PVCC Puma Press: March 2006

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	Photo by Alyssa Baumunk
	Playwright and Fine Arts faculty, Alan Tongret, has fathered the PVCC theatre program and spear-headed the building of the PVCC Center for the Performing Arts.
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This year PVCC’s Fine Arts and Science Departments have joined together in a unique collaboration to share the bold story of Nobel Prize winning physicist Richard Feynman in the stage play, “Child of the Kosmos,” written by Alan Tongret.
Tongret first came to PVCC in the fall of 1992, working part-time as a theater teacher. Since that time he has written and produced several plays that have been presented at the PVCC Center for the Performing Arts, a building he helped develop.

For the last 15 years Tongret has shared his passion for writing and the theater with his many students. “Child of the Kosmos” will be his last production before retiring this December, and he says he is busier than ever working with the Science Department bringing to life his last written piece, which he calls his “coda, if you will.”

Tongret feels this opportunity to work with the Science Department is significant and adds, “It’s fun to look at something outside my background.”

He chose to team up with the Science Department to make sure his information for the play is accurate and also to demonstrate the similarities between science and the arts.

“Many [people] view the two somewhat superficially says Tongret. “A scientist has logic, and an artist has inspiration.” However, this play focuses on one common interest, imagination.

He refers to a quote by Albert Einstein: “Imagination is more important than facts.” In “Child of the Kosmos,” Tongret portrays the imagination of the brilliant Feynman.

While choosing the subject for his play, Tongret consulted numerous individuals on the science faculty. PVCC physics faculty, Casey Durandet says, “We chose Feynman based on the myriad contributions he made to the advancement of science.”

A few of Feynman’s major contributions include his assistance in the development of the atomic bomb in 1943 and his discovery of the cause of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion in 1986.

Tongret adds that the play focuses on the physicist’s 36 years spent teaching at Caltech and his 24 years at Los Alamos. He also states clearly that “Child of the Kosmos” is not a documentary; however, it attempts to dramatize Feynman as a scientist. The play attempts to go inside the mastermind’s subconscious. “The production takes place while Feynman is under anesthesia for surgery,” says the playwright. He also mentions, “The scenes move fluently to different frames in Feynman’s life with just a simple lighting change.”

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	'Child of the Kosmos' will be Tongret's last production before retiring this December
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Tongret consulted Durandet for her advice concerning the scientific aspects of the scientist’s work and life. She says, “Alan has done an excellent job in researching Feynman and portraying him. I am very pleased and impressed with his work.”

Throughout his 15 years at PVCC, Tongret says, it has always been his hope to develop a vigorous theater program.

After his retirement, Tongret says he plans to move to New York with his wife actress, director and writer, JoAnn Yeoman, where he will continue to write. He comments that his passion for the arts is the best way to make life as good as it can be and adds, “I hope what I do affirms what is best in life.”

Tongret says he feels he has accomplished his goals at PVCC and is, overall, “pleased in Paradise.”

He says that he can still hear every actor’s voice in his head and see snapshots from his PVCC productions as well as the building and planning of the arts committee.

“The people are what is most important,” he says. “Without everyone’s hard work, nothing would have been possible.”

In closing, he says that he will miss everyone from his colleagues to his students and will enjoy his memories of the college for years to come.

“Child of the Kosmos” will be performed Nov. 8–11 and Nov. 14–18. Auditions will be held Oct. 2 and 3 in PVCC’s Studio Theater. Any questions may be directed to Humanities faculty and director, Gary Zaro at (602)-787-6553.