PERSONAL
A professor of theater at Bates College since 1978, Paul Kuritz teaches acting and directing for the stage and screen, and directs plays and films. In fall 2009, Paul directed John Reed’s “All the World’s a Grave. A New Play by William Shakespeare“, and his recent directorial projects include Gillette Elvgren’s “Five Cups of Coffee” (2007), “The Contrast” (2006), “The Taming of the Shrew” (2005), “House of Blue Leaves” (2004), the musical “Swingtime Canteen” (2004), “Lady Windermere’s Fan” (2002), and a stage adaptation of Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” (2001). Since his directorial debut in 1966, Paul has directed over one hundred plays throughout the United States. In 1990 he was invited to be the first American to teach and direct at the National Theater School in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Paul is the author of Fundamental Acting: A Practical Guide (Applause Theatre Books, 1997), The Making of Theatre History (Prentice Hall, 1987) and Playing: An Introduction to Acting (Prentice Hall, 1982). His latest book, The Fiery Serpent. A Christian Theory of Film and Drama was published in 2006. Paul’s play “The Yellow Wallpaper” was included in The Best American Short Plays 2001-2002 (Applause, 2006).
Paul in recent years has studied filmmaking and film directing at the International Film and Digital Video Workshops in Rockport.
His film, “A New Life”, was selected to show at the 2008 Bayou City Inspirational Film Festival in Houston, Texas. the 2008 KingdomWood Film Festioval in Atlanta, Georgia, and the 2009 Gideon’s Flame Christian Film Festival, in Manila, The Philipines .
Paul and his wife Kathleen live in Lewiston Maine, with son Stefan, a senior at Lewiston High School. Paul also has three older sons: James, a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army, Nathaniel, an advertising art director in New York City, and Ethan, a lawyer in California.
EDUCATION
1979 Ph.D. Indiana University
1972 A. M. Indiana University
1970 A. B. The University of Virginia
2002 – 2003 The International Film and Television Workshops
Rockport, Maine
o Directing Actors Workshop
o Film Directors Craft Workshop
o New DV Filmmakers Workshop
o Final Cut Pro Workshop
EMPLOYMENT
1978 – present: Professor of Theatre, Department of Theatre and Rhetoric, Bates College, Lewiston, Maine
Joined faculty as Assistant Professor in 1978
1990 – 1991 Visiting Professor/Guest Director, National Theater School, Bratislava, Slovakia
1985 Visiting Associate Professor of Theatre, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
1988 Artist-in-Residence, Sumner High School, Ellsworth, Maine
1988 – 1989, Project Scholar, 1998 Maine Humanities Council, Portland, Maine
1989 – 1993 Columnist, Maine Progressive
1986 – 1988 Guest Director, The Maine Acting Company
1985 Artist-in-Residence, Hollins College, Hollins, Virginia
1984 – 1985 Project Scholar, Maine Humanities Council/Portland Stage Company, Portland, Maine
1980- 1985 Founder/Artistic Director, Bates Festival Theatre, Lewiston, Maine
Outside Theater Department Evaluator
o Salem State College, Salem, Massachusetts
o Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts
o Drew University, Madison, New Jersey
PUBLICATIONS
BOOKS
The Fiery Serpent, (Enumclaw, WA: Pleasant Word Press, 2006).
Fundamental Acting, (New York: Applause Theatre Arts Books, 1999).
The Making of Theatre History (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1988).
Playing, An Introduction to Acting (Reprint Edition 1989 The University Press of America, Lanham, Maryland).
Playing, An Introduction to Acting (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1982).
Contributor, “Brandenburg v Ohio” in The Encyclopedia of American Law, by David Schultz (New York: Facts on File, 2002).
Contributor, “Prior Restraint” in The Encyclopedia of American Law, by David Schultz (New York: Facts on File, 2002).
Contributor, “Miranda v Arizona” in The Encyclopedia of American Law, Ed. by David Schultz (New York: Facts on File, 2002).
PLAYS
“The Yellow Wallpaper” in The Best American Short Plays 2001-2002 (New York: Applause, 2006).
ARTICLES, TALKS, WORKSHOPS, PERFORMANCES, SCREENINGS, PANELS & REVIEWS
“Re-Weaving Your Net.” The Porpoise Diving Life https://www.theporpoisedivinglife.com/porpoise-diving-life.asp?pageID=40
Presenter, The Tucker Foundation, Dartmouth, A New Life (2008)
Honorable Mention Award – Short Film The 2008 Bayou City Inspirational Film Festival – A New Life (2008)
Presenter, A New Life, 2008 Kingdom Wood Christian Film Festival, Atlanta, Georgia
Presenter, A New Life, 2009 Gideon’s Flame Christian Film Festival, Manila, The Philipines
The Yellow Wallpaper performance Belfast, Maine
The Yellow Wallpaper performances Charlottesville, Virginia
The Yellow Wallpaper performances Iowa City, Iowa
Panelist & Workshop Leader, “Beyond Acting One,” New England Theatre Conference, New Haven, CT, 1988
Panelist, “Play direction at a Liberal Arts College,” New England Theatre Conference, Boston, MA, 1986
Presenter, “The Colonial Theater in 18th Century America, “Hollins College, Hollins, VA, 1984
Speaker, A Celebration of 100 Years of Theater. The Univeristy of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Presenter, “The Genesis of Dance,” for Concert by the New England Quartet, Sponsored by the Maine Humanities Council, 1984
Workshop Leader, “Play Direction”, 11 Festival of American Community Theatre, Springfield, MA 1982
Panelist, “Authors on Acting,” American Theatre Association National Convention, New York, NY 1982
Presenter, “Reflections on Improvisational Technique in Actor Training,” American Theatre Association National Convention, San Diego, CA, July, 1980
Chair, Panel Discussion: “Contemporary Trends in Improvisational Theatre Technique in Western Europe,” American Theatre Association National Convention, San Diego, CA, 1980
STAGE DIRECTION
December, 1966 The One Hundred and First (Cameron)
Over 100 productions
November, 2010 Hotel Universe by Philip Barry
FILMS
A New Life – 2008
OTHER PROFESSIONAL WORK
External Reviewer, Tenure and Promotion, Hamilton College Theater Arts
External Reviewer, Tenure and Promotion, Utah State University, Theater Arts
External Reviewer, Tenure and Promotion, Wake Forest University, Theatre and Dance
External Reviewer, Department of Theater, Williams College
External Reviewer, Department of Theater, Salem State College
External Reviewer, Department of Theater, Drew University
Voice, Norman Maclean, Sr. in Fire on the Mountain (Lone Wolf Pictures) The History Channel, 2002.
Editorial Consultant, Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Editorial Consultant, Allyn and Bacon
Editorial Consultant, University of Illinois Press
Host, 1979-80 Maine State High School Drama Festival at Bates
Member, Student Conduct Committee,Bates College
Member, Graduate Studies Committee, Bates College
Member, Extracurricular Activities Committee, Bates College
Member, Freshman Seminar and Writing Workshop Committee, Bates College
Member, President’s Ad Hoc Committee to Develop a Response to the Mellon Foundation’s Offer to Fund New Approaches to Undergraduate Education: Developed the Freshman symposium, Bates College
Member, Medical Studies Committee, Bates College
Member, Residential Life Committee, Bates College
Member, Admissions Committee, Bates College
Member, Committee on Committees, Bates College
Member, Ad Hoc Committee of the Arts, Bates College
Member, Faculty Athletic Committee of the Athletic Director, Bates College
Member, Athletic Committee, Bates College
Member, President’s Working Group on Institutional Planning, Bates College
Departmental Representative, Theater Renovation Planning Committee, Bates College
Member, Academic Standing Committee, Bates College
Member, Aesthetic User Group, Bates College
Faculty Liaison, Bates Baseball Team
Presenter, New England Christian Arts Festival, June 2007
Interview, Family Net Satellite Radio (Fort Worth, TX) – The Fiery Serpent – 4/09/07
Interview, KSLR (San Antonio, TX) – The Fiery Serpent – 4/09/07
Interview, KAGC (Bryan, TX) – The Fiery Serpent – 4/03/07
Interview, WCRF-FM (Cleveland, OH) – The Fiery Serpent – 2/27/07
Interview, WBFI-FM (Leitchfield, KY) – The Fiery Serpent – 2/09/07
Interview, WGAN The John Macdonald Show (Portland, ME) A New Life and The Fiery Serpent
Voice and Diction Instructor, On-Air Promotions Personnel, WCBB
Chair, Ad Hoc Committee for Maine Emerson Centennial funded by Maine Humanities Council
Director’s Awardee for Medea, 1989 New England American College Theatre Festival
Outside Theater Evaluator, Maine State High School Drama Festival, 1979-2003
Co-owner, Already/Not Yet Productions