The National Partners of the American Theatre

The National Partners of the American Theatre

April 19, 2014

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Robert Reid Buseick has enjoyed a fabulous academic and professional theatre career for over 60 years; and

WHEREAS, Bob was one of the most influential leaders in bringing diverse, cutting-edged, socially conscious and perspective-widening issues to the people of North Louisiana, an accomplishment which was recognized by the Louisiana Civil Liberties Union by naming himDefender of the Bill of Rights; and

WHEREAS, he trained many of the leading theatre practitioners of the Southwest region in his 36 years as Chair of the Theatre and Dance Department at Centenary College of Louisiana through his meticulous and artful approach to teaching, directing and designing; and

WHEREAS, he served the KC/ACTF as participant, committee member, Chair of Region VI, and member of the National Selection Team in 2000 serving as a model for excellence in theatre (and putting his life on the line to do it—Bob had a bad fall during his selection team duties that put him on the bench for the last weeks of the national tour); and

WHEREAS, his creative direction earned him several invitations to the region VI festival and in 1983 to the Kennedy Center’s National Festival withhis production of My Sister in this House; and

WHEREAS, his life since academe has not lost its theatre focus as he has served as Chairman of the Board of the River City Repertory Theatre, Shreveport’s professional theatre, since its beginning in 2005; and

WHEREAS, he has served as costumer supreme for most of his productions, and on the side has designed and built many exquisite cotillion gowns for the young women of Shreveport; and

WHEREAS, his first word spoken on stage at the age of 6, “Scrumptious” , serves as his depiction of theatre and also describes him, his directing, producing, and designing absolutely perfectly; and

WHEREAS, with his wife Jan, his children and grandchildren, he has enjoyed the fulfilling and gracious life of a southern gentleman; and

WHEREAS, the NAPAT membership does recognize Bob as anesteemed colleague for his generous spirit that is motivated by a true camaraderie as evidenced in his making the very first donation in support of NAPAT’s Classical Acting Award.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Partners of the American Theatre bestow upon Robert Reid Buseickthe honorary title Emeritus Partner of the American Theatre; and extend to his family an expression of friendship and appreciation for the significant contributions Bob has bestowed on his community and the American theatre at large.

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Jere Wade, National Chair Kathryn Robinson, Distinguished Partner