April 26th, 2023
Humanizing Our Professors:John Thornberry, Lecturer, Theatre and Dance
John Thornberry is a Lecturer at the Mariette Campus who is a part of the Department of Theatre and Dance. Hailing from Kentucky, Mr. Thornberry has earned a handful of degrees. He earned two Bachelor of Arts from Berea College, one for English and another for Theatre. At the University of Louisville, he acquired his greatest degree, Master of Fine Arts for Acting. He is currently helping run Theatre on the Bay as a director, designer, and technical director. On the side, he’s been working on a newer theatre company, Coastal Players, and has helped local high schools with their productions. Before that, he was across the United States in the Big Apple itself, New York City.For several years, Mr. Thornberry was a theatre stage manager on Broadway and Off-Broadway. He helped found two theatre companies in Manhattan which are still active to this day. Mr. Thornberry moved to Boulder, Colorado, and stayed there for more than a decade, working in several theatre companies as a director and designer, while also teaching film and theatre courses.As Mr. Thornberry has plenty of experience in directing, production, and teaching, he has a plethora of advice when it comes to a classroom environment. As he puts it, “Everyone—students and faculty alike—should be bringing their ‘A’ game to the classroom.” Students need to be ready to learn, not simply stand back and wait until class is done. It is on the instructor to be straightforward with their expectations, while also being consistent and fair with their students. Teachers should be adaptable with their students. For it to be productive, both the students and the instructors need to be energetic, positive, and ready to learn.Being a long-time performer, Mr. Thornberry has a few favorites when it comes to theatre. Currently, his sentimental favorite one is 1776. He always wanted to play John Adams in the play. He is also a very big fan of Thomas Kail’s direction of Hamilton. He has always wanted to direct Sunday in the Park with George, saying, “The first act of that show is one of the best constructed pieces of musical theatre that I know.” He is also a great admirer of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town and Tony Kushner’s Angels in America. Though, theatre isn’t the only thing that he enjoys. He has been a longtime fan of Star Trek ever since he was 11 years old! One of his all-time favorite quotes comes from Captain Picard himself. “Fear is an incompetent teacher. Yes, they have life, but no one is teaching them what it’s for. To be alive is a responsibility as well as a right.”
—Aidann Woodcock, Profiles Editor