Richard V. Riddell
Professor of the Practice of Theater Studies
Richard Riddell has had a career as a scholar, professional lighting designer, and administrator. He led the Department of Theater Studies (formerly Program in Drama) from 1992 to 2003, then served in the university administration from 2004 to 2020, retiring from administration as senior vice president and secretary to the Board of Trustees. A graduate of Knox College and Stanford University, he has published articles on education and the arts, design, and European theater in The New York Times
, The Chronicle of Higher Education
, American Theater
, The Drama
Review
, and other publications. He has received the Tony, Drama Desk, and Maharam Awards for excellence in lighting design and has designed productions on Broadway and at resident theater and opera companies in the United States and Great Britain, including the American Repertory Theatre, the English National Opera, the New York City Opera, the La Jolla Playhouse, the Guthrie, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. He designed the lighting for the premieres of three operas by Philip Glass: Satyagraha
, Akhnaten
(also collaborating on the libretto), and The Fall of the House of Usher
. Prior to coming to Duke, he was chairman of the Department of Theater at the University of California, San Diego, and Director of the Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard University.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
- Professor of the Practice of Theater Studies, Theater Studies, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1992
Contact Information
- Box 90680, Durham, NC 27708-0030
- Page, Room 109, Durham, NC 27708
-
richard.riddell@duke.edu
(919) 660-3343
- Background
-
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., Stanford University 1978
- B.A., Knox College 1972
-
Previous Appointments & Affiliations
- Mary D.B.T. and James H. Semans Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Theater Studies in Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Theater Studies, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1995 - 2019
- Director, Theater Studies, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1999 - 2003
- Director, Theater Studies, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1994 - 1995
-
Leadership & Clinical Positions at Duke
-
Senior Vice President and Secretary of the Board of Trustees, 2017 - 2020
Chief of Staff to the President and Secretary to the Board of Trustees, 2007 - 2017
Special Assistant to the President, 2004-2007
Special Assistant to the Provost, 2003 - 2004
-
Senior Vice President and Secretary of the Board of Trustees, 2017 - 2020
- Recognition
-
In the News
-
JUN 29, 2020 -
NOV 7, 2019 -
MAR 28, 2016 -
NOV 25, 2014 WRAL -
NOV 24, 2014
-
-
Awards & Honors
- Expertise
-
Global Scholarship
-
Expertise
-
- Research
-
Selected Grants
- Herb Gardner's drama: "A Thousand Clowns" awarded by The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation 2000 - 2001
- "Eleanor" awarded by Mary Duke Biddle Foundation 1998 - 1999
- Production Support for Musical "Kudzu" awarded by Mary Duke Biddle Foundation 1997 - 1998
- Publications & Artistic Works
-
Exhibitions, Screenings, & Performances
- A Philadelphia Story | at Missouri Repertory Theater 2001
- Eleanor: An American Love Story | Theater Previews at Duke 1999
- Eleanor: An American Love Story | at Ford's Theatre, Washington, D.C 1999
- Kudzu | Theater Previews at Duke 1998
- Kudzu | at Ford's Theatre, Washington, D.C. 1998
- Otello | at English National Opera, London 1998
- Private Lives | at The Cleveland Playhouse 1995
- Queen of Spades | at English National Opera, London 1993
- The Battle of Tancredi and Clorinda | at English National Opera, London 1993
- Oedipus Rex/Bluebeard's Castle | at English National Opera, London 1991
- Steel | Premiere at American Repertory Theatre 1991
- The Writing Game | American Premiere at American Repertory Theatre 1991
- A Symphony of Life | at American Repertory Theatre Institute, Harvard University 1990
- Fennimore and Gerda | at English National Opera, London 1990
- Gianni Schicchi | at English National Opera, London 1990
- Pelleas and Melisande | at English National Opera, London 1990
- The Caucasian Chalk Circle | at American Repertory Theatre 1990
- The Father | at American Repertory Theatre 1990
- A Walk in the Woods | at Pushkin Theatre, Moscow 1989
- Life is a Dream | at American Repertory Theatre 1989
- Satyagraha | at San Francisco Opera 1989
- The Fall of the House of Usher | Serious Fun Festival at Lincoln Center 1989
- The Return of Ulysses | at English National Opera, London 1989
- A Walk in the Woods | at Booth Theatre, Broadway 1988
- Exchange at the Cafe Mimosa | at American Repertory Theatre 1988
- Platonov | at American Repertory Theatre 1988
- Satyagraha | at Seattle Opera 1988
- The Fall of the House of Usher | Premiere at American Repertory Theatre 1988
- The Flying Dutchman | at Santa Fe Opera 1988
- A Walk in the Woods | at La Jolla Playhouse 1987
- Right You Are (If You Think You Are Right) | at American Repertory Theatre 1987
- Satyagraha | at Chicago Lyric Opera 1987
- The Matchmaker | at La Jolla Playhouse 1987
- Gillette | at La Jolla Playhouse 1986
- Shout Up A Morning | Premiere at La Jolla Playhouse 1986
- Shout Up A Morning | at Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts 1986
- The Day Room | Premiere at American Repertory Theatre 1986
- The Three Cuckolds | at La Jolla Playhouse 1986
- A Man's a Man | at La Jolla Playhouse 1985
- Akhnaten | at English National Opera, London 1985
- Akhnaten | at English National Opera, London 1985
- Akhnaten | at Wuerttembergische Staatstheater Stuttgart 1985
- Big River | at Eugene O'Neill Theatre, Broadway 1985
- The Changeling | at American Repertory Theatre 1985
- The Seagull | at La Jolla Playhouse 1985
- Akhnaten | at Houston Grand Opera 1984
- Akhnaten | at Houston Grand Opera 1984
- Akhnaten | at Houston Grand Opera 1984
- Akhnaten | at New York City Opera 1984
- Akhnaten | at New York City Opera 1984
- Akhnaten | at New York City Opera 1984
- As You Like It | at La Jolla Playhouse 1984
- Big River | at La Jolla Playhouse 1984
- Pieces of Eight | The Acting Company National Tour at inc. The Public Theater 1984
- War Babies | at La Jolla Playhouse 1984
- Don Giovanni | at Kentucky Opera 1983
- Queen of Spades | at English National Opera, London 1983
- The Tempest | at London 1983
- The Tempest | at Stratford-Upon-Avon 1983
- The Threepenny Opera | at Guthrie Theater 1983
- Alceste | at Kentucky Opera 1982
- Comedy of Errors | Oregon Shakespearean Festival 1982
- Henry V | Oregon Shakespearean Festival 1982
- Romeo and Juliet | Oregon Shakespearean Festival 1982
- The Yellow Sound | World Premiere at Marymount Manhattan Theatre, New York 1982
- The Yellow Sound | World Premiere at Marymount Manhattan Theatre, New York City 1982
- The Yellow Sound | at Alte Oper Frankfurt, Germany 1982
- The Yellow Sound | at Alte Oper Frankfurt, Germany 1982
- Death of a Salesman | Oregon Shakespearean Festival 1981
- Henry IV, Part 1 | Oregon Shakespearean Festival 1981
- Katya Kabanova | at Houston Grand Opera 1981
- Our Town | at Guthrie Theatre 1981
- Satyagraha | at Brooklyn Academy of Music 1981
- Twelfth Night | Oregon Shakespearean Festival 1981
- Two Gentlemen of Verona | Oregon Shakespearean Festival 1981
- Wild Oats | Oregon Shakespearean Festival 1981
- A Philadelphia Story | Oregon Shakespearean Festival 1980
- Coriolanus | Oregon Shakespearean Festival 1980
- Love's Labour's Lost | Oregon Shakespearean Festival 1980
- Richard II | Oregon Shakespearean Festival 1980
- Ring Round the Moon | Oregon Shakespearean Festival 1980
- Satyagraha | Premiere at Rotterdam, Amsterdam 1980
- The Merry Wives of Windsor | Oregon Shakespearean Festival 1980
- Krapp's Last Tape | at Akademie der Kuenste, West Berlin 1977
-
Artistic Works & Non-Print Media
-
Mixed Media
- A Philadelphia Story. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 2001
- Eleanor: An American Love Story. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1999
- Kudzu. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1998
- Otello. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1998
- Private Lives. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1995
- Queen of Spades. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1993
- The Battle of Tancredi and Clorinda. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1993
- Oedipus Rex/Bluebeard's Castle. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1991
- Steel. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1991
- The Writing Game. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1991
- A Symphony of Life. Director. Script, Theatrical Production. 1990
- Fennimore and Gerda. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1990
- Gianni Schicchi. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1990
- Pelleas and Melisande. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1990
- The Caucasian Chalk Circle. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1990
- The Father. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1990
- Life is a Dream. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1989
- The Return of Ulysses. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1989
- Exchange at the Cafe Mimosa. Director. Script, Theatrical Production. 1988
- Platonov. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1988
- The Fall of the House of Usher. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1988
- The Flying Dutchman. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1988
- A Walk in the Woods. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1987
- Right You Are (If You Think You Are Right). Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1987
- The Matchmaker. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1987
- Gillette. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1986
- Shout Up A Morning. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1986
- The Day Room. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1986
- The Three Cuckolds. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1986
- A Man's a Man. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1985
- The Changeling. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1985
- The Seagull. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1985
- Akhnaten. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1984
- Akhnaten. Designer. Set Design, Theatrical Production. 1984
- Akhnaten. Producer. Script, Theatrical Production. 1984
- As You Like It. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1984
- Big River. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1984
- Pieces of Eight. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1984
- War Babies. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1984
- Don Giovanni. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1983
- Queen of Spades. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1983
- The Threepenny Opera. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1983
- Alceste. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1982
- Comedy of Errors. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1982
- Henry V. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1982
- Romeo and Juliet. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1982
- The Tempest. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1982
- The Yellow Sound. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1982
- The Yellow Sound. Designer. Set Design, Theatrical Production. 1982
- Death of a Salesman. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1981
- Henry IV, Part 1. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1981
- Katya Kabanova. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1981
- Our Town. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1981
- Twelfth Night. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1981
- Two Gentlemen of Verona. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1981
- Wild Oats. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1981
- A Philadelphia Story. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1980
- Coriolanus. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1980
- Love's Labour's Lost. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1980
- Richard II. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1980
- Ring Round the Moon. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1980
- Satyagraha. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1980
- The Merry Wives of Windsor. Designer. Lighting Design, Theatrical Production. 1980
- Krapp's Last Tape. Designer. Set Design, Theatrical Production. 1977
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