Theatre Professor’s Book to Be Subject of Discussion at Holy Cross

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture will present a discussion of Steve Vineberg’s High Comedy in American Movies (Rowan & Littlefield, 2005) on Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. in the Rehm Library at the College of the Holy Cross. The event is free and open to the public.

In the book, Vineberg defines the conventions of high comedy and chronicles American movies about the manners of aristocrats. Robert Cording, professor of English and James N. and Sarah L. O’Reilly Barrett Endowed Chair in Creative Writing, will comment on the book, Vineberg will respond with his own remarks and an open floor discussion will follow.

Vineberg holds the Monsignor Edward G. Murray Professorship in the Arts and Humanities at Holy Cross. A professor of theatre, Vineberg reviews films and theatre regularly for The Boston Phoenix, The Threepenny Review and The Christian Century. He has also been published in The New York Times, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Oxford American, Film Quarterly, American Film, and Modern Review, among others. He has served as the on-air movie critic for National Public Radio’s "Fresh Air" series. His earlier books, No Surprises Please: Movies in the Reagan Decade (Schirmer Books, 1993) and Method Actors: Three Generations of an American Acting Style (Schirmer Books, 1991) established him as a keen commentator and recognized authority. A member of the Holy Cross faculty since 1985, Vineberg teaches classes in theatre history, film, American drama and political theatre.

This is the inauguration of a series of discussions of books by faculty that run across the concerns of the Center — religion, ethics and culture.