Jack Wright, professor of theatre and
film, has held the titles of Artistic Director of Theatre at
the University of Kansas (KU) from 1976 to 1994, and Director
of the University Theatre at KU from 1989 to 1994. He received
his undergraduate degree in theatre from Otterbein College in
Ohio and his Master of Arts and Ph.D. degrees from KU. He
became a Fellow of the College of Fellows of the American
Theatre in 1998. In 2002 he received the Kemper award for
outstanding teacher at KU.
Professor Wright is a former national
chair of the American College Theatre Festival (ACTF) and has
also served as chair of ACTF’s Regions V and VI. In 1983
his production of Buried Child was selected for the National ACTF at the
Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
Professor Wright teaches courses in
acting, directing, acting for the camera, and American theatre
history.
In addition to teaching and directing, he
also acts and directs for professional theatre, television, and
film. He and his partner Heather Laird have a casting agency in
Kansas City called Wright/Laird Casting. He has directed over
90 productions. In 1989 he was a guest director at the Teatr
Popularney in Warsaw, Poland. He has also directed for the
Nebraska Shakespeare Festival—Omaha.
