Alan Alda will present a seminar for Southampton College writing, theater and film students as part of the Southampton Special College Lecture Series on Thursday, April 10 at 7 p.m. in the Avram Theater. The seminar, entitled "Dramatic Writing: The Essential Ingredient," will be open to the public as observers. He also will be the College's Commencement Speaker at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 18.
The April 10 lecture is hosted by KeySpan Distinguished Professor James Larocca and is free. Direct participation in the interactive seminar will be reserved for Southampton College students. The event is also sponsored by Southampton College's Honors Program.
Alda will discuss the key elements of effective dramatic writing with students in Southampton College's esteemed undergraduate and graduate Writing majors, along with students in burgeoning Film and Theater programs.
Alan Alda has distinguished himself as an actor, writer, producer and director in every dramatic medium, including stage, film and television. A graduate of Fordham University, Alda has, over a 40-year show business career, appeared in nearly 20 films and served as writer, director and star in four on them: "The Four Seasons" (1981), "Sweet Liberty" (1986), "A New Life" (1988) and "Betsy's Wedding" (1990).
In recent years, Alda has appeared in several films, including "Crimes and Misdemeanors" (1989), "Manhattan Murder Mystery" (1993), "Everyone Says I Love You" (1996), "Flirting With Disaster" (1996) and "The Object of My Affection" (1998).
Residents of nearby Sagaponack, Alda and his wife Arlene are also well known for their support of major civic, social and political causes. The couple will receive honorary degrees from Southampton College at May's Commencement based upon their activism and generosity.
James Larocca shares a similar concern for social and political issues. The former Dean of Southampton College, he also serves as the Keyspan Distinguished Chair in Public Policy, teaching at Southampton College and at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University.
Larocca has had a rich and varied career in government and politics, business, the law and academe. A lawyer, he served in the cabinets of two New York governors (as Commissioner of Energy and Transportation) and as President of the Long Island Association, the region's largest business and civic organization. He currently serves as Chairman of the Long Island Nature Conservancy, the major environmental preservation organization. Larocca is a combat veteran of Vietnam where he served as a naval officer in river patrol in the Mekong Delta. In 1998 he was a candidate for nomination for Governor of New York. He is also an award-winning playwright.
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