The Roe Green Foundation donated $2.2 million to support The Roe Green Visiting Director Series within Kent State’s School of Theatre and Dance. The award included a $175,000 outright gift and a $2 million bequest to endow The Roe Green Visiting Director Series in perpetuity. Through an initial gift to establish the visiting directorship in 2003, the School of Theatre and Dance invites a guest professional director each year to work in residency with students and direct one of the school’s main stage productions.
As one of Kent State’s largest donors, Roe Green’s generosity has enabled the university to provide expanded facilities for the School of Theatre and Dance as well as for Porthouse Theatre, Kent State’s outdoor, summer theatre located on the grounds of Blossom Music Center. Additionally, Ms. Green has provided immeasurable opportunities for students, as well as connections and impact for faculty.
“Seeing the wonderful evolution of the visiting director series over the years and its great benefit to the School of Theatre and Dance has been immensely rewarding,” Ms. Green said. “I love to hear the stories of our talented Kent State students who earn themselves roles and positions on the national stage through the connections they make here with the visiting director. The series is intended to raise the profile of our fabulous program and its graduates, and I know that those positive outcomes will only grow from here.”
To date, more than 800 students in the School of Theatre and Dance have worked directly with Roe Green Visiting Directors. Visiting Directors not only engage students but support professional connections for the faculty, staff and school by maintaining a national profile and recognition. In addition to the positive and professional learning environments each guest director has created in the school, these nationally renowned professionals have made an impact on Kent State students that will last a lifetime.