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Syveria Porch

Mical Whitaker

Listening to Mical Whitaker talk about his theatrical background gives the sensation of sitting in the front row of a theater with the spotlight shining through his eyes.
Whitaker has directed nearly 50 plays on campus alone in his career as an Assistant Professor of Theater at Georgia Southern. His productions have ranged from William Shakespeare’s Othello, to Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, to Images of Ebony on Broadway, a drama and music revue written by Whitaker himself.

Whitaker attended Howard University, but left to go to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. There, the Metter, Georgia, native found work as a teacher at a daycare in East Harlem where he marked the beginning of his career in theater production.

While working at the East River Children’s Center, Whitaker directed a cast of parents from the center in the Greek tragedy, Medea. “It hit the papers, it made the New York Times, and all of a sudden I’m this wonder king who has the nerve to try to raise the sights of East Harlem Parents,” Whitaker said.
“This was really the beginning of my career…I was off and running,” he continued.

After leaving the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Whitaker made a name for himself producing The Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee Story Hour.
With the help of Geraldine Fitzgerald, Whitaker founded the Everyman Street Theater Company, and in the early 1970s developed the Everyman Street Theater Festival. The festival took place over two days in the plaza of the Lincoln Center. The annual event continues today, but is now known as the Lincoln Center Out of Doors. Additionally, Whitaker also directed the Black Theatre Festival USA and the International Black Theater Festival in the same location.
Whitaker received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Professional Theater from North Carolina A & T State University. His numerous achievements include a Seattle-area Emmy, a CEBA Award, an AUDELCO Award, and the Joseph Jefferson Award. He is included in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who Among Black Americans, and Who’s Who Among American Teachers.      

On the campus of Georgia Southern, Whitaker is somewhat of a celebrity. He is well known not only for his productions, but also for his personality. There is no doubt about his love for theater, especially when he claims, “I would do what I do for free.”

“I would hate to have a job that I would have to get up and go to every day that I didn’t love. Who likes working? Who likes anything? I love what I do,” Whitaker said.

Many students outside of the theater program have been drawn to it by Whitaker, as he teaches a Theater Appreciation course that is open to all majors. Monica Rice, a student in that class commented, “I’m not even a Theater major, but he’s making me reconsider that.”

Whitaker is a staple of theater at Georgia Southern and upon his retirement this summer, there will certainly be a void in the department. To honor his service to the theater program, the Communication Arts Department will hold a retirement reception from 3 to 5 p.m. at the new Arts Building on April 23. Whitaker’s last production as a full-time professor, Star of the Morning,will follow at 8 p.m., at the Performing Arts Center.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students. Prices include admittance to the reception and the evening performance. Proceeds will benefit the new Black Box Theater. Donations will also be accepted. For more information contact Lisa Davis at lhdavis@georgiasouthern.edu in the Communication Arts Department at (912) 681-5138.

The theme of the reception will be “The Amen Corner,” adapted from James Baldwin’s play of the same name. The Amen Corner was Georgia Southern’s first all-black theatrical production, and is correspondingly Whitaker’s favorite play, “I’ve done it all over America. It gave me my first New York Times review.”
Whitaker continued, “It’s nothing like one day waking up and your play is being reviewed in the New York Times – and it’s a good one!”

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