Even when not working, he breathes theatre. His latest fascination is to attend the June 24 performance of Ingmar Bergman s Ghost Sonata in New York City. On campus, Gross name is synonymous with theatre. Before Gross, there were the formidable talents of E.E. Griffith, John Muirheid, and Mrs. Murray Bartlett, each of whom had a different vision and style. It s a good bet that none of these individuals would agree with one another s choices about playwrights or casting.
Theatre is a vital tool in the liberal arts education.
Gross says that theatre is least robust when it feeds in on itself. It s most exciting when it turns outward, he explains. Theatre students here at HWS are math majors, in economics, art, biology, you name it. These kids are often more thoughtful about what they re doing. Past students took what they gained from theatre and entered the fields of medicine, film pro- duction, and advertising because theatre gave them something they prize that cannot be found by pursuing professional theatre arts necessarily.