WWU Professor of Theatre Arts Mark Kuntz retires after almost 30 years at Western

WWU Professor of Theatre Arts Mark Kuntz retired in June after teaching for almost 30 years at the University. In addition to teaching, he ran WWU's summer stock theater for many years, served on or chaired numerous WWU committees, and has served as chair of the Theatre Arts Department and in various capacities at the Kennedy Center.

Kuntz also co-founded Bellingham TheatreWorks and the Fairhaven Repertory Theatre, where he has employed hundreds of WWU alumni, students, and staff over the years. He will continue his work with Bellingham TheatreWorks this summer.

Of all his accomplishments, Kuntz said he enjoyed teaching and working with WWU emerging student artists the most.

“For years it has been my intent to create next step opportunities for our students and graduates. This year we have hired 17 student interns, and another 7 past grads to be a part of Fairhaven Summer Repertory Theatre," Kuntz said. "They are actors, directors, designers, staff members, covering all part of the production process. It is always a joy to connect as artists outside the classroom engaged in storytelling."

Kuntz joined the theatre faculty of Western Washington University in 1996, and has been the producing director of the 1500-seat Mount Baker Theatre for many years and the artistic director of their repertory theatre. Over the course of his career, he directed more than 125 plays around the nation, including productions at the Kennedy Center, Eastern Oregon University, University of Oregon, Western Washington University, and the Mount Baker Theatre. 

Bellingham TheatreWorks is running “In Search of a Common Language” until July 20; for information and tickets, follow this link.

Click here learn more about the Theatre Arts Department at WWU.