Bruce Miller (theater director) is a stage director and producer living and working in

Richmond, Virginia (Thus do we reach the stars) , image_map = , mapsize = 250 px , map_caption = Location within Virginia , pushpin_map = Virginia#USA , pushpin_label = Richmond , pushpin_m ...

. In 2017 he received a lifetime achievement award from the Virginia Theatre Association for his work with the

Barksdale Theatre Barksdale Theatre merged with Theatre IV in 2012 to become Virginia Repertory Theatre.Prestidge, HollyRichmond Times Dispatch May 20, 2012; Barksdale, Theatre IV merging Retrieved 2012-05-27Cushing, NathanRVA News May 20, 2012; Barksdale and Thea ...

Theatre IV ''For information about the professional theatre company in Richmond, see Virginia Repertory Theatre.'' Theatre IV (now Virginia Repertory Theatre) merged with Barksdale Theatre in 2012 to become Virginia Repertory Theatre.Prestidge, Holly: ''Ric ...

, and

Virginia Repertory Theatre Virginia Repertory Theatre is a professional theatre company based in Richmond, Virginia. It was created in 2012 when Barksdale Theatre and Theatre IV, which had shared one staff for over a decade, merged to become one company. With an annual bud ...

Barksdale Theatre

Miller served as the artistic director of the Barksdale Theatre. Miller's Barksdale acting credits include ''Red Hot and Cole'' and ''Diamond Studs'' (Phoebe Award, Best Supporting Actor). Other credits include Arnold in ''The Boys Next Door'', Berenger in ''Rhinoceros'', Clov in ''Endgame'', Tom in ''The Glass Menagerie'', and Yank in ''The Hasty Heart''. Miller's Richmond directing credits include Barksdale’s productions of ''The Lark'', ''Anything Goes'', ''Annie Get Your Gun'', ''The Crucible'', and ''The Little Foxes''. In 2012, Barksdale and Theatre IV merged to become

, which Miller co-founded with Phil Whiteway.

Theatre IV

In 1975, along with Phil Whiteway, Miller co-founded Theatre IV as Virginia’s first professional theatre for young audiences, frequently collaborating with his wife, artist and set designer Terrie Powers and creating the ''Acts of Faith'' series of plays for multiple Richmond venues. Miller was a founding director and founding producer of

and

, working with Phil Whiteway whom he met when they were both student actors at the

University of Richmond The University of Richmond (UR or U of R) is a private liberal arts college in Richmond, Virginia. It is a primarily undergraduate, residential institution with approximately 4,350 undergraduate and graduate students in five schools: the School ...

. With Theatre IV Miller wrote and produced ''Hugs and Kisses'', a touring play. "Many people are surprised to learn that Hugs and Kisses, Virginia’s principle child sexual abuse prevention program, is implemented by Theatre IV, the touring arm of Richmond-based Virginia Repertory Theatre," wrote Susan Davenport for ''Richmond Family Magazine'' in 2012. In 1986 Theatre IV purchased and occupied the building which had been the Empire Theater on Richmond's Broad Street.

Virginia Repertory Theatre

Virginia Rep, a non-profit organization, was formed in 2012 with the merger of Theatre IV and Barksdale Theatre and grew to be the second largest touring

children's theater Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perform ...

in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

, performing in 33 states. In 1975, along with Phil Whiteway, he co-founded Theatre IV as Virginia’s first professional theatre for young audiences, frequently collaborating with his wife, artist and set designer Terrie Powers. He worked with the ''Acts of Faith'' series as a founding producer and receiving Phoebe awards. "Bruce Miller is the Founding Artistic Director of Virginia Rep and Founding Artistic Director of Theatre IV. His work as a director has been seen around the country at prominent theatres including the

Kennedy Center The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (formally known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, and commonly referred to as the Kennedy Center) is the United States National Cultural Center, located on the Potom ...

and the

Paper Mill Playhouse Paper Mill Playhouse is a regional theater with approximately 1200 seats, located in Millburn, New Jersey on the Rahway River. Due to its relatively close location to Manhattan, it draws from the pool of actors (and audience members) who live in ...

." His last show before retiring in July 2016 was Tennessee Williams' 1948 play ''Summer and Smoke''. Miller retired after 41 years with Virginia Repertory Theatre. After 41 years as the Founding Artistic Director, Bruce Miller transitioned to Founding Producer of Virginia Rep in 2016. He co-produced the

world premiere A première, also spelled premiere, is the debut (first public presentation) of a play, film, dance, or musical composition. A work will often have many premières: a world première (the first time it is shown anywhere in the world), its f ...

s of ''Rules of the Lake'' by Irene Ziegler, ''Four Part Harmony'' by Marcus Fisk and Douglas Minerd, ''War Story'' by Bo Wilson and ''Songs from Bedlam'' by Douglas Jones. He produced ''Having Our Say'', ''

Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune ''Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune'' is a two-character play by Terrence McNally that was first performed off-Broadway in 1987. Plot The play focuses on two lonely, middle-aged people whose first date ends with their tumbling into bed. The ...

'', and ''Do Lord Remember Me''. Other producing credits include

James Joyce James Augustine Aloysius Joyce (2 February 1882 – 13 January 1941) was an Irish novelist, poet, and literary critic. He contributed to the modernist avant-garde movement and is regarded as one of the most influential and important writers of ...

’s ''The Dead'', ''Proof'', ''

How I Learned to Drive ''How I Learned to Drive'' is a play written by American playwright Paula Vogel. The play premiered on March 16, 1997, Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre. Vogel received the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the work. It was written and develop ...

'', ''Beehive'', ''

Of Mice and Men ''Of Mice and Men'' is a novella written by John Steinbeck. Published in 1937, it narrates the experiences of George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced migrant ranch workers, who move from place to place in California in search of new job o ...

'', ''

My Children! My Africa! Athol Fugard, Hon. , (born 11 June 1932), is a South African playwright, novelist, actor, and director widely regarded as South Africa's greatest playwright. He is best known for his political and penetrating plays opposing the system of apart ...

'', and '' Quilters''. In the final two decades of the Phoebe Awards, Bruce’s productions earned Best Play or Best Musical of the Year 20 times. A performing arts study guide about

Harriet Tubman Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross, March 10, 1913) was an American abolitionist and social activist. Born into slavery, Tubman escaped and subsequently made some 13 missions to rescue approximately 70 slaves, including family and friends, us ...

was developed by Miller and Whiteway for children in grades four to six, and Miller also wrote a study guide and dramatization of the life and activism of

Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist, one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968 ...

Biography

Bruce Miller's work as a director has been seen around the country at prominent theatres including the

and the

. He has received six Phoebe Awards as Best Director of the Year. For TV and radio, he directed ''The Ugly Duckling'' released nationally by

PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcasting, public broadcaster and Non-commercial activity, non-commercial, Terrestrial television, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly fu ...

, and a production of folk stories broadcast internationally over

Radio Free Europe Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is a United States government funded organization that broadcasts and reports news, information, and analysis to countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Caucasus, and the Middle East where it says tha ...

. He is co-author of ''Hugs and Kisses'', the child sexual abuse prevention play that maintained more than 25 years of a record-breaking run. His play ''Buffalo Soldier'' was selected by

the Pentagon The Pentagon is the headquarters building of the United States Department of Defense. It was constructed on an accelerated schedule during World War II. As a symbol of the U.S. military, the phrase ''The Pentagon'' is often used as a metony ...

as a morale booster after

9/11 The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercial ...

, becoming the first professional play in history to be performed within the Pentagon’s walls. For the Acts of Faith Series at Virginia Rep Children's Theatre, Miller wrote ''I Have a Dream'' about Dr.

, who inspired by

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...

and

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...

, developed his nonviolent

civil rights movement The civil rights movement was a nonviolent social and political movement and campaign from 1954 to 1968 in the United States to abolish legalized institutional Racial segregation in the United States, racial segregation, Racial discrimination ...

protests. Miller served as a site reporter for three years with the

National Endowment for the Arts The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal ...

, and as a professional theatre panelist with the Lila Wallace—

Reader’s Digest ''Reader's Digest'' is an American general-interest family magazine, published ten times a year. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, it is now headquartered in midtown Manhattan. The magazine was founded in 1922 by DeWitt Wallace and his wi ...

Fund in New York City. He is an alumnus of the

, and is privileged to credit three teachers as mentors: Jack Welsh, and the late Marion Waymack and Bernard Schutte. He also thanks those who taught by example: Pete and Nancy Kilgore, Muriel McAuley, Buddy and Betty Callahan, and Lou and Fran Rubin. In the spring of 1999, STYLE Weekly honored Bruce and Phil Whiteway by selecting them as two of the "100 Most Influential Richmonders of the Century." In 2008 Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced his selection along with Phil Whiteway of a Governor's Awards for Arts. which have only been awarded three times before - in 1979, 1985 and in 2000. Bruce Miller and Phil Whiteway share an award with Richmond's Theatre IV as the first professional

children's theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perform ...

in Virginia, which has performed live for audiences totaling 28 million. Upon Bruce Miller's retirement and after a national search,

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual cer ...

winner Nathaniel Shaw was selected to succeed founding producer Bruce Miller as artistic director at Virginia Rep and began his inaugural season in July 2016. Bruce Miller is married to artist and stage designer Terrie Powers Miller, and they have two children—a daughter, Hannah Powers Miller, born in 1990, and a son, Curtis Wayne Miller, born in 1994. He is an ordained

Presbyterian elder Presbyterian (or presbyteral) polity is a method of ecclesiastical polity, church governance ("ecclesiastical polity") typified by the rule of assemblies of presbyters, or elders. Each local church is governed by a body of elected elders usually ...

and was the moderator of the Christian Education Ministry at

Bon Air Presbyterian Church Bon Air Presbyterian Church ( PCUSA), which began in 1884, is an historic Presbyterian church and preschool located on Huguenot Road in Bon Air, Virginia, a census-designated place (CDP) in Chesterfield County, Virginia, in the United States. Th ...

. The ''Chesterfield Observer'' and ''Richmond Magazine'' announced in February 2019 that Bruce Miller was chosen to head a new arts center for Chesterfield County, Virginia. Groundbreaking for the Baxter Perkinson Center for the Arts began in June 2019, with Bruce Miller as its executive director.

References

External links

* Virginia Rep Blo

{{DEFAULTSORT:Miller, Bruce Living people American actors Actors from Virginia American theatre directors American dramatists and playwrights American Presbyterians Presbyterians from Virginia Year of birth missing (living people)