This page is designed to provide information for students and colleagues and to provide opportunity for interaction with persons with similar interests.   It is my hope that the information provided may be of some interest or benefit to you.  Please feel free to contact me for suggestions or comments.

•  "Arts, Ethics and the Athlete"                                                            
• Conducting the Faculty/Staff Search
• FDR Speaks
• Taft Photo Gallery I
• Taft Photo Gallery II
• Marc Breaux Photo Gallery
• Marc Breaux Interview
• The University of Northern Iowa Homepage

Master of Ceremonies - UNI Student's First Capital Campaign Kick-off

(photo by Randy Darst)

PERSONAL BIO

Stephen Taft is an Associate Professor of Theatre and returned to the Department of Theatre in 2006 after serving as Acting Head of the Department of Art for nearly three years.  With fourteen years of administrative experience, he has previously served the University of Northern Iowa as Head of the Department of Theatre and as Director of Education and Special Projects for the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.  Other leadership positions include Head of the Performing Arts Department (Theatre and Dance) at The University of Louisiana - Lafayette and as Chair of the Department of Theatre at LaGrange College.   Stephen received a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Central Missouri majoring in Theatre and Speech with a minor in Dance, a Master of Arts in Theatre from Missouri State University and a Ph.D. in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Theatre with concentrations in Arts Management and Directing from Texas Tech University. 

At  LaGrange College Stephen served as Artistic Director of an edited version of Fredrich Durrenmatt's THE VISIT, presented in conjunction with the "Leaders of Humanity" seminars conducted by Mr. Zigmunt Nagorski, President of the Center for International Leadership located in Washington, D.C..  Presented as a LaGrange College interdisciplinary project with collaboration between the Department of Theatre and The Department of Business and Economics, Steve teamed with Dr. George Dupuy, Professor of Management, to produce the thought-provoking drama at over forty seminars for such clients as:  The Bell South Corporation, Capital Holding Corporation, Dun & Bradstreet, The Southeast Regional Education Board and the Global Leaders of the South. The program received The Southern Business Administration Association 1992 Teaching Innovation Award and the Leavey Award for Excellence in Private Enterprise Education from the Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge.

Inspired by his experiences with Mr. Nargorski and the "Leaders of Humanity" seminars, Stephen's interdisciplinary interests continued with the development of a new course entitled, "Arts, Ethics, and the Athlete" at the University of Louisiana - Lafayette. A specific artistic research interest has focused on Marc Breaux, an esteemed choreographer, dancer, director and actor and veteran of Broadway, television, and film.   In collaboration with Dr. Paulette Hebert of Oklahoma State University, their research includes interviews with friends and collaborators of Mr. Breaux's such as Dick Van Dyke, Richard Sherman, Lesley Ann Warren, Michael Kidd, Andy Williams, Kaye Ballard, and others.   Marc Breaux is best known for his choreographic work in such films as THE SOUND OF MUSIC, MARY POPPINS, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG and others.

Stephen has served on the Executive Board of the Southwest Theatre Association as Vice-President of Membership, as editor of Southwest Reports, and as Vice-Chair of Strategic Planning.  On the state level, he has served as President of Theatres of Louisiana and as Chair of the College / University Division.  In Georgia, he served the Georgia Theatre Conference as Vice-President of Membership, Chair of the College/University Division, and newsletter editor.  He is a member of the Mid-America Theatre Conference and an active presenter.  He has had the pleasure to also serve as an adjudicator for the American College Theatre Festival (ACTF), the Iowa Association of Community Theatre State Festival and regional AACT/FEST.  In addition, Stephen continues to be active serving as a consultant and presenting workshops for various theatre organizations in Iowa.

His artistic skills and interest have allowed him to work as an actor, director and designer.   Although his career has been devoted to leading university academic departments, "Steve" has had the pleasure of working professionally from time to time.  One of his fondest experiences was in the portrayal of Harry Mitchell in the Atlanta premiere of THE SUM OF US for which he was nominated for Best Actor by the Atlanta publication, Creative Loafing.   Also in Atlanta, Steve worked with playwright and director Barbara Lebow in the early stages of her work, THE HOMUNCULUS OF CORDOBA.

More recently, he directed ROUNDING THIRD in the spring of 2008 for the Old Creamery Theatre Company and will portray Dad in the 2008 Okoboji Summer Theatre production of LEAVING IOWA.  In the fall of 2007, he performed in the Old Creamery production of GREATER TUNA followed by an Iowa mini-tour portraying the many roles originally created by Joe Sears (e.g. Thurston Wheelis, Bertha Bumiller, Leonard Childers, Pearl Burris, Reverend Spikes, etc.).  His five-year relationship with the Old Creamery Theatre Company also includes acting in AMADEUS, contributing original music and lyrics for HOLIDAY HIJINKS:  INDEPENDENCE DAY, serving as both director and light designer for productions of NOBODY DON'T LIKE YOGI and BROADWAY BOUND and as light designer for IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY and  BAREFOOT IN THE PARK.  As Founding Artistic Director of the Lagniappe Theatre Company, he co-produced and served as director, light designer and technical director for the Old Creamery production of TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE in addition to portraying Professor Morrie Schwartz.  Steve invited UNI alum Matt Mullin, a professional actor in NYC to return to Iowa to portray Mitch Albom in this highly successful production and hired former University of Louisiana - Lafayette student Andre LaSalle as scenic designer.   The Old Creamery Theatre is Iowa's oldest Equity affiliated professional theatre located in historic Amana, Iowa. 

In the fall of 2006, he traveled to San Diego to act in the staged reading of EL JARDIN SECRETO, a bi-lingual adaptation of THE SECRET GARDEN by award-winning playwright, director and composer, Ruff Yeager.  The presentation was produced by the Vox Nova Theatre Company and presented at the Lyceum Theatre of the San Diego Repertory Theatre.  Shortly after moving to the upper mid-west, he directed the Neil Simon classic, PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE at Theatre L'Homme Dieu, a professional summer theatre in Alexandria, Minnesota. 

His varied career has allowed him to work in radio, independent films, industrials and on various commercials including serving as the principal spokesperson for O'Reilly Automotive for two years.  And if you hit the pause button, you may be able to catch a glimpse of him in the films SWEET DREAMS and the OLDEST LIVING CONFEDERATE WIDOW TELLS ALL.

Representative academic directing credits include: PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE, LOST IN YONKERS, the world premiere of the award-winning play GUERNICA, THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE, THE MIRACLE WORKER,  PICNIC, ON GOLDEN POND, THE CEMETERY CLUB, THE SHADOW BOX, BLITHE SPIRIT, GODSPELL, WEST SIDE STORY, WORKING, A NIGHT IN THE UKRAINE, DANCING AT LUGHNASA, OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY, HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES and others.

Stephen is married to actress, educator and best friend, Cindy (Urban) Taft.  They have four children.

STEVE TAFT