Southeastern names Winter as artistic director of the Columbia Theatre
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University has named James Winter as artistic
director of the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts. The appointment stems from
the retirement of Southeastern Professor of Art History Roy Blackwood, who has served
in that capacity since 2011.
“My sincere thanks and admiration are extended to Professor Blackwood for his
steadfast commitment to our university, our students and to the Columbia Theatre,”
said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Tena L. Golding. “His dedication
to the university and to the arts is much appreciated.”
An associate professor of theatre, Winter, who became a Southeastern full-time
faculty member in 2005, holds a master of fine arts in acting from the University
of New Orleans and a bachelor of arts in theatre from Baldwin-Wallace University.
He is co-founder of two New Orleans theater companies - IMAGE and the Big Easy Award-winning
InSideOut.
“We are thrilled to welcome Professor Winter as Artistic Director of our beautiful
Columbia Theatre,” Golding said. “With his experience, energy and commitment to artistic
excellence, Jim is the perfect choice to lead the next era of the Columbia. His leadership
will position us well as we take next steps in growing our audience, expanding partnerships
and heightening the impact of the theater.”
Winter co-founded the Hammond Horror Festival, serving as its artistic director
for eight years, is a two-time recipient of the National Endowment for the Humanities
Endowed Professorship in Music and Dramatic Arts, and has received the Southeastern
President’s Award for Artistic Excellence. He has also served as Regional Vice-Chair
for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Prior to that, he was the
Louisiana State Chair for KCACTF.
A resident of Hammond, Winter has authored four theatre textbooks and published
several plays, which have been produced both nationally and internationally. He spent
eight years teaching script writing, acting, and directing in Edinburgh, Scotland
and Cork, Ireland for the University of New Orleans’ Low-Residency MFA Creative Writing
Program.
Prior to his academic career, Winter worked as a professional actor in New York
City. He has performed at Madison Square Garden, The John F. Kennedy Center for the
Performing Arts, The Hudson Guild, 13th Street Repertory Theatre, and in Ireland,
Scotland, and The People’s Republic of China.