An Evening with Sidney Poitier

Wednesday, October 3rd. 2007 – Mershon Auditorium

Standing ovations greeted Sidney Poitier at an afternoon student event and an evening public lecture Wednesday, Oct 3, when the Academy Award-winning actor, director and author was on campus as a guest of the College of the Arts. Poitier, who was a Barnett Distinguished Visiting Lecturer, engaged 160 theatre and art education students at an afternoon workshop in Roy Bowen Theatre. During the relaxed, unscripted program, Poitier sat on stage with Karen Bell, dean of the college, and answered questions from the audience. He reflected on his life, and told moving—and sometimes amusing—stories from his long, illustrious acting career. That evening in Mershon Auditorium, Poitier charmed nearly 1,500 individuals from the community as he presented a series of "snapshots"—stories from his childhood and early adulthood—that shed light on some of the experiences that helped to shape and direct him. Following the eloquent program, Poitier was guest of honor at a reception, where Pheoris West, Art, presented him with a piece of his artwork as a gift from the college.