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Retiring faculty member directing last show in Department of Theatre & Dance with ‘Men on Boats’

It’s fitting that Professor Scott Phillips’ last show at Auburn, “Men on Boats,” depicts the bravery required to lead into uncharted territory. It’s similar to the journey he’s taken at Auburn – one that started more than two decades ago.

In 2000, the theatre department had few resources. But by mid-decade that had changed, and Phillips saw the department’s fortunes change with an established fund for production expenses, new faculty hires and a music theatre degree program. His original plan to stay for two years became over 26 years of service.

“We had the mindset of, ‘Hey, we’re building a program. We can do this,’” Phillips said. “It just became something completely different than what it was. We were growing, and it felt good because the department was and is a really great collaborative environment. I didn’t want to leave. It’s really been a privilege to have played a small part in the development of the program.”

Phillips is proud that he has been a part of the department’s ongoing success. He helped hire award-winning faculty. He saw the addition of the Peet Black Box and dance studio, both of which occurred during his time as department chair from 2011-2017.

Within the classroom, his courses ranged from musical theatre history to acting and dramaturgy to text analysis. For many Auburn students, his Introduction to Theatre courses for majors and non-majors was their first encounter with the arts at Auburn.

He’s also been directing shows throughout his Auburn career, including “Wellesley Girl,” “A Doll’s House,” “The Crucible,” “Metamorphoses” and many more. As an educator and director, Phillips encouraged students to be bold, creative and well-versed in many areas of inquiry outside the theatre.

“In the theatre, there’s no subject or discipline that is immaterial,” Phillips said. “You need to read everything. You need to understand every art form. You need to understand what happens in politics, history, literature of all kinds. You need to study the world and be curious, because an education is training for citizenship, how to behave ethically in the world, and all the questions those obligations entail are critical components of thoughtful artistry.”

The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival recognized Phillips for Distinguished Achievement in Directing, and The O’Neill Center Playwrights’ Festival, one of the nation’s leading laboratories for new work, invited him to participate as a Critic Fellow.

He’s been a professional theatre and film critic, journal editor and peer reviewer for various journals, and a board and committee member for the Southeastern Theatre Conference, the Theatre History focus group at the Association for Theatre in Higher Education and the Alabama Conference of Theatre.

In addition to editing two essay collections and co-authoring an introductory textbook, Phillips has published in a variety of peer-reviewed journals, including Modern Drama, Theatre Symposium, AfterImage, Comparative Drama, Text and Presentation, and Theatre History Studies. 

“Every field has its own way of knowing the world,” Phillips said. “In the arts and humanities, we don’t really answer questions – we pose them. I view every play, every work of literature and history, every performance, as an invitation to discuss something. The arts and humanities give us the opportunity to ponder and reflect. That’s very valuable, and something that gets lost in a world where people are just looking for the answers.”

Phillips’ Auburn chapter of his own expedition will end in December, when he retires after almost 27 years in the Department of Theatre & Dance. He hopes he’s remembered for his mentorship of students and his collaboration with other faculty. He looks forward to the next chapter in the department’s story, as his colleagues continue to boldly lead the way for all students. 

“We always have to adapt,” Phillips said. “I can’t see what the future is, but when a need arises, pursue the goal. You might not make it, but theatre’s changing, the world is changing, and there’s all kinds of challenges that we’re going to have to adapt to. Every year, we talk about what we could do differently, what we could do better, and I just think the department’s in really good hands.”

Tickets for the opening night of “Men on Boats,” and every other show this season, directly benefit student scholarships. Auburn student tickets are always free. Learn more about “Men on Boats” and buy your ticket at the box office website.

Tags: Theatre and Dance Faculty Arts and Culture