A Bennington Drama Scrapbook (1986-1990)

Brooks Ashmanskas & Jonathan Marc Sherman in Franklin #2, mid-Eighties

After our interview, Jonathan Marc Sherman was kind enough to send us a few photos from his collection with his commentary. They're a fascinating peek into Bennington in the late eighties, from the fashion (remarkably the same) to the elaborate, massive-cast productions put on during Sherman's time as a student, including a student production of the Rocky Horror Show staged in a Commons studio. Scroll down for more: 

The cover of the "mid-1980s prospectus that got me to Bennington."

The aforementioned photo Sherman saw that inspired him to apply-- "Everything about that one photograph in the catalogue made me want to be there."

More photos from the prospectus: a drama class in D207 (which used to be painted white!)

Sherman and Dinklage in Franklin #2, after a performance of "The Cherry Orchard" by Anton Chekov. 

"Spencer Cox (RIP), Brett Gillen, Liz Zimmie, & Debra Eisenstadt's hair at a 'Cherry Orchard' rehearsal in D207."

Peter Dinklage as Gene in "The Author's Voice" by Richard Greenberg.

A rehearsal photo from "The Author's Voice" in D207. L to R: Kevin Krakower, Sherman, Brett Gillen (in back), Dinklage, Sebastian Lane

Production photo from "The Time of Your Life" by William Saroyan.

Cast and crew photo from "The Marriage of Bette and Boo" by Chris Durang, 1986. Set design by Tony Carruthers. Nicky Martin is seated to the left of the wheelchair. 

A Bennington tradition: The cast of "The Rocky Horror Show" in 1986. Sherman, as Brad, is in the middle row left of center, between Magenta and Columbia. 

The program from "Rocky Horror." (This was a full student-run production; Bennington students still do a "Picture Show" shadowcast every Halloween.)

Finally, "... a photo from 1986 of Mr. T after he gave his Just Say No lecture on campus, just because."