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Steve Wood: Influencing Through Theatre

Steve Wood: Influencing Through Theatre

Published February 23, 2017

After graduating from CSU, Steve Wood (’98) earned his M.A. (Bowling Green State University) and Ph.D. in theatre (Texas Tech University). He was recently awarded the title of associate professor at Indiana Wesleyan University’s Department of Theatre.

He’s designed sets, lights and costumes for over two-dozen performances and directed musicals and plays with students from elementary to college age. Nominated for two national acting awards and recipient of numerous research grants, Wood has published book reviews about evangelical engagement in the performing arts.

“I learned two invaluable life lessons at CSU from professors like Brian Maxwell and the late Rembert Byrd Carter when I attended,” explains Wood. “First, how to really think biblically, and second, how to translate that thinking with my own engagement in the arts.”

He studied mask making with Doug Berky and teaches workshops in movement for the actor and mask. His most recent creation is the puppet head of Aslan the lion from “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.”

At Indiana Wesleyan, he’s championed diversity and intercultural engagement. In his community, he helped start a youth theater company and a 24-hour high school theatre festival and served as a state judge for Indiana Thespians.

He reminds those pursuing a career in the arts, “God calls us to partner in building bridges to the Kingdom, and for too long I thought that meant only ‘vocational ministry.’ In reality, the biblical approach is to listen to wise counsel, learn more about your natural talents and strengths and ask, ‘Will I get up and be passionate about this career every day of my life?’ For me, that was NOT vocational ministry, but I certainly view teaching theatre at a Christian university as both my vocation and my life ministry.”

Learn more about Communications-Theatre program at CSU!

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