Theatre Chair Named President of National Theatre Fraternity posted 10/1/07
Professor Allen now heads Theta Alpha Phi

ADRIAN, Mich. – Professor Michael Allen, chair of the Adrian College theatre department, has been appointed to the office of president of the national theatre honors fraternity Theta Alpha Phi.

“I’m honored and humbled to be asked to serve as the leader of this prestigious national honors society,” Allen said. “I am convinced that I owe a great deal of this honor to the fact that the students in our local chapter, which I advise, have been so active and successful over the 21 years that I have been at Adrian College.”

Adrian College is a longstanding member of Theta Alpha Phi. Every fall, Adrian's chapter produces one-act plays entirely written and directed by actual students. These original works have gained regional and national acclaim through the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

Allen completed his graduate work at the University of California at Davis. He received an American College Theatre Festival Award for directing, and has served on the executive/selection committee for the Midwest region of the American College Theatre Festival.

He is the backbone of the theatre program at Adrian College. In addition to college theatre, he is also highly involved with community theatre. He is a past president of the board of directors of the Croswell Opera House in Adrian, and has performed in nearly 30 musicals.

“As I take up the duties of this office, I hope and trust that I will serve the members around the country well and reflect credit on our fine institution,” Allen said.

Adrian College has a thriving theatre program. Students have opportunities from the beginning of college to get involved directly with every aspect of putting on a show. Adrian is one of the only small, private colleges in the region to offer a major in musical theatre.