recently returned to New York after retiring in 2015 as Professor Emeritus from Southwestern University in Texas where he was Chair/Artistic Director of the Theatre Department for 15 years. He has directed over 40 musicals and plays including the award winning Bittersuite: Songs of Experience in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Bulgaria, in addition to the Bulgarian premier of Durang, Durang at the Rhodopi Drama Theatre in Smolyan, Bulgaria. Some of Rick’s favorite productions he’s directed are Urinetown, The Rocky Horror Show, The Glass Menagerie, The Cherry Orchard, Gypsy, The Importance of Being Earnest, Hair, The Maids and A Midsummer Nights Dream. Rick received his Ph.D in Theatre History/Theory/Directing Styles from UCLA and is the author of Charles Ludlam and the Ridiculous Theatrical Company (McFarland, 1998 and 2010).