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Master Teachers of Theatre: Observations on Teaching Theatre by Nine American Masters

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When he was alive, Burnet Hobgood once commented that he would be remembered more for his students than for himself. This is partly true, because he was an important teacher for a lot of important people. He was the first acting teacher of Kathy Bates, and was intensely involved in getting Garland Wright on his feet as a director. He also helped develop Powers Boothe (Emmy winner), John Arnone (Tony winner), Larry Carpenter, Milton Justus (Oscar winner), Beth Henley (Pulitzer Prize), Sharon Taggart, John Malcovich, Gary Sinise, and Kathy Noone.

Dr. Hobgood, more than anyone I've ever met or read, was deeply interested in the effects of theatre studies and the methods of great teachers. He also tracked the typical development of a young person entering the theatre; this is brilliantly described in the book.

Dr. Hobgood is self-effacing in this work, moving master teachers to the fore. He was himself a master teacher; it's a shame, in a way, that someone else didn't write this book and include his work. But we are lucky to have this many written words from the man himself. He was, as he said, a theatre practitioner, not a theorist; and he was so busy teaching and directing that he had little time to write. This caused him some regret, but he had chosen the emphasis of his career and was happy with it.

If anyone should think that Dr. Hobgood was only a practitioner, I would suggest you get a copy of his doctoral dissertation from Cornell University. He wrote about Stanislavsky with more insight than anyone ever. It's a shame that he never turned the dissertation into a book.

But that would have required a different kind of career, and it's hard to imagine his besting what he accomplished in his chosen sphere. As well as developing major theatre talents, he built the theatre department of Southern Methodist University into a nationally recognized school; then went on to do the same at the University of Illinois/Urbana.

Read this book and put yourself in contact with a great mind.