Theater Professor Brings Professional Acting Experience to the Classroom by Sue Kropp
Biographical Information: • B.A., University of Tennessee, Knoxville • M.F.A., University of California, San Diego (acting) Related Links: • The Theater and Dance Program • Matthew Wright's Home Page   Faculty Profiles Faculty & Staff Page		NOVEMBER 13, 2002--For the past decade, Associate Professor of Theater Matthew Wright has done what many professional actors find unimaginable--maintain both an acting and a teaching career. "I've acted and taught all over the U.S., and enjoy doing both," Wright says. "I don't want to give one up to pursue the other." Wright came to Oberlin this fall from Florida Atlantic University, where the political climate of the campus had changed dramatically during the last few years. "One of my advisees decided to put on play called Corpus Christi, which is essentially a play that retells the life of Christ as if he were a young gay man," says Wright. "This caused an absolute uproar on campus, and the funding for the theater department was ultimately slashed. I decided I couldn't stay in a place that wanted to censor the student body to such an extreme degree." So far, Wright feels at home on Oberlin's campus, and is enjoying the creativity of his students. "Acting is a discipline that challenges you on all levels," he says. "I feel that my students here are more than ready to accept that challenge." A Q&A with Matthew Wright: In the Spotlight: On Stage and in the Classroom Course Offerings: Voice and Speech for Actors Discovering Oberlin and its Students
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