Alumni from the University of Tennessee Martin Branch (1955-64) representing the original members of Vanguard Theatre, including J. Robert Swain, the first director of Vanguard Theatre, visited the UT Martin campus during the spring, touring the campus, dining in the new Alumni Center, catching up with one another, while also catching a performance of the latest Vanguard Theatre production, A Murder is Announced. The former original Vanguardians visited with the current Vanguard Theatre staff, cast and crew during a picture call on Saturday afternoon. Current and former Vanguardians discussed the beginnings of Vanguard Theatre, the theatre today and the future of Vanguard Theatre. Former and current Vanguardians gathered on the set for A Murder is Announced for a grand curtain call photo that spanned the generations. Later that evening during the play performance intermission, Doug Cook, chair of the Department of Visual and Theatre Arts, spoke to the audience acknowledging the contributions of J. Robert Swain and all the former members of Vanguard Theatre to the great success of what is now an artistic and cultural tradition at UTMartin, Vanguard Theatre.

From left to right are, front row, Bobby Crockett, John Mistric, Suzy Brundige Cowell, J. Robert Swain, Hadi Alradhi, Nick Mounts, Emily Welch Stewart, Anne Meek; second row, John Weber Webb, Bill Brinley, Bill Butler, Bud Demetriou, Jay Campbell, Kara Salyers, Richard Walters, Leighanne Sims, Mary Beth French, J. Douglas Chandler, Bill Clark, Natalie Horbelt, Ashlee Johnson, Megan Hollis and Karen Saldana.