Wesley Young

Philosophy and Focus: Wesley Young, MFA, strongly believes that true scholarship implies an inexhaustible curiosity about the world. Through teaching performance, he strives to create an environment that fosters this curiosity and instills in students a determination to explore, to know, to analyze, to apply, and, perhaps, most importantly, to imagine.

Background: Wesley grew up in Southcentral Kentucky, where in the early 1970s, there was little in the way of theatre. Once he discovered it, he knew he would be a part of this amazing art form. After working as a professional actor and helping found and run a theatre company, Young entered graduate school at The University of Alabama. It was there he discovered his love of teaching. Putting that with his passion for theatre, set him on the path to a career as an educator. This career is dedicated to imparting the joy and power of theatre to students.

Teaching: Here at Radford University, Wesley is the Head of Performance Studies. He has taught several classes across the performance curriculum. Much of his time these days is spent teaching the art of directing and mentoring young directors. He also regularly teaches improvisation. He is fascinated with the application of improv not only in acting training but to other disciplines as well. His work as a teacher and artist is strongly influenced by his studying, teaching, and exploring the many and varied applications of improvisation.

Research/Scholarship/Creative Work:  For many years, Wesley has served as artistic director of Porterfield Ensemble, producing and bringing theatre to schools and community venues throughout Virginia. With the Ensemble he wrote Powder, Pies, and a Place to Call Home. Other writings: Poe: Dark Genius, Troubled Life, and We Are From Her. He is also co-author, with Kathleen Harvey Harshberger, of Walk to Freedom: the Mary Draper Ingles Story. He has collaborated extensively with other disciplines across campus—coaching, staging simulations, producing, working with student choreographers and musicians. He also continues to direct and act professionally when possible. 

For more information about Wesley Young, please open the tabs below. If you would like a digital copy of his complete CV, please contact him at wyoung@radford.edu.