Theatre Department Chair Bob Peterson received an award by the Mary Jane Teall organization. He also received the Outstanding Director of a play, and his most recent award includes the Theatre Educator of the Year 2017 award. Photo courtesy by Bob Peterson
Tori Lemon
Editor- in- Chief
Chair of Butler’s Theatre Department Bob Peterson was awarded the Outstanding Theatre Educator of the Year 2017 award by the Mary Jane Teall Theatre Organization, and an award ceremony for Peterson was held on Monday, Sept. 25, at Roxy Theatre in downtown Wichita.
The award is named after Mary Jane Teall, one of Wichita’s leading actresses, and the award committee has one goal in mind- to promote a mutual respect and camaraderie among the theatrical community and recognize individuals and theatre groups and is presented to directors who give their hearts and souls to students and the productions that come along with them.
“The Mary Jane Teall organization is an alliance of nine area theatres that operate with full annual seasons and not connected to colleges or universities, which promotes excellence in local theatre,” Dean of Academic Support Services Phil Speary said. “The Mary Jane Teall organization has a board of 15 area theatre professionals and experienced theatre artists and patrons who annually pick the theatre educator of the year. The 150 members of the organization also vote on recipients in over 30 other categories. The board picked Mr. Peterson for his years of excellent service in the Wichita area educational theatre.”
Throughout Peterson’s theatre career, he actually not only met Teall, but acted with her on stage as well, making this award hit close to home for him.
“Receiving this award is truly an honor,” Peterson said. “And, that it carries Mary Jane Teall’s name makes it special. Mary Jane directed me in a production of “Deathtrap” over 20 years ago, and then she played “Ghost of Christmas Past” to my “Scrooge” in a production of “A Christmas Carol.”
Peterson has been with the Butler theatre department as a professor for 35 years. He graduated from Emporia State University with his master’s degree.
The Outstanding Theatre Educator of the Year award is only one of many awards given to Peterson over his years of teaching. In 2001, he was awarded the Kansas Speech Communication Association Outstanding Teacher Award, and in 2006 he was granted the Kansas Master Teacher Award. He was also honored by the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. with the Kennedy Center Award for Meritorious Achievement in set design, playwriting, and acting. A few of his other achievements include the Mary Jane Teall Award for Outstanding Direction of a Play, Writer of the Year; Butler Creative writing Workshop, Margo Jones Playwriting Award Finalist and the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Excellence Award.
Even with all of his awards, Peterson takes a greater interest and satisfaction into the work he does with students.
“My favorite part of being a theatre educator is the students,” Peterson said. “I love walking into a classroom or a rehearsal hall. In my opinion, a successful theatre teacher is the one who has passion for sharing the craft with other people.”