The President's Point

Dear Alumni and Friends,

As we begin a new year, and a new decade, it’s an opportunity to pause and reflect on our challenges and growth as a University family.

A recent challenge involved Point Park University’s decision to not present Adding Machine:  A Musical after hearing concerns regarding the disturbing nature of the show from students in the cast, production crew and faculty. In late November, after holding a town hall with more than 200 concerned theatre students, the Conservatory of Performing Arts, with my support, decided to cancel the production. After the town hall, our students formalized a list of changes they would like to see made, and requested a meeting with me. I quickly agreed. That discussion, which was held in December at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, was productive and encouraging. We took immediate steps to address our students’ concerns, and will continue to work with them to empower positive action.

In the weeks and months to come, we plan to continue these wide-ranging, honest discussions with students, faculty and staff regarding issues of diversity, inclusion and equity. As we maintain our dialogue, and work together to enhance the culture at Point Park in a way that will lead to a more inclusive community, we also made the decision to postpone indefinitely our production of the show Parade, which was scheduled for April 2020.

Through my involvement in these discussions with the Point Park community, it is clear to me that our priority as a University must be our students, and we cannot allow a production to move forward that could overshadow our educational and developmental mission. We also would not be serving the best interests of our loyal patrons or the show Parade, a widely acclaimed and important musical that generates robust conversation about social awareness and societal change. In its place, the Playhouse will offer the Tony Award-winning musical Pippin. The 2013 Broadway revival brought renewed luster to this popular work, and we believe it will both challenge our students and delight our audiences.

I promise to keep all members of our extended University family informed about these important ongoing efforts to grow in diversity, inclusion and equity for all. We hope you’ll stay in touch in the new year and beyond.

Warm regards,

Dr. Paul Hennigan
President