NewsRelease

UNCG THEATER PROFESSOR RECEIVES
NATIONAL GOLD MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE

GREENSBORO -- Jim Wren, associate professor of theater at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, is the 2001 recipient of the Kennedy Center Gold Medallion for Excellence in Theatre Education.

Jim Wren

The award was presented at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival regional festival, held at the University of Southern Mississippi Feb. 6-11. It honors Wren for his more than 15 years of service to the KC/ACTF, a national organization based in Washington D.C. which comprises more than 1,000 colleges and universities. Through state, regional and national festivals, the organization encourages, recognizes and celebrates outstanding work produced in university and college theater programs, providing opportunities to showcase their best work and receive outside assessment.

Wren started his work with the Kennedy Center as a faculty respondent, providing insight and critical analysis to more than 300 university theater productions across the country. In 1994, he became vice chairman of Region IV, (Southeast), and helped coordinate regional festivals. In 1997, he became chairman of Region IV, and served a three-year term, during which time he serve on the National Board of the KC/ACTF. During his tenure, regional participation grew rapidly to 175 productions entered from the 10-state region, and festival attendance growing to nearly 800 students and faculty each year.

Wren now serves as Member-at-Large on the National Executive Committee, and continues to travel to state and regional festivals as workshop leader, scholarship competition judge, production respondent, and faculty response trainer.

Wren teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in the UNCG Department of Theater, and is the coordinator of the performance program and MFA Acting Advisor. A member of Actors' Equity, he has appeared on stage in roles including Stanley in "Broadway Bound" at the Hippodrome State Theatre and Vershinin in "The Three Sisters" at UNCG. He has directed more that 40 productions, including "Hair," "The Praying Mantis," "Largo Desolato," and The Who's "Tommy. He joined the faculty of UNCG in 1990. He received his MFA in acting and directing from The University of Florida.
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