Craig Miller’s desire to perform is what initially drew him to the theater industry more than 20 years ago.
Now, the University of Idaho associate professor said it is his students who inspire him to continue his work.
“My favorite part of working here is the students,” Miller said. “I’m inspired by them every single day. When you come from the professional arena, it doesn’t always work that way.”
Jesse Dreikosen | Courtesy
Miller began his career by running the Houston Repertory Theater, which he founded with some colleagues after finishing graduate school. He ran the company for eight years.
Miller met Rob Caisley — currently a UI professor and head of the dramatic writing program — during their undergraduate years at Illinois State University.
Miller also had an existing professional relationship with another now UI professor, Jesse Dreikosen. He met Dreikosen, the head of design and technology, through their work at the Shakespeare Theater of New Jerseymand later worked together in Houston.
“When I started Texas Rep, Jesse came on as our resident scenic designer,” Miller said. “He stayed there in that position and designed most of the shows that I directed for sure, but a lot of the shows that we produced there (as well).”
Once he left the Houston Repertory Theater, Miller moved to Santa Rosa, California, to work as an artistic director at the Sixth Street Playhouse. Dreikosen followed.
“When Jesse started working with me at Sixth Street, he actually designed one of Rob’s shows. The two of them had never met each other before, so through our collaboration — me directing, Rob playwriting and Jesse designing — we all worked on a project together,” Miller said.
Eventually, Miller felt the need to return to the classroom. Both Caisley and Dreikosen — already working at UI — reached out to Miller when they heard he was looking for a change. A professorship with tenure had recently become available and the two thought Miller was the right candidate for the job.
“Theater is one of those industries where it’s who you know, not necessarily where the job is,” Miller said. “If you scratch other peoples’ backs, they’ll scratch yours.”
Miller, who arrived at UI in fall 2018, is in his second semester of teaching students.
Next August, he serve as head of directing for the theater department, teaching acting and directing classes in addition to mentoring Masters of Fine Arts students.
Miller said he feels grateful UI encourages faculty to continue working and exploring beyond their work at the university. Soon, he will travel back to Santa Rosa to direct the west-coast premiere of a new play, taking design student Jared Sorenson along with him.
But first, Miller has a show to direct at UI — “Present Laughter,” a play he describes as a “wonderful homage to people who love theater and who love coming to theater.”
“When you’re putting on a production, anything can go wrong, especially because it’s live. It’s not celluloid, it’s not film, it’s not something you can repeat verbatim every single time.” Miller said. “I think that ‘Present Laughter’ really embraces this notion of what it is to be an actor in the theater and to have an ego.”