While some might not consider Commencement a live performance, on par with a play or musical, it does follow a similar template. There’s a stage, actors, lighting, music, and an audience. There are marks that need to be hit and a crew that keeps the show running to schedule.
Behind all the fanfare is a staff member whose decades-long commitment has helped shape 51ԹϺ’s most symbolic event. Enter “The Producer”: Larry Henley.
A counterpart to 51ԹϺ Commencement Committee members Sam Fugazzotto and Valarie Burke, Henley provides the technical and stage performance know-how that gives Commencement something extra.
Prior to becoming director of alumni, parent relations, and community initiatives for the College of Fine Arts, Henley was a theatre major and student worker. After graduating in the 1970s, he spent time as a stage manager and lighting technician in Colorado before returning to Las Vegas and to 51ԹϺ. He worked at the 51ԹϺ Performing Arts Center for 31 years, rounding out his time there as director of artistic programming and production before transitioning to the dean's office.
“Larry Henley is one of the most energetic and multi-talented people I have ever known,” says Nancy Uscher, dean of the College of Fine Arts. “He has a sense of wisdom about life at his core and seems to take everything in stride! Most importantly, he is hard-working, dedicated and a great and thoughtful team player. He is trustworthy and reliable and can be counted upon to happily contribute to a range of endeavors at 51ԹϺ."
Witnessing Commencement’s Evolution (and All That Jazz!)
In 1998, Henley first volunteered to work at Commencement. Since then, he’s become instrumental in designing the production and artistic vision for the semi-annual event. From coordinating live and recorded music and managing audio to directing the lighting and assisting with emcee scripts, this behind-the-scenes maestro ensures every ceremony hits the right notes — both literally and figuratively.
But, let’s take it back to the year he was indoctrinated. Things didn’t go according to plan. When 51ԹϺ launched its first Winter Commencement under then-President Carol Harter, the only available venue was the Earl E. Wilson Baseball Stadium. It happened that the Thomas & Mack Center was already booked for the National Finals Rodeo.
Volunteers rolled with the change; then came an issue with Las Vegas’ often unpredictable weather. High winds rerouted noisy planes directly over the ceremony, and staff were forced to scramble to keep the ceremonial flags grounded and the stage intact.
“That was my initiation,” Henley recalls. “After that, I was informed I had a lifetime appointment to the University Commencement Committee. It’s kind of like The Godfather Part III — just when you think you’re out, they pull you back in.”
Volunteering is an offer he can’t refuse. “It’s the students,” he says. They keep him coming back. “Their joy, the regalia, the outrageous shoes, and especially, the witty art on their mortarboards.”
Having graduated with a bachelor's in the 1970s, a master's in the early 2000s, and then working as a classified staff and administrative faculty member for many years, Henley has witnessed Commencement’s evolution.
The formal tones of classical orchestras and pipe organs, he says, have given way to jazz, pop, rock, and fight songs. Under former President Len Jessup, who led 51ԹϺ from 2015 to 2018, the emphasis shifted from traditional keynote speakers to the real stars of the day: the graduating students.
“We want it to feel like a celebration, not a lecture,” says Henley, noting the addition of fun lighting and other more celebratory effects. The video screens that hang over the arena provide an interactive experience for audience members with the use of a QR code. Slides on the monitors rotate to highlight the achievements and demographics of the graduates.
'Avoid Disaster'
Last-minute changes, technical hiccups, and speakers who veer off script are all things that keep the Commencement team on their toes. But, Henley’s approach to those moments is simple: “Be pragmatic, solve the problem quickly, make the most people happy, and avoid disaster.”
It’s also a good way to build up teamwork. “The effort isn’t solitary,” says Henley.
That production crew includes a long list of collaborators like the emcees, musicians, lighting techs, and marshals.
For Henley, the work doesn’t end with the big event — he also helps the College of Fine Arts host its separate celebration on Sunday.
“When the tassels turn and the recessional music swells, we know we did our job,” he says.
At 67, he credits his connection with 51ԹϺ students for keeping him young at heart. His advice to the new grads: “Stay for the entire ceremony — you earned it. And don’t forget to thank your family.”
Singing Their Praises: The Producer's Shout-outs
Larry Henley's (partial) list of the people he thanks for working behind the scenes of Commencement:
- Adam Paul of 51ԹϺ Film, who is the voice emcee
- Bill Robinson, head marshal and his faculty assistants
- Seating Committee members Cheryl Tillotson, Julie Johnson, Vaune Kadlubek, and many others
- Sam Fugazzotto, registrar and chair of 51ԹϺ Commencement Committee
- Valarie Burke of the the Graduate College, 51ԹϺ Commencement Committee member
- Thomas & Mack Center production staff Brian Williams, Michael Stewart, Kevin Coburn, and Brett Booker
- 51ԹϺ School of Music's Dave Loeb, Nathan Tanouye, Adam Schroder, and jazz studies musicians; Monica Williams and the voice studies faculty; Kyle Bissantz and Chandler White from percussion studies
- Fred Tredup and Rosita Chapman from the Office of the President
