Theatre & Dance
Herman, Dr. Richard
Department of Theatre Chair
and Meridith Harmon Sauer Distinguished
Endowed
Professor of Theatre
Ph.D. Directing and Acting, Texas Tech University
MA Theatre, University of Central Missouri
BA Speech and Drama, Marymount College of Kansas
Classes Regularly Taught
- Directing
- Advanced Directing
- Script Analysis
- Modern Theatrical Styles
- Development of the American Theatre
- Contemporary Theatre and Drama
- Dramatic Theory and Criticism
- Specialties
As a director, Herman has staged over 120 productions throughout his career. At Central Missouri, Herman has directed in the Mainstage season, Children’s Theatre series, BlackBox series and with Central Missouri Repertory. Some of the productions that Dr. Herman has directed at UCM include Romeo & Juliet, Equus, The Grapes of Wrath, Macbeth, Recent Tragic Events, The Elephant Man, Oedipus the King, Buried Child, Death of A Salesman, and Children of A Lesser God. One of Herman’s loves is directing musicals which have included Fiddler on the Roof, Annie, Assassins, The Fantasticks, The King and I, Man of La Mancha, Little Shop of Horrors, The Wizard of Oz and The Robber Bridegroom. In the summer 2002, Herman wrote and directed a world premiere musical Dracula for Central Missouri Repertory. He collaborated with Sam Stokes who wrote the music and lyrics.
Professional Involvement
As an educator and professional theatre artist, Herman is an active participant in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, serving as the vice-chair of the New Plays Program for Region V, has served on the Board of Governors for the Speech and Theatre Association of Missouri and is currently serving as vice-president, is a member of the Missouri Council of Theatre Chairs, a member of the New Theatre Guild, and has presented numerous workshops to high school, university, and professional theatre organizations. On the International scene, Herman has taught in the Maastricht Center for Transatlantic Studies, Maastricht, Netherlands and Buckinghamshire University, High Wycombe, England and is coordinating the cooperative theatre degree with Geely University, Yings TV and Film College, Beijing, China.
Educational Career
Herman has been involved in the theatre teaching profession since 1976. His high school teaching career included serving as Theatre Instructor at Jefferson City High School and Kinsley High School. As a graduate assistant he taught at University of Central Missouri and Texas Tech University. As a university professor, Herman has taught at Marymount College of Kansas, Millikin University, and joined the theatre faculty at Central Missouri in 1987. Herman assumed the duties of department chair in 2001. Herman has received many teaching honors including the Speech and Theatre Association of Missouri Wayne Brown Award for Outstanding Teacher, the University of Central Missouri Excellence in Teaching Award, and the Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Curriculum Vita PDF
e-mail: rherman@ucmo.edu
