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Faculty ProfileJohn Green
It’s a family that encourages each other to achieve their very best and tackle subjects about which they feel passionate. When senior Katrina Bergmann wanted to write and direct a 90-minute play on rape and sexual abuse, she spoke at length with Green about the challenge of the production. “Dr. Green just put his arm around my shoulder and said ‘Katrina, we’ll make it happen,’ – that’s the kind of person he is.” Kaleb Loosbrock, another senior, had a similar experience. “Dr. Green cares so much for his students. One time I wanted to design costumes for a production – something I’d never done before – and Dr. Green made it happen,” he says. “When I was in Spain for the study abroad program, I e-mailed Dr. Green all the time – he is like a father.” It’s also a family that travels together. Green took a group of students to Ireland in the summer of 2003 to perform W.B.Yeats’ Dreaming of the Bones in its original locale of Corcomroe Abbey. The students, who had performed the piece in Butler’s circular blackbox theatre the previous spring, were in tears as they accepted accolades from the native audience. That is Green’s greatest reward. “Seeing students and faculty succeed at whatever goals they set for themselves. Watching students get their first acting or technical job or seeing a member of our faculty go to Prague because of her outstanding stage design or having another one asked to give a keynote address at a conference. We celebrate our successes with each other.” Just like a family.
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If
there is one phrase that describes the Butler University Department
of Theatre, it would be “student-centered,” and that
is just the way John Green likes it. As department chair and professor,
Green says keeping the focus on students comes naturally to him
and the theatre faculty. “The department is like a big chaotic
family in which everybody contributes and knows that what they
have to say is important. It’s a special relationship. Both
faculty and students have fun; we are very supportive of each
other and care about one another. Everyone is expected to work
hard. ”
