The 2024-2025 Roy Acuff Chair of Excellence Season
This year, the Roy Acuff Chair of Excellence is housed within the Department of Theatre and Dance.
Learning to Swim
October 3-6, Trahern Theatre
Using the texts of playwright and emeritus SITI Company Member Charles Mee Jr. Directed by Will Bond and created by Will Bond, Darron West, and Ellen Lauren. This is a project conceived by founding emeritus members of the world-renowned theatre ensemble SITI Company and created by the students of APSU.
Dance Residency, Workshop, Performance Featuring Guest Artist Rosie Herrera
October 20-30 , Trahern Theatre
Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
November 21-24, Trahern Theatre
Directed by Victoria Matlock Fowler
Musical Direction by Austin Shaw
The Spring Dance Concert
January 30 - February 2, Trahern Theatre
Tick Tick... BOOM!
February 27-March 2, Trahern Theatre
Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson
Big Dance Theatre Company
Workshops February 27-28
Production March 10-29, Trahern Theatre
Intimate Apparel
April 10-13, Trahern Theatre
Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson
Directed by Alicia Haymer
About the Acuff Chair of Excellence
In 1985, country music legend Roy Acuff generously established an endowment to enrich
the arts community at APSU and in Clarksville Montgomery County. The result was the
Roy Acuff Chair of Excellence, which brings regionally and nationally acclaimed artists
to APSU to share their expertise with students and the community in a dynamic atmosphere
of unrestricted experimentation. The Acuff Chair rotates between APSU's four creative
arts areas—Art + Design, Creative Writing, Music, Theatre & Dance—and has been filled
each year with residencies by nationally and internationally known artists since its
inception.
Former recipients of the Roy Acuff Chair of Excellence include:
Rich Griffith (2022-2023): Graphic Designer.
Sonya Clark (2017-2018): Textile Artist.
Scott McCloud (2013-2014): American cartoonist and comics theorist, author of the classic study, Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art.
Ian Berry (2009-2010): Contemporary art specialist, Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs and Curator at The Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College.
Linda Norlen (2005-2006): Graphic designer and critic.
George McCauley (2001-2002): Ceramicist.
Frances Whitehead (1997-1998): Sculptor.
Jim Nutt (1993-1994): Painter.
Ted Orland (1988-1989): Photographer/artist.
Sarah Kay (2021-2022): Spoken Word poet.
Dorothy Allison (2016-2017): Novelist and essayist.
David Huddle (2012-2013): Poet, fiction writer, and essayist.
Louise Erdrich (2008-2009): Author of twelve novels as well as volumes of poetry, children's books, and a memoir of early motherhood.
Michael Blumenthal (2004-2005): Poet and memoirist, author of Against Romance and All My Fathers and Mothers.
David Bradley (2000-2001): Scholar of African American history and novelist, author of The Chaneysville Incident.
Carolyn Forche' (1996-1997): Poet.
John Haines (1992-1993): Two-time Guggenheim Fellow, poet and essayist.
David Madden (1987-1988): Fiction writer, playwright, critic and author.
Arthur Kopit (1986-1987):Internationally acclaimed American playwright.
John Rommel (2018-2019): Trumpet
Gomalan Brass (2018-2019): Italian brass quintet.
Warren Jones (2018-2019): Collaborative pianist, vocal coach, and conductor.
Miró String Quartet (2018-2019)
Boris Allakhverdyan (2018-2019): Principal clarinetist of the L.A. Philharmonic.
Lorna McGhee (2018-2019): Principal flute of the Pittsburgh Symphony.
Charles Niedich (2014-2015)
Willie Anthony Waters (2014-2015)
Anna Celenza (2014-2015)
Orchid Ensemble (2014-2015)
Jo-Michael Scheibe (2014-2015)
Rhonda Larson (2014-2015)
The Ying Quartet (2010–2011): String Quartet
Sydney Guillaume (2010–2011): Composer and vocalist
William Bennett (2010–2011): World-renowned flutist
Paul Schoenfield (2010–2011): Composer and pianist
Clifton Ware (2010–2011): Vocal pedagogue, master teacher, tenor soloist and author.
Cantus (2006-2007): An artist-led, professional a cappella vocal ensemble with eight male members.
Bodo Igesz (2006-2007): Famed opera singer and stage director of the Metropolitan Opera.
Tony Plog (2006-2007): Conductor and composer with commissioned works from ensembles around the globe.
John L. Whitwell (2006-2007): Director of bands, Professor of Music and Chair of the Conducting Area at Michigan State University.
Lee Hoiby (2006-2007): American classical pianist and composer.
Elizabeth Walton Vercoe (2002-2003): Composer.
Carol Scott-Kassner (2002-2003): Author of music education literature.
Dalton Baldwin (1998-1999): Pianist.
Matthew Harp Allen (1998-1999): Ethnomusicologist.
Donna Loewy (1998-99): Vocal coach/accompanist.
David Holsinger (1998-1999): Band composer.
Frederic Goossen (1998-1999): composer/music theorist.
Cedric Dent (1998-1999): Grammy award-winning singer, pianist, arranger, conductor and producer.
Tim Gerber (1994-1995): Music educator and co-author of the popular text, Music! Its Role and Importance in our Lives.
Ron Nelson (1990-1991): Composer of choral, band and orchestral works.
Ronald Keaton (2019-2020): Actor.
Antoinette DiPietropolo (2019-2020): Director.
Freddie Ashley (2019-2020): Director.
Second City Fully Loaded (2015-2016): Guest artist and performance.
Cheryl Sanders Cirq du Soliel (2015-2016): Guest artist and performance.
Axis Dance Company (2015-2016): Guest artist and performance.
Rick Berger (2015-2016): Guest artist.
Jeanette Lovetri (2015-2016): Somatic voice specialist.
Lishi Lou and Lucky, Too (2015-2016): Performance.
David Weinstein (2015-2016)
Rachel Keebler (2011-2012): Theatre design.
Sarah Haas (2011-2012): Guest artist, dance.
Second City (2011-12): Performance.
Peiling Kao (2011-2012): Guest artist, dance.
Tim Miller (2011-2012): Performance.
Keith Fitzpatrick (2011-2012): Guest artist, dance.
Annmarie Duggan (2011-2012): Guest artist, lighting design.
Anthony Zerbe (2011-2012): Performance.
Lawrence Goldhuber (2007-08): Choreographer, dancer, actor, and performance artist.
The Second City Touring Company (2007-2008): Premiere comedy club, theatre, and school for improvisation.
Mark Block (2007-2008): Guest artist; modeling and talent agency.
Annmarie Duggan (2007-2008): Guest artist; lighting design.
Karen E. Maguire (2007-2008): Actress, writer, teacher, director, and producer.
7 Stages Inc./Bernard Koltes (2007-2008): Non-profit theatre company focused on social, political, and spiritual values of contemporary culture.
Louis Fantasia (2003-2004): Actor, director, producer, theatre critic and arts commentator.
Kelly Morgan (1999-2000): Actor, director, producer, choreographer, teacher and administrator in stage, film and television.
Elizabeth Van Dyke (1995-1996): Award-winning actress and director.
Howard Stein(1991-1992): Actor and author.
