School Notes: David Geffen School of Drama
January/February 2017

Dean appointed for fourth term

James Bundy ’95MFA has been reappointed as dean of Yale School of Drama and director of the Yale Repertory Theatre. His new term—his fourth—will begin July 1, 2017.

“This renewal is a reflection of Dean Bundy’s innovative leadership that has sustained the school’s record as the top drama program in the country and advanced Yale Rep as one of the premier locations for the development of new plays,” said President Peter Salovey in announcing the reappointment. “As dean, he has increased philanthropic support for drama at Yale, including the transformational gift that endowed the Binger Center for New Theatre,” Salovey added. “Dean Bundy has been an outstanding leader for the school, a respected colleague among his fellow deans, and a valued university citizen.” 

During Bundy’s years at the university, the Yale Rep has produced more than 30 world, American, and regional premieres—nine of which have been honored by the Connecticut Critics Circle with the award for Best Production of the year, and two of which have been Pulitzer Prize finalists. During this time, Yale Rep also has commissioned more than 50 artists to write new works and provided low-cost theater tickets to thousands of middle- and high-school students from Greater New Haven through Will Power!, an educational program initiated in 2004.

Yale Rep’s Indecent goes to Broadway

The critically acclaimed play Indecent, by Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright in residence Paula Vogel, will open on Broadway in the spring. The production marks Vogel’s Broadway debut and will feature choreography by David Dorfman; music co-composed and directed by Aaron Halva and Lisa Gutkin; sets by Riccardo Hernandez ’92MFA; costumes by Emily Rebholz ’06MFA; lighting by Chris Akerlind ’89MFA; sound by Matt Hubbs; and projection design by Tal Yarden.

Indecent was co-commissioned by Yale Rep, where its 2015 world premiere, directed by Rebecca Taichman ’00MFA, was honored with the Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Production of Play in addition to two other prizes earlier this year.