2008 Woodie Awards
Jasper Spotlight: Liam Mulligan
Angely Fadul
Issue date: 9/29/04 Section: Features
William Mulligan, "Liam" as he prefers to be called, is the latest addition to the Manhattan College community as the Coordinator of Performing Arts and Director for the Singers.
Originally, Mulligan moved to New York City to pursue his career as a theatre and opera actor after working at the University of Scranton. "For the past two years I have been actively performing as an actor and singer. I worked in Rochester at the Geva Theatre in 'Camelot'", said Mulligan, "and this past spring I was in Florida for 'Carmen'."
Over the past few years, the attendance for the Singers concerts has been slightly disappointing. One of the main problems they face is finding a loyal audience, not easily done when many MC students have little interest in the current selection of music performed by the Singers. The greater portion of the music sang by the Singers was in a foreign language, not exactly the college students' ideal way to spend a Sunday night.
Not that any of the Singers are oblivious to this notion.
As one student put it, "It would be nice to see more students and community members attend the concerts, which are currently filled up by parents and inattentive siblings and the occasional faculty member who passes through."
According to Mulligan, "The first priority on my list with Singers is to recruit quality voices and develop a repertoire of music for our concerts that will encourage the student body to come to our concerts."
Some ideas expressed by a few of the Singers and other Manhattan College students to attract a more loyal audience are better refreshments, a return to more traditional forms of music and more of a variety in the way the shows are put together, that is, have informal skits or mix up the different genres of music to break up the monotony.
"Better advertisement wouldn't hurt either," commented a Singer who wishes to remain anonymous. "No one knows when and where we hold our concerts, and because of our reputation thus far, no one really cares."
"I'm also working on building a stronger arts community here," continued Mulligan. "We are cleaning out the performing arts room." Currently, the room is overly cluttered with remnants of past activities and group meetings. "It would be nice to have a gathering place for all of the various groups to hang out together," said Mulligan.
William Mulligan knows that there's a lot of work before him, but he's looking forward to it because he's confident that the outcome will be a positive one. "Being here so far has been great. I like how so many students have stepped forward to offer their talents," said Mulligan, "and it encourages me to see that."
Originally, Mulligan moved to New York City to pursue his career as a theatre and opera actor after working at the University of Scranton. "For the past two years I have been actively performing as an actor and singer. I worked in Rochester at the Geva Theatre in 'Camelot'", said Mulligan, "and this past spring I was in Florida for 'Carmen'."
Over the past few years, the attendance for the Singers concerts has been slightly disappointing. One of the main problems they face is finding a loyal audience, not easily done when many MC students have little interest in the current selection of music performed by the Singers. The greater portion of the music sang by the Singers was in a foreign language, not exactly the college students' ideal way to spend a Sunday night.
Not that any of the Singers are oblivious to this notion.
As one student put it, "It would be nice to see more students and community members attend the concerts, which are currently filled up by parents and inattentive siblings and the occasional faculty member who passes through."
According to Mulligan, "The first priority on my list with Singers is to recruit quality voices and develop a repertoire of music for our concerts that will encourage the student body to come to our concerts."
Some ideas expressed by a few of the Singers and other Manhattan College students to attract a more loyal audience are better refreshments, a return to more traditional forms of music and more of a variety in the way the shows are put together, that is, have informal skits or mix up the different genres of music to break up the monotony.
"Better advertisement wouldn't hurt either," commented a Singer who wishes to remain anonymous. "No one knows when and where we hold our concerts, and because of our reputation thus far, no one really cares."
"I'm also working on building a stronger arts community here," continued Mulligan. "We are cleaning out the performing arts room." Currently, the room is overly cluttered with remnants of past activities and group meetings. "It would be nice to have a gathering place for all of the various groups to hang out together," said Mulligan.
William Mulligan knows that there's a lot of work before him, but he's looking forward to it because he's confident that the outcome will be a positive one. "Being here so far has been great. I like how so many students have stepped forward to offer their talents," said Mulligan, "and it encourages me to see that."