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WIU Theatre Professor Bill Kincaid
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WIU's Kincaid Receives ITA Award of Honor

September 2, 2014

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MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois University theatre Professor Bill Kincaid has been named the recipient of the 2014 Award of Honor from the Illinois Theatre Association (ITA).

Kincaid will receive his award at a special presentation in Macomb at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15 in the Hainline Theatre lobby, immediately preceding a performance of "Merrily We Roll Along," which he is directing.

"Each year the Illinois Theatre Association recognizes both individuals and organizations for their significant contributions of promoting quality theatre throughout the state of Illinois," said Aimee-Lynn Newlan, executive director of the Illinois Theatre Association. "Mr. Kincaid was nominated by the Illinois theatre community, approved by ITA's divisional representatives and accepted by ITA's Board of Directors. We are thrilled to provide this much-deserved recognition."

Prior recipients of the Award of Honor, during its 35-year history, include former WIU President and theatre scholar Alvin Goldfarb, former WIU theatre Chair Gene Kozlowski, the Joseph Jefferson Theatre Awards Committee and Chicago Tribune chief theatre critic Chris Jones.

This is Kincaid's 12th year on the faculty at Western, where he is program coordinator of the MFA acting program. He has served as state chair of Illinois for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival since 2006, and is a member of the KCACTF Region 3 Selection Committee. He is also regional coordinator of the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Auditions.

Kincaid is a three-time winner of the National Partners of American Theatre Classical Acting Mentor Award. At WIU, he has received the College of Fine Arts and Communication Creative Activity Award (2008), Outstanding Teacher Award (2009) and Service Award (2013). Local audiences may know him from his annual Bard in the Barn/Unrehearsed Shakespeare productions, or from his performances in the University Theatre's "1776" (as Benjamin Franklin) or "Dearborn Americana" (as Henry Ford). On campus he also performed with School of Music faculty and students in "L'Histoire du Soldat," Veterans Day tribute concert performances of "A Lincoln Portrait" and a Halloween concert narrating "Peter and the Wolf."

Professionally, Kincaid directs regularly at Cortland Repertory Theatre in New York, and has directed at Indiana's Brown County Playhouse, Crossroads Repertory Theatre, Seacoast Repertory Theatre and Theatre Works of Sarasota. He has acted with New England Shakespeare Festival, the Williamstown Theatre Festival and Chicago's Vitalist Theatre. WIU productions he has directed include "Betty's Summer Vacation," "Henry the Sixth," "Take Me Out," "Long Day's Journey into Night," "Bach at Leipzig," "The Visit" and "Fuddy Meers."

It is the mission of the Illinois Theatre Association to advocate for the art of quality theatre in Illinois by:

• Establishing an Illinois membership similar in purpose to and affiliated with national theatre organizations
• Encouraging a closer understanding and communication between community, educational and professional theatre
• Informing the general public of the diverse nature and extent of Illinois theatre (advocacy for the art of theatre throughout the state)
• Cooperating with appropriate state and federal agencies and with regional and national theatre organizations in promoting increased recognition and program development for Illinois theatre at all levels
• Promoting and perpetuating the highest caliber of theatre production, teaching and research at all levels of theatre within the state of Illinois
• Affirming the important value of theatre in the lives of individuals.

The ITA provides numerous services throughout Illinois (festivals, conferences, focus groups, professional development workshops and publications). In doing so, the ITA strives to become "the representative association for all things theatre in Illinois." The ITA is comprised of six divisions: College/University Theatre, Community Theatre, Creative Drama, Professional Theatre, Secondary School Theatre and Theatre for Young Audiences.

For more information about the Illinois Theatre Association, visit illinoistheatre.org or call (312) 265-5922.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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