Actor, Choreographer Bill Irwin to Give a Public Lecture/Demonstration at UCSB

Film, television, and stage actor Bill Irwin will give a public lecture and demonstration at UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday, February 18 in Hatlen Theatre. Irwin is the 2009 Michael Douglas Visiting Artist, and will be introduced by Douglas himself.

Irwin's presentation, which begins at 4:30 p.m., is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, however, so audience members are advised to arrive early.

Over several decades, Irwin's diverse career has included original works for Broadway, roles in television and film, and his recent season in residence at New York's Signature Theatre Company. He has a long resume of dramatic and comedic roles, including his performances in the Jonathan Demme film "Rachel Getting Married" and Ron Howard's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

Nominated for five Tony Awards as an actor, author, director, and choreographer, Irwin was named Best Actor in 2005 for his performance as George in a revival of Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" on Broadway and London's West End. On television, he has appeared on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation;" "Law and Order;" "Law and Order: Criminal Intent;" "Sesame Street;" "Elmo's World;" and "PBS Great Performances: Bill Irwin Clown Prince."

A graduate of Oberlin College and Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey's Clown College, Irwin has received two Choreographer's Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and a five-year MacArthur Fellowship. In addition, he was inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame in 1999.

The Michael Douglas Visiting Artist Program was established by Douglas through a private gift from the Douglas Charitable Foundation. Previous visiting artists include playwrights Barbara Lebow, Marina Carr, Sarah Ruhl, Tony Kushner, and Paula Vogel; and actor, writer, and director Steven Berkoff.

Related LinksUCSB Department of Theater and Dance