Theater chair plays many roles
By Kevin Cowan
Senior Reporter
The bone-white spotlight opens
on Tice Miller, center stage.
The university bestowed the
title of interim theater department
chairman on Miller in July. The
appointment, however, is tempo
rary. And for Miller, this prestig
ious office may or may not be the
final curtain drawn. He has not
been one to bum his bridges;
rather, he writes the entire cornu
copia of theater into the “Big Pic
ture.”
His cornucopia? Aside from the
time-consuming responsibilities
of department chairman, Miller
heads the graduate program in
theater', is managing director of the
Nebraska Repertory Theater and
has written a book on American
| theater aesthetics and criticism.
Another book on American com
edy is half finished. Both books
center on theater in the earlier
decades of the 20th century.
“I’m kindof stuck in the 1920s,”
he said.
He speaks with glin tongue and
answers to the fullest any questions
relating to his involvement in the
many projects. And since his ap
pointment, a few of those projects
Jj- have taken the back burner.
For instance, with time scarce at
! the moment, American comedy
waits quietly at the typewriter.
“I haven’t written a page since I
‘ started this job,” he said, “though
I’ve got to start writing again ...
i soon.”
The university is conducting a
nation wide search for a new theater
department chairman; Miller seem
: an obvious candidate. Whether he
will enter in the running remains to
be seen.
“If I can get the work load or
ganized, I’ll be a candidate,” he
said.
Moving towards being effective
is the primary concern at this time,
he said. And with the installation of
Theatrix, a student-run experimen
tal theater project, as well as organ
izing and Hiring new theater staff,
effectiveness seems the proper
| description.
Miller is excited about
Theatrix. He explained that the
new project will perform contro
versial and experimental
| plays, leaving the more conserva
tive plays for Howell Theatre.
Miller is excited about
Theatrix. He explained that the
new project will perform contro
versial and experimental plays,
leaving the more conservative
plays tor Howell Theatre.
However, he doesn’t judge
plays with the concepts of conser
vative and liberal.
“I believe in very few restraints
on artists,” he said. ‘‘Everything
we’re going to do is in artistic good
taste. If anything even smacks of
pornography, I won’t do it. It’s
degrading to women.”
Miller said, however, that por
nographic gray area is fairly large.
Miller has experienced life in
the way most educators aspire to.
He received his bachelor’s degree
in speech and political science
from Kearney state College in
1960, a master’s degree in speech
and dramatic art from UNL in 1961
and a doctorate in speech and dra
matic art from the University of
Illinois in 1968. He took time off
between those years to join the
Navy and see North Vietnam
“from a distance.”
But with all the sights and
memories he’s gathered over the
years, Miller said he feels commit
ted to Lincoln and Nebraska.
“I’m part of the state,” he said.
“I’ve run the gantlet of formal
education in Nebraska.” Miller
attended rural Nebraska schools.
Miller said he is proud of Ne
braska and the UN L theater depart
ment.
“We have one of the best pro
grams in a three-state area,” he
said.
“We’ vc had a tough five years,”
he said. “I’m looking forward to
seeing the improvement.”
And what about the Lied Center
controversy?
“We’ve got it and we’re going
to run with it,” he said. Miller
put to rest the concerns of theater
majors who say the Lied Center
will never be used for student per
formances. In conjunction with the
music department, he said, patrons
can expect to see several student
oriented productions upon the
center’s completion.
Miller said he sees the Lied
Center as an artistic focal point for
the next 25 to 30 years.
Yes, Miller has seen the world,
and since then has found his home
in Nebraska. But he encourages
new actors and actresses going to
school here to taste other horizons
before choosing a final destination.
“The people in theater should
go to Chicago or New York and try
to make it,” he said. “It gives them
a feel for the business. It’s whereall
the talent is hired in this country.” i
But Miller is not consumed by
the needs of the theater depart
ment. He and his wife, Carren, \i
assistant programmer for the Ne
braska ETV Network, enjoy the
challenge of raising two small
boys: Dane, 8, and Graeme, 3.
“I find parenting very reward
ing,” he said. “There’s never I
enough time to spend, but we have
a decent relationship.”
Being department chairman
seems to agree with Miller. But he
is torn between that job and his i
writing career, he said.
All in all, he said, the job has
been enjoyable.
“It’s been fun being the chair
man; if it weren ’t fun, I wouldn’t do
it.”
Tice Miller
