SCHOOL OF THEATRE DIRECTOR BERGER AT UH
HONORED WITH RUTH DENNEY AWARD
Annual Award Presented to Stage Professionals Who Shape Young Artists’
Lives
HOUSTON, April 23, 2007 – For 38 years, Sidney Berger has
cultivated generations of theater talents and entertained Houstonians
of all ages by directing a host of productions. Now, Berger, director
of the UH School of Theatre, will be honored for his contributions
to Houston’s stage community.
Houston’s Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) will present Berger
with the 2007 Ruth Denney Award during the annual Tommy Tune Awards
ceremony April 24 in Houston’s Hobby Center for the Performing
Arts (800 Bagby St.). The award recognizes the lifetime achievement
of those individuals who have played an instrumental role in shaping
the lives of young artists.
“To be honored for doing something I love makes me more grateful
than I can articulate,” Berger said. “It also is very
rewarding to receive this award from TUTS, which has done everything
to help theater in this city. I am very happy that they have chosen
to honor me.”
Berger has served as the School of Theatre’s director since
1968 mentoring and directing student actors, including future Hollywood
stars such as Randy and Dennis Quaid, Robert Wuhl and Loretta Devine.
In 1975, Berger co-founded the Houston Shakespeare Festival, which
continues to offer free performances in Miller Outdoor Theatre.
He also co-founded the Children’s Theatre Festival in 1978,
which has entertained audiences of all ages with family-friendly
summer performances.
The Ruth Denney Award is named for the famed Texas theater educator,
who passed away in March. Denney taught at Lamar High School in
Houston, mentored stage star Tommy Tune and founded Houston’s
High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in 1971. From 1976
– 1988, she taught at the University of Texas at Austin.
“I greatly admired Ruth Denney,” Berger said. “To
receive this award just weeks after her passing is a singular honor.”
Previous Ruth Denney Award recipients have included Denney herself
and choreographer Patsy Swayze.
For more information on Berger, visit http://www.hfac.uh.edu/theatre/facultyandstaff/sberger/sberger.html,
and to learn more about the UH School of Theatre & Dance, visit
http://www.hfac.uh.edu/theatre/.
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston, Texas’ premier metropolitan research
and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers
and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate,
civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university
in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and
service with more than 35,000 students.
For more information about UH visit
the universitys Newsroom at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.
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