Class of 1977

A little birdie told us our own Jennifer Leigh Warren is at it again—no, not singing, but being recognized again by her peers for her enormous contributions to the theater arts. In June Tony winner B.D. Wong hosted the Actors’ Equity Foundation’s 2025 awards presentation in N.Y.C. and presented Jennifer with the Michael McCarty Recognition Award for Los Angeles-based Equity theater actors. Also honored that evening were Emmy Award winner Jessica Hecht and 2025 Tony winner Francis Jue. The Actors’ Equity Foundation aids and assists the members of the acting profession and promotes the theater arts. Now that’s something to tweet about!

Doug “Six” Ireland writes: “Wife Mary and I just returned from a fabulous 12-day tour of the South visiting civil rights museums and music venues. We were joined by two couples, one of whom was Bob Brown ’80 and Su-Moon Paik ’81. We visited Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee; Jackson, Mississippi; Selma, Montgomery, and Birmingham, Alabama; and Atlanta. We took in museums and landmarks such as the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, the National Civil Rights Museum, the Legacy Museum, Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, the Andrew Jackson Plantation, and the 16th Avenue Church. We were deeply moved by the power of nonviolent protest and coordinated demonstration to bring about change. To offset the solemn subjects, we visited many joyful music venues, including the C&W Hall of Fame, Graceland, the Hank Williams Museum, Muscle Shoals, the Delta Blues Museum, and the Grand Ole Opry. I cannot recommend it highly enough. One of our side trips was to the Gee’s Bend Quilting Cooperative, overseen by Souls Grown Deep, where Max Anderson is president. I hope our trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico, later in the summer will provide similar historical and cultural perspective. See you then.”

Peter Mills has devotedly been building our unique class asset, “Guides and Seekers Network.” “We have about 50 classmates who have dealt with various ailments and difficult life issues and have volunteered to offer advice, encouragement, and a friendly ear. About a dozen classmates have used the network for guidance and support and felt it was quite helpful. The broad list of topics includes cancer, orthopedics, substance abuse, family trauma, heart disease and surgery, aging parents and selves, and children. A more detailed list is at dar7mou7h.com. Please contact me at pbmsv@icloud.com if you want to talk to a guide classmate. All is confidential.” Thanks much, Peter, for creating and running this invaluable resource for all ’77s!

With Santa Fe in the rearview, our 50th reunion in Hanover June 2027 is our next milestone event. Our class of 1977 50th reunion digital yearbook via BrightCrowd is still open and awaiting your entry. It’s easy, it’s fun, it’s free! If you haven’t received your link to join, contact Edy Ullman (edy2ullman@comcast.net) or Carol Muller (cbmuller1@gmail.com) to get set up.

Be seen, be heard! Send news and pics. Not getting class emails and e-newsletters? Call the alumni help desk at (603) 646-3202 to update your email and address.

—A.P. Duffy, 15 River Road, Gloucester MA 01930; (203) 979-2234; apduffy77@gmail.com