As staff secretary for the theater department, Cindy Hall says she does a little bit of everything, from making travel arrangements for staff members and guests to making sure that paychecks get delivered. And she was deeply involved in the planning of last weekend’s convocation ceremony and department reception.
Do you like getting involved with the students?
I see them every day going to their classes and then I see their shows and watch them on stage and it’s like they’ve been transformed into someone else. They’ll come in and serenade us if they’re learning a new song or practicing a new dialect, or they’ll come in and show us their new makeup for the day. So it can be rewarding.
Do you go to a lot of performances at Krannert?
I try to get to the Playhouse and Studio productions that my students do. I call them ‘my’ students. They are mine. I’m a secretary but they’re my students. I’ve dealt with them since they called in to find out how to apply. And once they get here they say ‘I have this problem, who do I talk to, where do I go?’ They turn to me.
Your husband works in the Krannert scene shop. How did you meet?
We met here at Krannert, having lunch downstairs in the break room. We just kind of hit it off and it went from there.
You said you love to travel.
After 13 years of marriage we’ve been in 37 states, Canada, the Caribbean and Scandinavia and we’re still going places. We have no children, so if somebody says let’s go to so-and-so, I’m out the door.
My husband, Rich, is a model-train buff, and we always try to go to those conferences once a year. And then Barry Manilow is the other thing. And I’m a diehard basketball fan.
The Barry Manilow thing — you’ve been an active president of the local Barry Manilow Fan Club for years. Are you still involved?
I’m a lifetime member of his fan club. Our local club is still considered official, but we haven’t really done anything recently because most of the members have moved.
How many times have you seen him in concert?
I quit counting after 250 in August 1997. When I first started going it was one or two shows a year and then when I really got into it we were hitting 10 and 12 a year. One year we saw 15 shows in December.
Didn’t you ever get tired of him?
I’ve enjoyed his music all these years. And I have a huge collection. And I’ve had a lot of fun and met a worldwide group of people. For the show he’ll do in Chicago this summer, people will fly in from Florida, they will come in from England, and they’ll fly in from Los Angeles, just for the shows. And then they’ll turn around and go back. It was nothing for me to drive 500 miles. We chartered a plane once with a UI student pilot.
One weekend we left here at 7 o’clock on a Friday night, drove to New York City, saw two shows and we were back here by 5 Sunday night and I went to work Monday morning.
Is there life beyond Barry Manilow?
I’m a big NBA fan. A Lakers fan. If there is anything to do with the NBA on I’m glued to my TV set. We’ve got a satellite dish and I can get eight games a day. I especially follow teams who have players who played here, like Kendall Gill, Nick Anderson and Kenny Norman when he played.
In fact one year I was selected to be the honorary coach with Lou Henson. I was a nervous wreck because I told ’em, ‘Y’know, I’m not the silent type.’ I remember Lou saying ‘Well you’re sitting on the bench, so don’t get me a technical.’ [She laughed.] That was a big highlight of my life.
What are you doing for fun this summer?
I get to spend 10 days in Orlando. Disneyworld is my place. I would stay there forever if I could. I even applied for a job there one time. I would even work the rides if I had to. It would be a cut in pay, but I would do it.
Maybe you could work there after you retire from the UI. Do you plan to stay in the theater department?
Oh I would like to. It’s a lot of fun most of the time. And I’ve told some of our alums, now promise me this, when you get that Oscar or that Emmy or whatever, you’re gonna take me with you cause I want to walk down that carpet with you. [She laughed.] And maybe I will.
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