IC News

Standing on the stage in Glazer Arena, Tony Award–winning Broadway producer and theatre alum Larry Hirschhorn ’80 confessed to being totally speechless when asked to make Ithaca College’s 128th commencement address celebrating the more than 1,160 members of the Class of 2023.

But he ultimately determined his best approach was “to just be myself,” he said to the audience of close to 7,500 in the packed arena on Sunday, May 21. “When I began wrestling with what I could possibly speak to you about, I remembered the first rule of writing—Write what you know.

“And the thing I know most about in this world, is theatre,” Hirschhorn continued. “I’ve always loved it and the impact it can have on people, as well as its power to hold a mirror up to our society.”

Hirschhorn shared his belief that we use many aspects of theatre education in our daily lives — collaboration, listening and observation skills; the ability to “be in the moment”; risk-taking, flexibility, improvisation; and, above all, kindness.

“All things which, I hope, can help steer your paths,” he said to the graduates.

Hirschhorn closed his address with a lyric from his Broadway hit production Hadestown: “Here’s to the world we dream about, and the one we live in now.”

“I have met some of the most interesting and talented people here,” she said. “How could you not meet great people when there are just so many great things happening around you?

“I owe a lot to this school,” she added. “If it was not for Ithaca College, I would not have been able to discover who I am. Just like many of you, I was able to find my best friends here, my passions here, and most importantly — I found my future here.”

Chair of the board of trustees David Lissy ’87 spoke to the students as well, recalling his own graduation 36 years ago.

“I vividly remember pulling out of Ithaca with all of my worldly possessions in the trunk of my car, filled with excitement and—of course—some anxiety about what comes next,” he said. “I encourage you all to lean in and soak in the moment. Have confidence that your time here at IC has prepared you for the journey that lies ahead in whatever your next step may be and long beyond.”

With the formal ceremony concluded, students met up with proud friends and family and celebrated their accomplishment.

Rocco DiMaiolo ’23, who hopes to attend law school in the future, was soaking up the moment with his family.

“It is hard to put into words,” DiMaiolo said, of his feelings on graduating. “We had a lot of hard time, ups and downs, but at the end of the day, it was all worth it. We really pulled through and — here we are!”