Adorning the hallways of the Department of Theatre and Dance is a makeshift hall of fame, decorated with headshots, articles and playbills featuring alumni who have gone on to successful professional careers in the performing arts.
Standing out in the sea of success stories is 1992 graduate Jeffry Denman, whose journey has brought him from the high school swing choir to the bright lights of Broadway. For Denman, who has worked as a professional actor, writer and choreographer across the country, it's a journey that flourished at UB.
"Musical theater was a special major (then)," says Denman in a phone interview, "and the Center for the Arts wasn't yet built." While the structure of the department may have changed, Denman says there has always been a strong community for theater in Western New York.
"Buffalo has the infrastructure for theater to succeed, from education at UB to summer productions at Artpark. There's a great deal more now, with the Center for the Arts and the (Irish Classical Theatre Company's) Andrews Theater downtown. Buffalo is fortunate."
Denman returns periodically to teach graduate classes to students, as well as to see former colleagues. UB's Musical Theatre Director Lynne Kurzdiel-Formato, who first taught Denman at St. Joe's High School, continues to be part of his life personally and professionally. She remembers the first time she called his name for a role in the swing choir.
"He was a freshman and was sitting in the back of the room when his name was called," says Kurzdiel-Formato. "It took three times for him to realize I was calling his name. He thought I was calling a senior."
Although limited in experience, he landed the role in a medley from the musical "Cats," a show he would later star in on Broadway.
Denman then went on to appear in many UB musicals with Lynne, including "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Hair," and "The Time of Your Life," his first play. After graduating, "Dancing In The Dark," an original musical he wrote in homage to Fred Astaire, premiered at the Summerfare Musical Theater (now "Musicalfare") in 1997 and later at Studio Arena Theatre. He choreographed and starred in both productions before moving on to "Cats" on Broadway.
Recently, Denman has appeared on the Broadway smash "The Producers." It was well into his run on the musical that he decided to publish stories depicting its behind-the-scenes production. In April of this year, "A Year With The Producers" hit the shelves and earned rave reviews. Star Matthew Broderick wrote the foreword.
The novel talks candidly about the struggles of being an actor in New York, sustaining jobs and sharing the stage with his girlfriend, who is also in the show. But on the lighter side, "A Year With The Producers" also includes witty recollections of backstage antics and rehearsal laugh-fests with show creator and comedic extraordinaire Mel Brooks.
"At first, he was 'The Mel,' the man who directed 'Blazing Saddles' and 'Young Frankenstein.' A man I admired," Denman recalls. "I soon realized the pedestal I had put him on was imaginary. Once that pedestal was taken down, (I realized) he was just a person."
Cast in the ensemble and playing many parts throughout the show, the climax of Denman's story is the week he went on as Broderick's understudy, playing Leo Bloom opposite Tony-winner Nathan Lane.
After completing his run in "The Producers," he began work on his second book, a theater perspective on Sept. 11. According to Denman, writing a book is a very different process than creating for the theater. In his opinion, words in a book are definite, whereas words in the theater thrive on interpretation and reexamination.
As his resume and experience grows, it's his Buffalo roots that remind Denman of his humble beginning. Kurzdiel-Formato says she knew the first time she worked with him that he had what it takes to be successful.
"He has God-given talent and has always been driven. Jeffry was always able to make things happen. If you are driven and take advantage of your talent, there are a lot of opportunities for you."
Although he's already seen his name in a Broadway playbill, he considers his current status only a beginning.
"I am working to develop myself as a principle actor," he says. "I've been part of an ensemble for many years. I would like to be the leading man."
For the teachers and students who pass his smiling, successful face hanging on their office walls, Denman already is a leading man.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
