麻豆传媒

Ian Belknap grew up watching American musical theatre and wanting to be an actor. At Towson University, those dreams took a different direction, and today he serves as artistic director of in New York City.

鈥淚 was exposed to so many tenets of the theatre, from history to design, at Towson University鈥� recalls Belknap, who says TU Theatre Arts professor Peter Wray changed his life.  鈥淟ike any precocious undergraduate, I had a lot of opinions that I often shared in observations of student theatre productions,鈥� adds Belknap. 鈥淧eter encouraged me to direct and gave me the tools of directing that I still use today.鈥� While at Towson University, Belknap started the Free Space Theatre on campus. It was a late Thursday-night venue for playwrights, musicians, stand-up comics and other performers.

鈥� I was exposed to so many tenets of the theatre, from history to design, at Towson University. 鈥�

Belknap describes how directing is an apprenticeship and mentorship profession, and it was one of his mentors that led him to The Acting Company, which works in partnership with the academic community.