Tall, Rear Window, Raid on Entebbe, The Women of Brewster Place, The Kennedys of Massachusetts, The Heidi Chronicles, Jake’s Women, and Broadway Bound. His songs have been recorded by Barbra Streisand, Maureen McGovern, Melissa Manchester, Jennifer Warnes, Kiri Te Kanawa, and many others, and include the international Billy Preston & Syreeta hit “With You I’m Born Again,” and the Oscar winning “It Goes Like It Goes.” Mr. Shire is a member of the Dramatists Guild Council. He and his wife, actress Didi Conn, live in the Hudson Valley with their son Daniel.
The Shelfer Eminent Scholar for Spring 2000 was Julio Agustin, a member of the original Broadway cast of Fosse. He is currently on Broadway in the revival Bells Are Ringing. Julio is a graduate of the Florida State University College of Music’s Music Theatre Program, having completed his B.M. degree in 1991.
Julio toured with Chita Rivera in The Kiss of the Spiderwoman; his other Broadway credits include Chicago, and the original cast of Steel Pier.
During his two-week residency students worked on “The Language of Fosse.” There were intensive dance classes as well as informal question-and-answer times.
Our Spring 2001 Shelfer Chair Scholar was Dave Clemmons. Dave Clemmons was most recently seen on Broadway in The Civil War. He has also been in the Broadway casts of The Scarlet Pimpernel and Les Miserables. He can be heard on The Scarlet Pimpernel concept album as well as the double CD of Jekyll and Hyde and The Civil War.
In addition, Dave Clemmons Casting has cast over 20 Broadway, Off-Broadway, National Tours, and regional shows, including the Broadway and touring companies of Frank Wildhorn's The Civil War. He is also the producer and casting director for the new hit Off-Broadway musical Bat Boy.
Dave taught Master Classes with the Music Theatre majors and worked with the seniors on their New York agents' showcase.
Our Fall 2000 Shelfer Chair Scholar was Debra Dickinson. A professional singer/actress for 15 years before starting her career as a director, Ms. Dickinson performed in numerous productions including performances opposite Richard Burton on Broadway in Camelot as Guenevere, and the national Tour which followed, as well as Jellylorum in CATS at the Theatre an der Wein in Vienna.
As a director, her numerous credits include opera, operetta, and music theatre productions, most recently A Grand Night For Singing at the Pittsburgh Public Theater.
At Florida State University she directed the Fall Opera production of Die Fledermaus and taught Music Theatre auditions master classes.
