Gloria Baxter, professor of Theatre and Dance at the University of Memphis, presented “Everything Old is New Again – Narrative Theatre: Staging the Story,” as part of the Academic Speaker series at UTM.

Baxter was to lecture at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18, in Watkins Auditorium.

Her appearance was co-sponsored by Honors Programs and the Department of Visual and Theatre Arts. The event was free and open to the public.

A reception sponsored by the Department of Visual and Theatre Arts followed the lecture.

Baxter received a master’s degree in Performance Studies from Northwestern University. She specializes in narrative theatre.

She has toured as an invited guest lecturer in theatre throughout France and was a guest professor in residence at the University of Paris and the University of Burgundy. Recognition for her work in script adaptation and stage direction includes a first-place award at the Edinburgh International Theatre Festival and featured presentations of her work in New York and Paris.

Recently, her work in script adaptation for narrative theatre was honored by her selection in national competition as The Thurber House Playwright in Residence in Columbus, Ohio. “Ms. Baxter’s visit provides a rare opportunity to meet the author of a Vanguard Theatre presentation just two weeks before the play is presented on campus. “The audience can expect a bit of a surprise ending to this speech,” said Dr. William Zachry, professor of Psychology and director of Honors Programs at UTM.

Among Baxter’s adaptations for the stage are stories by Eudora Welty and William Faulkner.

Her adaptation of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” will be performed by UTM’s Vanguard Theatre Nov. 4-7. The Academic Speakers program annually brings distinguished scholars, writers and performers to the UTM campus. For more information, contact Zachry at zachry@utm.edu or 731-881-7436.

Because of our print deadlines, The Pacer is unable to cover our Monday academic speakers as they happen. We will post a follow-up story on our Web site with quotes from the speaker and student reactions.