Vol. 18, No. 3	Sept. 17, 1998

Former students applaud professor's theatre work

Jewel Walker, theatre, is the recipient of the Outstanding Teacher in Higher Education Award presented by the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE). Walker's former students, including Ted Danson, Rene Auberjonois, Cherry Jones and others, wrote endearing letters of support on his behalf.

Walker is the primary movement instructor of UD's Professional Theatre Training Program and was known nationally as Mime Walker on Mister Roger's Neighborhood.

Jones, a 1995 Tony award winner for The Heiress, wrote that Walker's "extraordinary artistry, discipline and commitment has proved to be a vital navigational star in my professional career.... His voice is with me as I approach and develop each character."

Linda Balgord, who starred in the National Touring Company of Sunset Boulvard, wrote, "The work that I began as Jewel's student has never stopped. I have continued to use his teachings in all of my professional work. It is very difficult to find the words that can communicate the profound effect a master teacher can have on a student. I owe a great deal of my success as an actor to Jewel Walker."

Tom Hewitt, whose credits range from Frasier and All My Children to Broadway's School for Scandal, wrote, "I count Jewel as one of the most influential people in my work and in my life...17 years [after studying with Walker] the question I most ask myself is 'What would Jewel have me do?'"

Walker is a founding member of the American Conservatory Theatre, spent 13 years as head of stage movement at Carnegie Mellon University and helped found the Professional Theatre Training Program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, prior to its move to UD. American Theatre magazine recently featured him in an article chronicling his ground breaking work in movement.

ATHE is an organization of individuals and institutions that provides vision and leadership for the profession and promotes excellence in theatre education. It actively supports scholarship through teaching, research and practice and serves as a collective voice for it mission through publications, conferences, advocacy and projects.

-Beth Thomas