By Laura Klotzkin, Managing Editor

As the student body returns to the Daemen campus, there is a noticeable addition to the University’s facilities. The previously known Musicalfare Theater building, now given its original name, Daemen Hall, has rejoined Daemen’s campus. 

After being rented out to Musicalfare Theater for years, the building’s lease expired, and the space has been converted into an auditorium and bistro that will be utilized for events, performances, and classes.

Several classes are currently held there this semester, such as acting for animators, taught by Associate Professor Chris Brandjes, as well as Shakespeare in performance, and from stage to page, taught by Robert Waterhouse, an associate professor of theater.

Additionally, the space is being used for events that have previously been held in the Alumni Lounge or the Yurtchuck Social Room.

“I’m excited to attend events in the event space out front,” said Brandjes, “That’s one of my favorite spaces on campus… It’s a nice place for events.”

Events recently hosted there include the mentalist as part of Welcome Week and a Dean’s List ice cream social event as part of Founder’s Week. 

Bringing a brand-new space onto campus in this way comes with a whole host of unique difficulties.

“The CET (Classroom Event Technology) department was responsible for the design and installation of the equipment in the space,” said Justin Iwankow, classroom and events specialist. “The first hurdle the CET department had to get over was answering the question ‘What is Daemen Hall going to be used for?’” 

There were also technological challenges involved with the new addition.

“Converting an empty space used for theatrical productions to a classroom definitely has its challenges,” said Iwankow.  “Bethany Blaiser from CET was crucial in this phase. It was her background and ideas that helped us put the entire project together.”

Some things that CET had to do in order to make the space work were work on the lighting, design, and install a versatile AV system so that it could be used for many different types of things, as well as making sure that it was an easy-to-use technological system. 

“In its current configuration, the auditorium is a great space for presentations, lectures, and ‘TED’ style talks,” said Iwankow. “It was also designed to allow for small stage and theater-style productions.”

As a classroom space, there are many advantages that Daemen Hall holds over a place like Duns Scotus or other academic classes on campus. 

“One of the hard parts for an acting class or a theater class is if there’s fixed seating, you can’t really clear out a space that allows students to move,” said Brandjes. “Here in the auditorium in Daemen Hall, we have a stage space that does not have permanent seating, so there’s already a bigger space for students to move, to talk to each other, to do scene work, etc It’s also a great auditorium in general for any class.” 

The stage and auditorium give a unique advantage for some classes, particularly theater classes. 

“Next fall, I’ll be teaching public speaking there,” said Waterhouse. “The space will work well for that as students need to learn how to project and command the back of an auditorium.”

Many students are also enjoying the use of Daemen Hall as an event and classroom space. 

“I hope they allow for animators to have more classes in there,” said Gwendolyn Moran, a sophomore animation major.

With Daemen Hall being used as an event and classroom space on campus, many people have their own hopes for what could be done with it. 

“What excites me about Daemen Hall is the versatility of the space,” said Iwankow. “The bistro and auditorium will allow us to reimagine how we do recurring events on campus, as well as open the door for new events.”

Additionally, both Waterhouse and Brandjes, including a handful of students, are hopeful about the possibility of hosting actual student theater performances in the space. 

“I think the possibility of being able to occasionally have student performances in here would be a really wonderful thing,” Said Brandjes.

The space was home to Musicalfare Theater for years. With the stage, the lights, and the greenroom, the space would make an excellent place for student performances of all kinds.

Many people are very excited about the prospect of Daemen Hall being utilized for classes, events, performances, and more. 

“What we created was just a jumping off point,” said Ivankow. “Daemen Hall has a lot of potential that can greatly benefit our University.”