The Barometer Online

Issue date: 3/12/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Cory Reed George Caldwell, a theatre arts professor at Oregon State, received the 2009 Kennedy Center Gold Medallion Award for his contributions in teaching and producing theatre.

Getting the Kennedy Center Gold Medallion Award is an honor bestowed on few, and for George Caldwell it was a complete surprise.

The OSU theater arts professor was presented the award during the 2009 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival held in Idaho this past month.

"I was actually backstage during the whole thing because I was supposed to present a scholarship award to a student," Caldwell said. "That's when I heard my name being announced - I was in total shock."

"I'm still in shock," he said. "I just remember Mindy Logan, the president of the [KCACTF] organization said that I never say no."

Caldwell has been a faculty member of the theatre arts program at OSU for six years, but he has over 30 years of teaching and theatre experience. This native Californian moved around the country during high school and found himself at Oklahoma State University rooming with Gary Buse, and years later working with Danny DeVito on a set design.

The Gold Medallion is a national award given to theatre faculty who have made great contributions to "the teaching and producing of theatre and to the development and quality of the Kennedy Center's American College Theatre Festival," in their region, said the Kennedy Center Web site.

According to Caldwell, this honor was unavoidable, considering how involved he is with the Kennedy Center American College Festival. He is the managing editor and founder of the Northwest Theatre Review, a publication of the Northwest Theatre Conference.

Before Caldwell came to OSU, he was a professor at Washington State University. "I don't miss it, I love OSU," he said.

"This is a more student-oriented university, and I love that," Caldwell said. "I already knew most of the staff through the [KCACTF] organization and when the position opened up, I applied."

Caldwell found a much more realistic approach to education at OSU, in comparison to WSU. "We all know why we're here, and we're participating in the education process," he said. "Students don't look at this program just as a step up to a great movie or theater role, they come here to work."

Continued...

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