About Ralph Bellas Books
JOHN W. KIRK, BA, MA, Ph.D. PROFESSOR EMERITUS ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY John Kirk, professor, playwright, actor and author, founded the acclaimed Theatre Department at Illinois State University in 1970. In his 31 years as a university faculty member, and Director at the Illinois Shakespeare festival, he worked with many performers who became professionally successful. Among these are Gary Cole, Judith Ivey, Terry Kinney, John Malkovich, Lauri Metcalf, Bill O'Leary, William Petersen, Yvonne Suhor, and many other artists with the famed Steppenwolf Theatre, which was founded by ISU students. Dr. Kirk has written eleven plays and published three books. His book, The Art of Directing, originally published in 1985, is now in its third printing.
