Rick Thomas
Please join me in congratulating Rick Thomas, Professor of Theatre, for winning a Fulbright Specialist appointment from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Thomas will be traveling to the University of Costa Rica to share his experiences as a playmaker, composer, and sound designer for theatre. While in Costa Rica, Thomas will be conducting a two-week workshop based on his book, Music as a Chariot: The Evolutionary Origins of Theatre in Time, Sound, and Music (Routledge, 2018), in which Thomas examines theatre as a type of music. In it, he explores what happens when we attach ideas to music in song, and especially when we utilize mimesis – the art of becoming that which we imitate. Rick will also visit academic and professional theatres in Costa Rica and provide consulting on facilities, curriculum, and production processes.
A program of the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright Specialist Program is a unique opportunity for U.S. academics and established professionals to engage in two- to six-week, project-based exchanges at host institutions across the globe. The program pairs approximately 425 highly qualified U.S. academics and professionals with host institutions in 160 countries in 24 disciplines abroad to share their expertise, strengthen institutional linkages, hone their skills, gain international experience, and learn about other cultures while building capacity at their overseas host institutions.
Specialists are competitively selected to join the Fulbright Specialist Roster based on their knowledge, skill sets, and ability to make a significant contribution to projects overseas. They do not become Fulbright “specialists” until they are matched with a host country for a specific project.
Congratulations, Professor Thomas!
David A. Reingold
Justin S. Morrill Dean
College of Liberal Arts