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Arthur Dirks        Professor of Theatre Arts, Bridgewater State College

Arthur L. Dirks

680 Cohannet St.
Taunton, MA 02780
adirks@dirksdesigns.com

EDUCATION

Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration (2001) University of Massachusetts Boston
M.F.A. in Theatre: Scene Design (1980) Illinois State University
M.A. in Theatre (1974) University of Kansas
B.A. in Speech (1971) Fort Hays (Kansas) State University

EMPLOYMENT (Education)

• Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater, MA (1983 to present).
  
  • Professor of Theatre Arts, with tenure.
    
  • Designer and Faculty Technical Director, B.S.C. Theatre.
    
  • Chairperson, Department of Communication Studies and Theatre Arts (2001 to 2005, 1992 to 1995).
    
  • Co-coordinator, Center for the Advancement of Research and Teaching (CART)
  • Acting Chairperson, Department of Music (1997-1998)
    
  • Acting Dean, School of Arts and Sciences (1995-1997)
    
  • Coordinator, Program of Theatre and Dance (1985-1992).
    
• Missouri Western State college, St. Joseph, MO (1982-1983).
  
  • Assistant Professor of Theatre.
    
  • Scene Designer and Technical Director.
    
• Wayne State College, Wayne, NE (1975-1982).
  
  • Assistant Professor of Communication Arts, with tenure.
    
  • Designer and Technical Director. Also stage director and theatre facility supervisor. Additional responsibilities for broadcasting courses, supervision of a student radio station, and supporting general communication courses.
    
  • Coordinator, Communication Arts.
    
• Fort Hays State College, Hays, KS (1974-1975).
  
  • Interim instructor of Speech and Theatre. Stage Director. Also supported general communication courses.
    
• Southwestern College, Winfield, KS (1973-1974).
  
  • Interim instructor of Speech. One-person theatre program. Also supported general communication courses.
    

At Bridgewater State College:

• -Proposed and implemented separation of the combined department into departments of Communication Studies, and Theater & Dance.


• -Integrated 2 new faculty; supported 2 junior faculty, bringing 1 to tenure; completed 1 promotion to associate.
• -Won addition of 3 faculty lines.
• -Support and leadership for ongoing curriculum development in all programs
• -Implemented facilities and equipment for departmental video studios and production centers


• -Advised on and coordinated the development and occupation of new office and classroom spaces for the faculty and programs in the department.


• -Initiated accreditation process for theatre program

• -Brought Strategic Planning to conclusion at the department and School level.
  
• -Extensive School-wide faculty hiring (30 positions in 2 years).
  
• -Development of college-wide internship policies.
  
• -Administrative participation in and support for review of General Education in governance.
  
• -Pursuit of initiatives in centers for research and service (Institute for Regional Development).
  
• -Early initiatives to develop programs in international studies and environmental studies.
  
• -Attendance at national conferences for AAC&U, CCAS and Project 30, POD.
  
• -Administrative service on search committees, committees for admissions and transfer policies, and NEASC accreditation subcommittees.
  

• -Conducted 2 faculty searches, including one for department chairperson.
  

• -Worked with large advisory board of faculty and administrators


• -Coordinated grant and programming committees and supervised the technology room.

• -Oversaw initial development of a mass communication program.
  
• -Negotiation of separation of Communication Disorders program.
  
• -Initial discussion for a possible School of Communication and Theatre
  

• -Oversight of theatre curriculum revision 1986-1988.
  

• -Center for Advancement of Research and Teaching (CART) advisory committee
  
• -Strategic Planning Committee
  
• -College Web Advisory Committee
  
• -College-wide Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, and the General Education Review subcommittee.
  
• -Campus Center Planning Board
  

ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITY:

New England Theatre Conference (NETC):

• Member, College of Fellows.
  
• Associate Editor for Design and Technology for New England Theatre Journal.
  
• Past Board Member for College and University Theatre Division
  
• Judge and past regional representative for the Moss Hart Award for outstanding theatrical productions.
  
• Listowner for electronic discussion list NETheatre@bridgew.edu serving theatre interests throughout New England.
  

• Chair of New England regional section (1996, 1990-1992).
  
• 1991 regional conference chair
  
• Liaison to NETC
  
• Attendance at national conferences 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2003, 2006.
  

• Active participation and annual attendance at regional festival
  
• Occasional adjudication of festival entries.
  

• Membership, occasional attendance at national conference.
  

OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY:

• Adjudicator for NETC Community Theatre Division Brandeis Festival in 1991 and 1994.
  
• Adjudicator for NETC Community Theatre Division New England Regional Festival, 1992.
  
• Judge for Massachusetts High School Drama Guild productions 1986-1991, 1995.(Judge for state finals in 1989.)
  
• In-service workshop presentations for West Hartford (CT) public schools, 1991.
  
• Reader, John Gassner Memorial Playwriting Award (NETC), 1991.
  
• Program review and consultant for theatre program at Plymouth State College, Plymouth, N.H., April, 1988.
  
• Program evaluator, team leader and consultant for SMARTS collaborative of southeastern Massachusetts towns producing summer arts programming under a state grant for gifted and talented youth, 1988-1989.
  
• External review of faculty for promotion/tenure in design/technical theatre fields, 1990, 1991, 1996.
  

PUBLICATION

• "Theatre In Review: Huntington Theatre Company."
  New England Theatre Journal. Annually 1994 (Vol. 5) - 2005 (Vol. 16).
  
• "Education: Designing the Designers and Technicians for the Next Century."
  Theatre Design and Technology. Fall, 1993 (Vol. 29, No. 5).
  
• "Preparing for Improvised Duet Acting." Kansas Speech Journal. Fall, 1975 (Vol. 37, No. 1).
  
• "Blindfolds: A Dyadic Experience." Co-author.
  1976 Annual Handbook for Group Facilitators. LaJolla, CA; University Associates, 1976.
  
• EdD Dissertation:
  Implementing the Arts In an Urban Public College. University of Massachusetts Boston, 2001
  
• MA Thesis:
  Aesthetic Relationship and Audience Participation. University of Kansas, 1973.
  

ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL AND THEATRE ACTIVITY

• Total 125 produced designs 1973 to December, 2006.
  
• Director of 18 productions.
  
• Acting roles in 18 productions.
  

OTHER THEATRE EXPERIENCE

West Hartford Summer Arts Festival, West Hartford, CT.

• Scenic and occasional lighting designs for one or two shows annually, 1984 to 1995. This sophisticated performance-oriented summer leisure services program includes large numbers of youth age 14 and up.
  

• Scenic designs for two shows, Summer, 1988.
  

• Director/Designer for one show, Summer, 1983.
  

• Assistant Technical Director, Summer, 1980.
  
• Technician, Summer, 1979.
  

REPRESENTATIVE PRODUCED DESIGNS

The Secret Garden (2003) BSC
The Mikado (2002) BSC
Antigone (2002) BSC
Actor's Nightmare / Sister Mary Ignatious (2001) BSC
Hotel D'Amour (2000) BSC
Tommy (1999) BSC
Scarlet Letter (1999) BSC
Cabaret (1998) BSC
Jack the Ripper (1997) BSC
Marisol (1995) BSC
Wonderland, The World of Lewis Carroll (1995) BSC
Forty-Second Street (1994) WHSAF
Fools (1994) WHSAF
No Trifling With Love (1994) BSC
Guys and Dolls (1993) WHSAF
No Sex Please, We're British (1993) WHSAF
Winnie the Pooh (1992) BSC
Babes in Arms (1992) WHSAF
Post Mortem (1992) WHSAF
The Shadow Box (1992) BSC
Step On a Crack(1992) BSC
"Pops and Jazz" (1991, 1992) Hall High School, W. Hartford, CT.
My Fair Lady (1991) WHSAF
Steel Magnolias (1991) WHSAF
The King Stag (1991) BSC
Wiley And the Hairy Man (1991) BSC
Fiddler On the Roof (1990) BSC and WHSAF
The Mousetrap (1990) WHSAF
Puss In Boots [costumes, lighting] (1990) BSC
Museum (1989) BSC
Madwoman of Chaillot (1989) BSC
Singing in the Rain (1989) WHSAF
Black Comedy (1989) WHSAF
Getting Out (1989) BSC
Comedy of Errors (1988) BSC (1989 regional ACTF presentation)

Additional Background:

• Seven years in broadcasting, 1966-1973. Positions in radio and television announcing, radio production, continuity writing, and news. News director for radio stations in Wichita and Lawrence, KS, 1969-1973.
  
• US Army 1962-1965, honorably discharged. Linguist with Army Security Agency.
  

INSTRUCTION

Courselist of developed instruction: