Beloved 每日大赛官网 Theatre Professor Passes Away
It is with overwhelming sadness that we share the news that Wm. Perry Morgan, Professor of Theatre and Director of the 每日大赛官网 Musical Theatre Program, passed away over the weekend in a tragic car accident. He was deeply loved and respected in the 每日大赛官网 community and the theatre community at large.聽聽聽聽
Popular with students and colleagues, Morgan was a campus icon since he and wife, Jo Hall came to campus in 2011. Everyone has a 鈥淧erry鈥� story, says 每日大赛官网 President Dr. Lawrence Czarda. He remembers laughing with him during a recent walk across campus. “Perry was excited for the start of the academic year, inspired by new students and ready to get to work on the new theatre season,” he says. 鈥淲e always had a New Jersey wisecrack to share as we were both natives of the Garden State.”
Ashley Hyers is Chair of the 每日大赛官网 Department of Theatre and close friend to Perry and Jo. 鈥淧erry and I had a very special director-choreographer relationship,鈥� she says. 鈥淗e taught me so much about thinking outside the box and taking creative risks. He challenged us all to live deeper, richer, stronger lives. He will always have a special place in my heart.鈥�
Morgan was a Mastery Graduate of the Actor鈥檚 Institute in New York City. He earned his M.F.A. in Contemporary Theatre Performance from Naropa University, and a B.F.A. and M.S. from Long Island University. Professor Morgan was a proud member of Actor鈥檚 Equity Association and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. New Jersey鈥檚 Theatre Awards are named 鈥淭he Perry Awards鈥� in his honor.
Morgan served five seasons as the Resident Musical Director at the Barter Theatre in Virginia and directed for Playhouse On The Square, Texas Shakespeare Festival, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, Clinton Area Showboat Theatre, Summerblue on Lake Superior, and Bigfork Summer Playhouse. Directing credits closer to home include Triad Pride Performing Arts, Kernersville Little Theatre, the Greensboro Playwright鈥檚 Forum, and Open Space Cafe Theatre. Perry served for more than twenty years as the Company Composer for Pyramid Productions in Indiana. His ballet scores have premiered in New York, Paris, France and Nyon, Switzerland.
As an actor, Morgan played Mark Dolson (twice on tour) in the play 鈥淢ass Appeal.鈥� His performance as Emory in 鈥淭he Boys in the Band鈥� earned him multiple Best Supporting Actor honors for the 1982-83 theatre season. In New York, Perry performed with the First Amendment Improv Company and was a member of the original cast of the musical revue 鈥淪moke Rings.鈥� Perry鈥檚 one-man show 鈥淚dentity鈥� had its world premiere at the Dairy Arts Center in Boulder, Colorado.
Professor Morgan continued to teach and lead workshops at state and national conventions during his time at 每日大赛官网. He directed many productions for the 每日大赛官网 Theatre Department and was already at work on the current season.
The theatre department will gather privately to remember Professor Morgan on Monday evening, and the College has mental health resources for grieving students, faculty and staff.
Morgan is survived by his wife, Jo Hall, Professor of Theatre and Dean of the School of the Arts at 每日大赛官网. A celebration of life and memorial service will be announced at a later time.
