Get Herald RSSBonnie Metzgar '86, former professor of literary arts and artistic director of the New Plays Festival, has become the artistic director of Chicago's About Face Theater, which focuses on gender and sexual identity. She began her work at the theater - which she described as the highest-profile lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning theater in the country - in mid-July, and hopes to remain for five years.
After two years teaching and directing at Brown, Metzgar, an award-winning director, producer and playwright, said she left Brown to join About Face hoping to further anchor the LGBTQ community in Chicago, invigorate advocacy and spread her message beyond Illinois.
"I am all about new voices, emerging artists and social justice," Metzgar said.
Metzgar's interest in social justice influences both the plays she produces and the activities she participates in. Metzgar, who spent the past summer in AIDS-affected Southern Africa, is producing the play, "Stupid Kids," written by John Russell MFA'91, a playwright who died of AIDS in 1994, this winter for About Face. Metzgar was in the region with the Yale study abroad program Arts and Public Health in Action.
Metzgar says she dreams of an international exchange in the years to come between members of her theater and the region's AIDS-affected population. "Both communities are struggling with HIV. Our members could learn alongside their peers in Southern Africa."
Cara Mones '11, who took part in the six-week program, said Metzgar had "incredible awareness of issues around the world. ... She was like the wise sage."
Metzgar said her relationship with Brown will never end. "The newest, freshest ideas come from the Brown Literary Arts program."
Metzgar continues her relationship with Brown away from College Hill. She plans to direct "What We Once Felt," a futuristic play written by MFA candidate Ann Marie Healy GS. First shown at the New Plays Festival at Brown, Healy's play will premiere to a wider audience this spring under Metzgar's direction.
Metzgar "would love to come back (to Brown) any time," she said. Her return would likely be welcomed by her former students and colleagues.
Professor of Literary Arts Forrest Gander, interim director of the program, said Metzgar was "really terrific," citing her impressive resume at Brown, including her role as the artistic director of the New Plays Festival. The festival will continue this year, though the department is still in the process of finding an artistic director to replace Metzgar, Gander said.
Adam Lubitz '09, who took Advanced Playwriting with Metzgar, wrote in an e-mail to The Herald that "Bonnie certainly impacted me as a playwright and theatre artist in a major way."
"She was always challenging the class to find more and more within their characters, plot and writing styles," he added.
