On May 5, students at Quinnipiac University will have the opportunity to see a different side of Toad’s Place. Several students at the university will be premiering their new documentary, “Night After Night: The Tune of Toad’s”.
The senior project is headed by Hannah Woomer, Colleen Ellis, Noah Galembo, Orrin Creighton, Billy Scully, Pete Courtien and Dan Callahan.
The film, video, interactive media (FVI) senior project began in September 2011 and the students involved with the project have been working throughout the year to finish the documentary.
“To most people at Quinnipiac, Toad’s only exists on Saturday nights,” said Dan Callahan, Second Unit Director and Graphics Editor for the film. “But there is such a diverse clientele that attends concerts and other events every other night of the week,”
The documentary focuses on the culture and history of Toad’s Place. While some students at Quinnipiac view Toad’s Place as just a Saturday night dance club, the documentary hopes to open students up to the rock legend that Toad’s Place used to be.
“I’m sure when people check their jackets downstairs on a Saturday night, they see that wall with all the names on it. But if you actually take the time to read all those names, you’ll be amazed at who has been on Toads’ stage,” Callahan said.
Toad’s Place has hosted some of the most legendary rock bands and artists. Bob Dylan played his longest set of 6 hours on the Toad’s stage in 1989. In that same year, The Rolling Stones played a secret show at Toad’s Place that kicked off their tour.
Callahan says that the students were given full access to the club for their filming, including a tour of every part of Toad’s Place, from the Lily Pad to a back closet in the basement. Callahan says he even put a sign outside the club notifying patrons that entering the club meant giving consent to be filmed. Callahan says this was a huge help when filming students dancing on Saturday nights.
“It was always a challenge to get the footage we needed while fighting for a good spot and protecting the equipment, all at once. But seeing the project go from an idea, to hours and hours of footage, to a paper cut, to a rough cut, to a final edit was my favorite, and most rewarding party of the project,” Callahan said.
According to Callahan, the documentary is not intended to be just for Quinnipiac students but rather for everyone to see the story of a Rock and Roll club legend that continues to survive in the dying age of Rock ‘n’ Roll clubs.
“For many, Toad’s is the place to go on a Saturday night,” Callahan said. “But the floor and stage they’re dancing on is where Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stone’s played a surprise 12 song set, and Bob Dylan played his longest concert. Toad’s is so much more than the Saturday night’s it’s known for around Quinnipiac.”