Skip To Content
Filter search
Cal Poly Pomona
  • LIBRARY
  • ONLINE SERVICES
  • DIRECTORY
  • MAPS
  • CALENDAR
  • About Cal Poly Pomona
  • Cal Poly Pomona Overview
  • Visitor Information
  • Campus Maps & Tours
  • News
  • Events
  • Administration
  • Annual Security Report
  • Campus Safety Plan
  • Admissions
  • Undergraduate Admissions
  • Graduate Admissions
  • International Admissions
  • Continuing Education Admissions
  • Military & Veterans Admissions
  • Financial Aid & Scholarships
  • Student Accounts & Fees
  • Outreach, Recruitment, & Educational Partnerships
  • Academics
  • Colleges & Departments
  • Majors & Degrees
  • University Catalog & Academic Schedules
  • University Library
  • Research
  • Academic Resources
  • Registrar
  • Campus Life
  • Student Services
  • Student Activities
  • Recreation & Fitness
  • Health & Wellness
  • Housing & Dining
  • Diversity
  • Calendars & Events
  • Campus Safety & Emergency Info
  • Athletics
  • Visit Athletics Website
  • Alumni
  • Visit Alumni Website
  • Giving
  • Why Give
  • Ways to Give
  • Where to Give

PolyCentric University News Center

Main Menu
  • About Our University
  • Admissions
  • Academics
  • Campus Life
  • Athletics
  • Giving
  • Expand/Collapse Menu
Browse: Home / 2014 / March / “Special K” Play to Take a Look at University’s 75 Years

PolyCentric

University News Center

Menu

Skip to content
  • About
    • Submissions
    • Contact
    • Department of Strategic Communications
    • PolyCentric
  • News
    • Browse by Topic
    • View All Stories
    • In Memoriam
    • Archives
  • Achievements
  • Announcements
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photos
  • Social Media Directory
  • Events
  • For the Media

“Special K” Play to Take a Look at University’s 75 Years

Posted on March 11, 2014

Cast members Rachel Hale, Linda Bisesti and Ashley Tello.
Rachel Hale, Linda Bisesti and Ashley Tello play roles in the Department of Theatre and New Dance’s production of “Special K: Cal Poly Pomona’s First 75 Years.”

From an all-men’s agricultural school to a diverse university of more than 20,000 students, Cal Poly Pomona has grown and changed greatly through the years.

A new play, “Special K: Cal Poly Pomona’s First 75 Years,” will tell that story in a light, comedic way, featuring figures from the past and present.

“The story is told through the eyes of the characters on stage. Will Rogers, the actor-cowboy, is a prominent character in the play. He helps to lead us through time,” says Matthew Reidy, a professional actor and playwright who wrote “Special K.” “He was at the actual event on campus where they dedicated it.”

The play, which will be performed at 4 p.m., Sunday, April 13, in the University Theatre, was written as part of the College of Letters, Arts & Social Sciences’ celebration of the university’s 75th anniversary. Theatre Professor Linda Bisesti started the initial research of historical documents from the University Library last year. Reidy, who is married to Bisesti, then spent several months reviewing the information and writing the play.

Although Reidy invented most of the dialogue between characters, some of the words are direct quotes from historical figures, including Cal Poly Pomona’s presidents, each of whom is represented.

“Special K” will also employ historical pictures to help tell the story and enable the audience to keep track of the changing time periods.

“We’ll have a screen with all the pictures of actual people through time. So we’ll chart Cal Poly Pomona through actual pictures, and then reinterpretations of the characters will appear in front of the pictures,” says director Julian White, an associate theatre professor.

“The play is sort of a day in the life of Cal Poly Pomona. The play starts off in the morning, if you will, and runs the course of the day,” he adds. “What people are really going to see is Cal Poly Pomona growing and changing before their eyes, as if they walked on campus one day and watched it from the first class to the last class – 75 years in a day.”

Anthony Rutowicz portrays Mike Taylor in a tree in the Department of Theatre and New Dance's production of "Special K: Cal Poly Pomona's First 75 Years."
Anthony Rutowicz portrays Mike Taylor in a tree in the Department of Theatre and New Dance’s production of “Special K: Cal Poly Pomona’s First 75 Years.”

“Special K” will feature 36 speaking parts. The cast is drawn from faculty, current and former theatre students, and professional community actors. Among those participating are Reidy, Bisesti, political science Professor David Speak, and President Ortiz, whom the professors invited to portray himself.

“He’s on board,” Bisesti says. “He’s very excited.”

Reidy says it was fun to create dialogue for scenes where Ortiz “meets” Will Rogers and breakfast cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg, who donated the land that became the university campus.

“I will have them written as quotes that he actually said about the university or his vision for the future,” he says. “And then when Will Rogers throws out one of his old, humorous one-liners, President Ortiz reacts to it.”

The producers are striving to be as accurate as possible in the dialogue and action, White added.

“Honestly, it’s not a parody of these guys. It’s an honest re-creation of them,” he says. “I really think any of these characters – if they were alive and saw this play – they would say, ‘Wow, that’s really a great line. I’m glad I sad that.’”

When asked if Ortiz had approval over his lines, White chuckled. “If he wants to make an adjustment in his words, we’ll entertain that idea.”

Tickets will be on sale at the door, but theatergoers are strongly recommended to buy them in advance online at specialkcppfirst75.eventbrite.com.

Related Resources

Purchase Tickets for "Special K"

Cal Poly Pomona's 75th Anniversary


Posted in News | Tags 75th anniversary, alumni, College of Letters Arts and Social Sciences, Department of Theatre And New Dance, Events, Humanities and Social Science, President Ortiz, President's Office, students, University Theatre

POPULAR

  • A group of students talk with Professor Zekeriya Aliyazicioglu in his engineering class (ECE3101).

    Cal Poly Pomona Rises in U.S. News Rankings

    11695 views / Posted September 9, 2019
  • Marc Rudy and Liliana Perez, both 5th year architecture majors, look at models of a Mars habitat.

    Forbes Names Cal Poly Pomona a 2019 Best Value University

    4735 views / Posted May 7, 2019
  • Administrators stand with ribbon before ceremony.

    Student Services Building Officially Opens at Cal Poly Pomona

    3541 views / Posted January 18, 2019
  • The Student Services Building.

    Open House for Student Services Building Set for Jan. 18

    3186 views / Posted January 7, 2019
  • Graduates cheer at the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences commencement ceremony.

    Commencement Features 6,400 Graduates and High-Profile Speakers

    2906 views / Posted May 8, 2019

Picture of the Day »

International Education Week

International Education Week

Cal Poly Pomona in the News »

Cal Poly Pomona Expands Childcare to Benefit Student Parents

Cal Poly Pomona has offered childcare to students who are also parents since the 1970s. Starting this spring, that care will also be available at night. A $1.3 million U.S.…

Cal Poly Pomona Graduate Ryan Cheung Chosen for Competitive Yamaha Wind Internship Program


Brewster: Local area college basketball just around the corner


How to protect homes from wildfire is the subject of professor’s new book


Cal Poly students pace up Rose Parade float to transport to Pomona


Tags
75th anniversary, alumni, College of Letters Arts and Social Sciences, Department of Theatre And New Dance, Events, Humanities and Social Science, President Ortiz, President's Office, students, University Theatre
Related Resources

Purchase Tickets for "Special K"

Cal Poly Pomona's 75th Anniversary

About Cal Poly Pomona Feedback Privacy Accessibility Document Readers

3801 West Temple Avenue,Pomona, CA 91768

©2018 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

All Rights Reserved