Beloved Greensboro College Theatre Professor Passes Away
It is with overwhelming sadness that we share the news that Wm. Perry Morgan, Professor of Theatre and Director of the Greensboro College Musical Theatre Program, passed away over the weekend in a tragic car accident. He was deeply loved and respected in the Greensboro College community and the theatre community at large.
Popular with students and colleagues, Morgan was a campus icon since he and wife, Jo Hall came to campus in 2011. Everyone has a “Perry” story, says Greensboro College President Dr. Lawrence Czarda. He remembers laughing with him during a recent walk across campus. “Perry was excited for the start of the academic year, inspired by new students and ready to get to work on the new theatre season,” he says. “We always had a New Jersey wisecrack to share as we were both natives of the Garden State.”
Ashley Hyers is Chair of the Greensboro College Department of Theatre and close friend to Perry and Jo. “Perry and I had a very special director-choreographer relationship,” she says. “He taught me so much about thinking outside the box and taking creative risks. He challenged us all to live deeper, richer, stronger lives. He will always have a special place in my heart.”
Morgan was a Mastery Graduate of the Actor’s Institute in New York City. He earned his M.F.A. in Contemporary Theatre Performance from Naropa University, and a B.F.A. and M.S. from Long Island University. Professor Morgan was a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. New Jersey’s Theatre Awards are named “The Perry Awards” in his honor.
Morgan served five seasons as the Resident Musical Director at the Barter Theatre in Virginia and directed for Playhouse On The Square, Texas Shakespeare Festival, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, Clinton Area Showboat Theatre, Summerblue on Lake Superior, and Bigfork Summer Playhouse. Directing credits closer to home include Triad Pride Performing Arts, Kernersville Little Theatre, the Greensboro Playwright’s Forum, and Open Space Cafe Theatre. Perry served for more than twenty years as the Company Composer for Pyramid Productions in Indiana. His ballet scores have premiered in New York, Paris, France and Nyon, Switzerland.
As an actor, Morgan played Mark Dolson (twice on tour) in the play “Mass Appeal.” His performance as Emory in “The Boys in the Band” earned him multiple Best Supporting Actor honors for the 1982-83 theatre season. In New York, Perry performed with the First Amendment Improv Company and was a member of the original cast of the musical revue “Smoke Rings.” Perry’s one-man show “Identity” had its world premiere at the Dairy Arts Center in Boulder, Colorado.
Professor Morgan continued to teach and lead workshops at state and national conventions during his time at Greensboro College. He directed many productions for the Greensboro College Theatre Department and was already at work on the current season.
The theatre department will gather privately to remember Professor Morgan on Monday evening, and the College has mental health resources for grieving students, faculty and staff.
Morgan is survived by his wife, Jo Hall, Professor of Theatre and Dean of the School of the Arts at Greensboro College. A celebration of life and memorial service will be announced at a later time.
