Notable Syracuse University alumni Frank Langella ’59 and Ted Koppel ’60, H’82 will return to campus as part of the University’s brand new Orange Central celebration, an exciting four-day weekend that combines the rich tradition of Homecoming+Reunion with new events. The celebrated stage and screen actor and veteran broadcast journalist will discuss Langella’s career during “One on One: Frank Langella and Ted Koppel” on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 8 p.m. at Syracuse Stage, 820 E. Genesee St.
A limited number of tickets are available for this special event. All tickets are first-come, first-served, with a maximum of two tickets per person. Tickets will be available in the following allocations beginning Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 11 a.m.:
· SU students, faculty and staff may pick up free tickets at the Schine Box Office (Atrium Level, 303 University Place), (315) 443-4517. Tickets may be acquired in person only with a valid SU I.D.
· SU alumni may request free tickets through Orange Central registration online at http://www.syr.edu/alumni.
· The general public may purchase $5 tickets in person or by phone through the Syracuse Stage Box Office (820 E. Genesee St.), 443-3275.
Free parking for the event is available, space permitting, in the Syracuse Stage lot next to Phoebe’s Restaurant and Coffee Lounge. Paid parking is available in the enclosed parking garage located at the corner of Madison Street and Irving Avenue, next to the Madison-Irving Medical Building. On-street parking in areas adjacent to Syracuse Stage is free after 6 p.m.
Frank Langella ’59
Langella is considered among America’s greatest stage and film actors, known for his onstage presence and versatility. Over the course of his career, he has won international acclaim and has been the recipient of more than two dozen nominations and awards, including Tonys, Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes, Cable ACE Awards, Obies and critics’ awards.
Langella made his New York stage debut as the lead in an off-Broadway revival of “The Immoralist” not long after graduating from SU with a degree in theater arts. During the next decade, he won three Obies and a Drama Desk Award for his off-Broadway work. In 1974, he made his Broadway debut in Edward Albee’s “Seascape,” for which he won another Drama Desk Award and the first of three Tonys.
Langella made his film debut in 1970 in “Diary of a Mad Housewife.” While appearing regularly in films and on television, he continued to be in demand as a stage actor. In 1977, his performance as the bloodthirsty count in the Broadway revival of “Dracula” earned Langella his second Tony nomination. He reprised his performance for the film version in 1979.
Langella was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame in 2003. Continuing to work steadily on Broadway, he won a second Tony for “Fortune’s Fool” that same year and a third for “Frost/Nixon” in 2007. His success in film continued with his critically acclaimed portrayal of William S. Paley in “Good Night, and Good Luck” in 2005 and his co-starring role in the summer blockbuster “Superman Returns” in 2006.
In 2008, he was honored with an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, as well as Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations, for his portrayal of former U.S. President Richard Nixon in the film adaptation of “Frost/Nixon.” He is currently set to star in “Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps,” a film directed by Oliver Stone.
Ted Koppel ’60, H’82
Koppel, a veteran news correspondent and commentator long praised for the depth and insight of his reporting, began his career with ABC News in 1963 at the age of 23. From 1971-80, he served as chief diplomatic and Washington correspondent, traveling with President Nixon on his visit to the People’s Republic of China, covering Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and Cyrus Vance, and reporting on national defense. His coverage of the 1979 Iran hostage crisis led to the establishment of ABC’s “Nightline” the following year. He anchored the program from its inception until 2005.
Following “Nightline,” Koppel worked as managing editor for the Discovery Channel, for which he produced several documentaries on a variety of subjects, including a four-part series on China’s growing economy and the role of consumers in a communist country. He is currently a senior news analyst for National Public Radio and the BBC.
Koppel is the recipient of a multitude of major broadcasting awards, including more than three dozen Emmys, 11 Peabodys and two George Polk Awards, among others. He is an inductee of the Broadcasting Hall of Fame and has authored several books.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in speech and dramatic arts, and an honorary doctorate of law, both from SU. In 1982 and 2000, he was SU’s Commencement speaker. He was awarded the George Arents Pioneer Award, the University’s highest alumni honor, in 2005.
For more information on Orange Central and an up-to-the-minute schedule of events and activities, visit http://orangecentral.syr.edu. For questions, contact theOffice of Alumni Relations at 1-800-SUALUMS (782-5867) or e-mail sualumni@syr.edu.
