After a protracted process—several high-profile names passed on the job—James Bundy, artistic director of Great Lakes Theater of Cleveland, then 42, was chosen, becoming the fifth dean since Yale became a professional school, and only the fourth artistic director in Yale Rep’s 51-year history, following founder Robert Brustein, Lloyd Richards, and Stan Wojewodski Jr.
What made the appointment even more surprising was that just six years earlier, Bundy had been a student at the school.
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The article talks about James Bundy’s commitment to producing diverse theatre and practicing inclusion instead of just valuing diversity. He makes it sound like a commitment universities have because they are less focused on producing sell-out box office hits. I wish this idea was practiced more often because year and year again there are many universities that just have white male authors whose shows are being produced. Hopefully, Bundy’s outlook will have larger effects than just at Yale Rep. It was interesting how connected Bundy talked of Yale’s Rep. theatre and the Yale School of Drama productions. There seems to be a blend in responsibilities and ideology. This brings up the idea of what separates professional theatre from “amateur” theatre? Especially after Indecent just transferred to Broadway, the question is raised does having a professional company on the campus contribute at all to the pressure of student performers/technicians? Bundy makes it seem like there is a connection but is this a good connection or bad?
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