Queens Theatre to present ‘Golden
Girls’ puppet parody stage show
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Queens College has appointed
Jennifer Jarvis as the
vice president for student affairs
and enrollment management.
Since 2012, Jarvis has
been serving as the assistant
vice president for student affairs
and has helmed the office
for the past year.
In her new position, Jarvis’
enrollment responsibilities
will enable her to help the college
to better serve students.
“I am deeply honored and
grateful for the opportunity to
serve the students of Queens
College,” Jarvis said.
Queens College President
Frank Wu said that for more
than two decades, and in multiple
capacities, Jarvis has
been a “diligent, deeply educated
and caring advocate” for
students at Queens College.
“Her commitment to student
advocacy, empowerment
and diversity is a matter of
public record and is an enduring
asset to our institution.
I am delighted to appoint as
vice president for student affairs
and enrollment management,
where her vision and
experience will help us increase
student success as we
provide them with a strong
educational background and a
superb collegiate experience,”
Wu said.
Jarvis’ relationship with
Queens College dates back to
1995 when she joined the college
as assistant director of
student life. Since that time,
she has served in a variety of
positions, including director
of student life, executive director
of the student union and
executive director of student
development.
Jarvis holds a Master of
Education from James Madison
University and a Bachelor
of Arts from Manhattanville
College.
As assistant vice president
for student affairs, Jarvis
supervised the child development
center, counseling,
CUNY Edge, health services,
special services, student development
and leadership and
housing and residential life.
Working closely with senior
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.10 COM | FEB. 11 - FEB. 17, 2022
members of the administration,
she has conceived and
implemented many programs
to improve the experience of
students at Queens College.
In her new capacity as vice
president for student affairs
and enrollment management,
Jarvis — reporting to the president
and serving as a member
of the college’s senior management
team — will provide strategic
leadership and operational
management to develop and
implement a comprehensive
enrollment management and
student affairs program that
focuses on sustained, positive
results in recruiting, enrolling,
retaining and graduating
an academically prepared
student body.
She will also serve as the
chief student affairs officer
for the college and will be responsible
for the development,
standardization and implementation
of policies and procedures
that reflect the broader
mission of the college.
“Vice President Jarvis has
an exceptional career with
student affairs,” Student Association
President Zaire
Couloute said. “Her experience
grants her the knowledge
to carry this role well.
I wish her all the best as we
continue to work to make QC
a place where students come
first always.”
Reach reporter Carlotta
Mohamed by e-mail at
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718) 260–
4526.
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
After transitioning to
online programming for its
audience amid the COVID-19
pandemic, Queens Theatre
is bringing a “Golden Girls”
puppet parody show to the
borough as the venue’s first
in-person show of 2022.
“That Golden Girls Show!”
tour will be presented on Sunday,
Feb. 20, at 3 p.m. and 7
p.m. According to Taryn Sacramone,
executive director
of Queens Theatre, they’re
looking forward to reconnecting
with everyone this year,
beginning with the “Golden
Girls” show.
“This is a show that interested
us before the pandemic.
It feels even more appropriate
now because we are looking to
bring the community together
for a really joyful experience.
We want people to have fun, to
laugh and connect over their
shared fandom of ‘The Golden
Girls,’” Sacramone said.
“The Golden Girls” sitcom
aired for seven seasons
from 1985 to 1992 with an
ensemble cast starring Bea
Arthur as Dorothy Zbornak,
Betty White as Rose Nylund,
Rue McClanahan as Blanche
Devereaux and Estelle Getty
as Sophia Petrillo, Dorothy’s
80-year-old widowed mother.
The brand-new show at
Queens Theatre parodies classic
“Golden Girls” moments
with puppets portraying the
four women — from Sophia’s
get-rich-quick schemes to
Rose’s tales from St. Olaf,
Blanche’s insatiable hunt for
men and the fountain of youth,
and Dorothy’s daily struggle
to make sense of her life.
According to Queens Theatre,
the show is also a way
to celebrate White, who appeared
on the show for seven
years in 177 episodes and died
at the age of 99 in December
2021.
“While we are extremely
saddened by Betty White’s
passing, we are so thankful to
have the opportunity to bring
her fans together to celebrate
Betty’s incredible career and
one of her most iconic roles
with this puppet parody show.
What better way to honor
Betty White than to laugh together?”
Sacramone said.
The show’s cast includes
Miranda Cooper as Sophia,
Dylan Glick as Dorothy, Lu
Zielinkski as Blanche and Samantha
Lee Mason as Rose.
For Mason, who is a New
York-based musical theater
performer and puppeteer, it’s
an honor to portray White’s
comedic character as Rose
onstage.
“I love playing Rose because
I like her sense of earnest
optimism. She’s really
sweet and she has love for her
friends, how she grew up, and
she has all of these crazy funny
stories that I get to tell,”
Mason said.
Although she didn’t know
White personally, Mason says
it felt very personal when
White died while working on
emulating her character as
Rose.
“I felt like I knew her and
that’s something universal;
everyone knows Betty White.
I really want to continue her
legacy in a respectful way,
and I want what I’m doing to
be a love letter to her,” Mason
said.
Mason says she hopes people
will come to the show to
not only share in laughter and
joy but to also celebrate the incredible
life of White.
Read more on QNS.com.
New York-based musical theater performer and puppeteer
Samantha Lee Mason Photo courtesy of Queens Theatre
Jennifer Jarvis has been appointed to the position of vice
president for student affairs and enrollment management.
Photo courtesy of Queens College
Queens College appoints new vice president of
student affairs and enrollment management
/QNS.com
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