Alumni Event at U-M Creates New Connections Across the Community

Jeff Cowall, ’70, a longtime U-M employee attended and sent in his thoughts:

“The Alumni Gathering at UM was great!  It brought together young alum who are students at UM, older alum, as well as CK faculty and staff, all with common bonds to Cranbrook and University of Michigan.  A fellow CK70 alum who studied marketing marveled when a current student showed him a detailed simulation of a corporation on his laptop. Older alum shared the twists and turns of our careers over the decades, which made all of us more appreciative of how Cranbrook prepared us for our lives and careers.  It really brought home Cranbrook as a living, evolving, and vibrant community of learners for life."

W.A.P. John (’70, U-M ’75) shared perhaps the most memorable Cranbrook story of the day. He brought and passed out CD copies of Cremora! A New Musical! the original cast album of the Cranbrook student-created musical. What is Cremora? you might ask. Allow the Cranbrook Crane from June 11, 1970 to explain:

“It all began one dreadful and commonplace night when Dan Padnos and John Cross again found that they had more homework than they could possibly finish by morning. So they laid down the melancholy burden of sanity and conceived the strangest project ever imagined: to write a satirical review of Cranbrook School in the form of a musical which later became a full length stereo LP. Produced by Mr. Doug Lieberman (KSC) and recorded at his apartment, Cremora (as it is now called) was scripted by Joe Jacobs and Craig Hamilton, engineered by Jeff Cowall and Pete Salvia (KSC), while music was composed and arranged by Dan Padnos. 50% of the profits from the album go to the Cranbrook Schools Scholarship Fund.”

W.A.P. shared entertaining stories about the musical's writing, recording, and production. While some alumni at the Union pondered how to play a CD, nearby Ray Maturo ’74 (U-M DDS ’82, MS ’87) noted how many times he had listened to the album on vinyl. With song titles like “Rules and Regulations”, “College Man” and “Have I Got a Lot to Do?”, the musical satire explores the Cranbrook experience of a new student. Many involved in the production have led successful careers in theater, writing, art, and design. Student talent, ingenuity, and creativity on display at Cranbrook then, as it is now.

Thank you to everyone who attended the event. A special congratulations to the U-M Class of 2025 on your upcoming graduation! Enjoy the moment and all that you have accomplished. And, when time allows, check back in with Cranbrook and share your good news.

For the Class of ’70 looking to further reminisce and connect, there will be copies of Cremora! available in-person at Reunion weekend, June 6-7-8, as you celebrate 55! For those who can’t wait, a version of the recording is available online.

Click here to view photos of this event and other alumni gatherings.

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