In Memoriam: MMC Theatre Professor John Basil
Professor John Basil
John Basil, an accomplished actor, author, theatre director, and producer who taught at MMC for 14 years before retiring in 2022, passed away on May 27. He was 73.
Beloved by students, faculty, and staff, he is remembered as a brilliant teacher and a compassionate and thoughtful colleague. The MMC community mourns his loss alongside Liz Keefe, his wife and partner of 40 years.
Professor Basil began teaching at MMC in 2008. He quickly developed a reputation as an inspirational instructor and mentor who had a gift for opening up the worlds of Shakespeare and period acting styles, making them accessible, exciting, and engaging for students. Taking his classes on deep dives into the texts, he gave students the technical tools to freely explore and perform the material while encouraging them to bring their own creativity to the work with joy and confidence.
Professor Basil also embraced culturally aware approaches to Shakespeare’s plays and welcomed creative debate in his classes. That was especially evident in a course he created for students of all majors, “Female Power on the Renaissance Stage,” that utilized embodied pedagogies and close textual and historical study to illuminate Shakespeare’s signature female characters. Additionally, Professor Basil taught Shakespeare Workshops for MMC’s college program at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for women.
Professor Basil strongly believed in a student-centered approach and met with students at the semester’s end to hear their goals and interests for upcoming courses so he could choose material with their perspectives in mind. He was a highly dedicated, generous, and loyal mentor who spent many hours reviewing headshots, answering questions, and coaching students. His knowledge of the NYC and LA theatre and film industries made him exceptionally skilled at guiding students to prepare for careers. Professor Basil kept in close contact with many alums after graduation, supporting their growth as artists and individuals, offering advice, and attending their performances. He was honored with the MMC Faculty Teaching Excellence Award and twice received the Outstanding Faculty Award in Fine and Performing Arts.
In the larger theatre community, Professor Basil was well-known as a scholar and director of Shakespeare. His books, Will Power: How to Act Shakespeare in 21 Days and Building a Performance: An Actors Guide to Rehearsal, garnered glowing reviews and have been adopted by many college and university programs across the country. Even as he retired from teaching, he continued this work and finished his third book, Identity: Breathing Life into the Words, which will be released posthumously.
For more than 25 years, Professor Basil served as the producing artistic director of the American Globe Theatre, a professional theatre devoted to innovative productions of classical plays and supported by major funding sources. Professor Basil directed over 30 productions for AGT, including Henry V, Titus Andronicus, Much Ado About Nothing, and Hamlet. He also directed for Riverside Shakespeare Company, Ensemble Studio Theatre, American Shakespeare Centre, American Stage Festival, and Sarasota Opera. His productions of Shakespeare throughout the decades consistently received high praise for his direction, which reviewers referred to as “bold,” “highly entertaining,” and “Shakespeare as it was meant to be performed.”
His work at American Globe was also significant for his commitment to social service, as he had an extensive program of touring and teaching in NYC public schools. Professor Basil was generous in providing MMC students and alums with internships and casting in shows at AGT and extended valuable opportunities to young theatre artists to begin their professional careers through these experiences.
At MMC, Professor Basil directed highly memorable productions of As You Like It, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Beaux’ Stratagem, and ’Tis Pity She’s a Whore. He was widely sought after for master classes, teaching at Drew University, Montclair University, Rutgers University, C.W. Post Long Island University, Penn State University, Asolo Conservatory, Bradley University, University of Colorado, University of Wyoming, Elon University, and Columbia Teachers College.
Professor Basil leaves behind a legacy of distinctive and creative pedagogy, extensive Shakespeare scholarship, masterful work as director and producer, and a deep and tireless commitment to nurturing and supporting the next generations of theatre artists. A celebration of his life and work will be held in the fall.
MMC community members can share their memories of Professor Basil on this CaringBridge page or donate to either of his two favorite charities, the World Wildlife Fund and Feed the Children. To learn more about Professor Basil, visit johnbasil.com.
Published: June 06, 2024
