Richard Victor Esvang,  M.F.A.

Salina, Kansas 67401

 785-825-5125

Email: richard.esvang@kwu.edu

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Accomplished 30 year career as a professional artist in the Performing Arts.   A strong of a body of work that reflects a career of intense commitment, originality and risk taking.  

A multi-disciplined professional with experience as a Director, Designer, Playwright and Actor.

Seasoned in conceiving and building theatre programs, in the non-profit sector, from the ground up through proven competencies in administrative leadership, project and program management, staff development and empowerment.

Effective communicator with excellent planning, organizational, and negotiation strengths as well as the ability to lead, reach consensus, establish goals, and attain results.

An educator committed to teaching the whole student (mind, spirit and body.) 

EDUCATION

  M.F.A. Theatre - Western Illinois University, Macomb, Il, 1985.

 

ACADEMIC HONORS AND AWARDS

  Irene Ryan Award Regional Winner, American College Theatre Festival, Winona State University, 1982.

  New Horizon Performance National Award winner 1983.

  Irene Ryan Award Nominee, American College Theatre Festival, Western Illinois University, 1985 & 1985.

  Graduated Cum Laude, Western Illinois University, 1985 .

ACADEMIC /TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Teaching Assistant, Tutor, Western Illinois University, 1984 to 1985

Assistant Professor of Communication Studies / Theatre Arts and Director Of Theatre   Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina KS.

Following responsibilities:

• To aid in the recruitment of students to Kansas Wesleyan University.

• Develop  and maintain a vital Theatre Arts program that enriches and challenges the Kansas Wesleyan  Community as well as the community of Salina, Kansas.

• Develop and maintain a theatre arts pedagogy that concurs with current and emerging paradigms as reflected in the world body of the performing arts.

• Mentor and direct students towards are more global and inclusive understanding of the world through the performing arts.

• Coach and prepare students for mass auditions and Graduate School auditions.

 

Courses Taught

The Art of Physical Acting (specializing in View Points, Contact Improvisation, Suzuki, Le Coq and Grotowski.)

Techniques of Acting (Linklater, Feldenkrais, F.M. Alexander, Stanislavky.)

Acting for Film (Stanislavsky, Adler, Meisner.)

Modern Directing (Hauser, Dean & Carra, William Ball, David Ball.)

Theatre History (Seminar class.)

Intro To The Theatre.

Theatre Management.

Intro to Art (a seminar humanities class covering western civilization.)

Highlights of Professional Experience

Administrative Experience

Great Plains Theatre Festival  Abilene, Kansas Founder & Artistic Director 1994-2006.

• Produced 85 productions.

• Administered all budgeting and fiscal management 1995-2004 ($99,000 to $300,000).

• Developed (in partnership with local entrepreneurs), launched, and maintained a state-of-the-art performance facility.

• Collaborated with local and regional leaders on Non-Profit Board Development.

• Coordinated grant writing and fundraising on local, state and federal levels.

• Implemented and supervised a training program for a volunteer staff of over 65 personnel.

• Responsible for the creation and implementation of a yearly P/R and marketing strategy.

• Managed Staff and Box Office.

• Created and managed proactive and positive CRM  service systems.

• Hired and directed creative staff (directors, performers, musicians and support staff).

• Directed annual white paper negotiations with Actor's Equity, the union of professional performers.

• Supervised full- and part-time professional staff.

 

Professional Artistic Experience

Directorial Experience

• Produced 4 world premieres.

• Directed 71 plays and musicals.

A representation of over 70 productions:

The Laramie Project

The Diary Of Anne Frank

Terra Nova

Scotland Road

Dancing at Lughnasa

The Foreigner

Tenderland (Aaron Copeland opera)

Oklahoma

Camelot

 

Acting Experience

A representation of work in over 30 productions:

Renfield, Dracula

Nick, The Guys

Arnold, Boy's Next Door

Swan/Bill, The Swan

George, Of Mice And Men

Bowers, Terra Nova

Pope Urban, Galileo

Charlie, The Foreigner

King Arthur, Camelot

Scrooge, Christmas Carol

Dr. Dysart, Equus

Oswald, King lear

 

Playwright Experience

A representation of original and adapted work for the stage:

Red Badge Of Courage (An adaptation workshopped at) Riverside Theatre, Vero Beach Fl.

Doctor In Spite Of  Himself (An adaptation) Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, MO.

The Adventurers Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, MO.

Orphan Train Great Plains Theatre Festival, KS.

Divine Call Great Plains Theatre Festival, KS.

Professional Awards and Awards

Carol Otto Award for Distinguished Acting Performance, Riverside Theatre, 1994.

Awarded KAC Educational Grant  1997 for the development of Live Literature, a professional  theatre component of The Great Plains Theatre Festival.

Awarded 10 KAC Operations Grants for the Great Plains Theatre Festival 1996-2006.

Awarded 2 Abilene Community Foundation Grants.

Awarded Kansas Tourism Grant 1998.

Awarded Kansas Arts Commission Technical Grant 2003.

 

Associations and Affliliations

Member of Actor's Equity Association (AEA)

Associate Member SSDC (Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.)

Associate Member Dramatists Guild (Professional Association of Playwrights, Composers and Lyricists.)

Member of USITT (United Institute of Theatre Technology.)

Member of Kansas Speech/ Communication Association.

Member of AAUP (Association of American University Professors.)