 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, A 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 seventeenth edition this coming June, 2009. For five years he also served on the faculty for Lexington Opera Society's Summer Opera Workshop. In August, 2009 Dr. Rodgers will write and direct his seventh addition of La Cabaret for the Lexington Singers.
KET Television has produced two of Dr. Rodgers' one acts. His published play and musical adaptations of It's A Wonderful Life, and Winnie the Pooh Christmas Tail have been performed in many theatres across the US, in Canada, and in Europe.
Since 1991, Dr. Rodgers has served as Adjudicator and Drama Consultant for Kentucky Chautaugua, a major program sponsored by the Kentucky Humanities Council, Inc.
In September, 2008, Dr. Rodgers wrote the book and lyrics for and directed the premiere production of A Penny's Worth of Character, an adaptation of a Jesse Stuart short story, at the Jesse Stuart Foundation Festival in Greenup County, Kentuckyl; music by Jay Flippen.
With his wife, Wanda, he wrote the book, "A Play Director's Survival Kit, A Comprehensive Guide for Producing Theatre in Schools or Community Settings."
In February, 2008 Dr. Rodgers coordinated the direction of the highly successful Our Lincoln, presented by the Kentucky Humanities Council, Inc. which included over 300 performers. That production has been revived and will tour to Washington D.C. to the Kennedy Centre for a performance on Monday, February 2, 2009.
In June, 2008, another musical review conceived and written by Dr. Rodgers (music by John Higgins), Oh, Henry! The Making of the Model T. Ford was performed in Richmond, IN as part of the Model "T" Ford Centennial Celebration.
Currently, Dr. Rodgers is working on two projects: the concept and libretto for an original opera (music by Joseph Baber) about Abraham Lincoln coming of age, entitled, "River of Time" which he will direct for UK Opera Theatre in Fall, 2009, and the concept, book and lyrics for a children's "Adventure in Music" entitled, "Abraham Lincoln: Shirt-Tail Boy From Kentucky," (music by Jay Flippin) which will begin touring Kentucky schools in February, 2009.
Dr. Rodgers and his wife reside in Versailles KY.
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