The third annual Geist-Yancey Lecture on the arts will take place on February 26 on the campus of Central Methodist University, given by actor and novelist John Cariani. Cariani’s lecture, titled “You Can Smell Plays, But You Can’t Smell TV Shows and Movies…and Other Things I Love About the Theatre,” will be held at 7 p.m. in the Inman Lecture Hall (Stedman 200).
Cariani is a playwright, actor, and novelist. As a playwright, he is best known for his first play, Almost, Maine, which premiered at Portland Stage Company in 2004, opened Off-Broadway in 2006, and has since become one of the most popular plays in the United States and around the world. The play has received more than 5,000 productions to date and has been translated into more than a dozen languages. In 2020 he penned Almost, Maine-a novel, which was recently published by Fiewel and Fiends. Almost Maine is the most frequently produced play in North American high schools over the past decade. Cariani’s other plays—LOVE/SICK, cul-de-sac, and LAST GAS—have received more than 500 productions in the U.S. and around the world.
As an actor, Cariani made his Broadway debut in the 2004 revival of Fiddler on the Roof receiving an Outer Critics Circle Award and a Tony Award nomination for his portrayal of Motel the Tailor. Later, he originated the role of Nigel Bottom in the Broadway hit Something Rotten! and received an Outer Critics Circle Award and a Grammy Award nomination for his performance. Additionally, he originated the role of Itzik in the The Band's Visit, winner of the 2018 Tony Award for Best Musical; and he recently appeared as Stuart Gelman in the acclaimed revival of Caroline, or Change, receiving a Grammy Award nomination for his performance.
Most people know Cariani from his work on TV. He played Forensics Tech Beck for five seasons on NBC’s long-running drama, Law & Order. He also had recurring roles on CBS’s Numbers and on IFC’s The Onion News Network. Notable film work includes Showtime (with Robert De Niro), Scotland, PA (with Christopher Walken), and Elephant Sighs (with Ed Asner).
In addition to the lecture, Cariani will be participating in a workshop for the Ten-Minute Play Festival on campus on February 27-28.
About the lecture series
Dr. Joe Geist was a faculty member at Central Methodist College from 1972 to 1998 and was named Professor Emeritus upon his retirement from teaching. He served as curator of the Ashby-Hodge Gallery of American Art from 1998 to 2014 and now serves as its registrar. His professional life has been dedicated to the furthering of the liberal arts, culture, literature, and learning.
Mr. Tom Yancey, a 1954 alumnus of Central, joined the faculty in the Swinney Conservatory in 1958. In 1972, he served as the Conservatory's dean, and in 1995 he accepted Professor Emeritus status. In addition to being an accomplished musician, Yancey was a well-known artist. He, along with Geist, was a co-founder of the Ashby-Hodge Gallery of American Art and was curator of the Gallery from 1993 until 1998.
The purpose of the Geist-Yancey lectureship is to provide a lasting legacy of the founders’ endless pursuit of the furthering of these pillars of higher education. The lectures will have a theme of cultural affairs, and the speaker shall be a noted/national individual from outside the CMU community.
For those unable to attend in person, the lecture will be livestreamed at the following link: https://centralmethodist.zoom.us/j/93841989883