Dr. James W. Rodgers has been actively involved in theatre for over fifty years as a university professor, administrator, published playwright and author, director, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, and retired Chairman of Theatre at the University of Kentucky.  He has directed over 150 productions for professional, university, and community theatres.  For the past several years he has been a guest director for the UK Opera Theatre.  His recent productions include The Little Prince, Carousel, Streetcar Named Desire, La Traviata and eight productions of Amahl and the Night Visitors.  With Everett McCorvey, he co-founded Grand Night for Singing which will present its sixteenth edition this coming June.  For five years he served on the faculty for Lexington Opera Society’s Summer Opera Workshop.  Dr. Rodgers has also written and directed six reviews for Lexington Singers’ La Cabaret.  This years review featured the music and lyrics of George and Ira Gershwin.  Two of Dr. Rodgers’ one acts were commissioned and produced by KET television, and his published play and musical adaptations of It’s A Wonderful Life, and Winnie the Pooh Christmas Tail have been performed across the US, in Canada, and in Europe.  For the Kentucky Humanities Council he served as Adjudicator and Drama Consultant for Kentucky Chautaugua since its inception in 1991.  With his wife, Wanda, he wrote the book Play Director’s Survival Kit, A Comprehensive Guide for Producing Theatre in Schools or Community Settings.  In February of this year, Dr. Rodgers coordinated the direction of the highly successful Our Lincoln, presented by the Kentucky Humantities Council, Inc. which included over 300 performers.  Currently, he is working on four projects:  the concept and libretto for an original opera (music by Joseph Baber) about Abraham Lincoln coming of age, entitled, River of Time which will be produced by UK Opera Theatre in Fall, 2009; the book and lyrics for a family musical, A Penny Wiser (music by Jay Flippen) based on a short story by Jesse Stuart, which will premiere this summer at the Jesse Stuart Foundation Festival in Greenup County; a revival of Oh! Henry! to be performed this summer as part of the Model “T” Ford Centennial in Richmond, IN and the concept book and lyrics for a children’s “Mini Opera,” Abraham Lincoln: “Shirt-Tail” Boy From Kentucky, which will tour Kentucky schools beginning January, 2009.