Feature Stories
Max R. Bush, '72
Playwright, director, and educator Max Bush has been awarded several
honors including the Distinguished Play Awards in 1990 and 2002, and
the Charlotte Chorpening Cup in 1995. His work includes several plays,
publications, and commissions that have been produced and performed
all over the country.
In 1996, Bush met with the Water
Resource Institute to discuss creating an educational theatric show
that would focus on the water quality issues in Bear Creek, a river in
the northern Michigan region of Emmet County. The shows would be
performed by the Bear Creek Players. He wanted the show to appeal to
children and family audiences and be entertaining as well as
educational. The information included how to care for Bear Creek as
well as how the hydrologic cycle works. Funded by the Water Resource
Institute, the Bear Creek Players performed for four years.
Also during this time, Bush and the Grand Valley State University
theatre department developed the National New Plays Competition. The
program brought in scripts from all over the country which were judged
by Grand Valley faculty. The winning scripts were performed during the
Shakespeare Festival.
Bush is also credited with developing
a high school tour as part of the Grand Valley State University
Theatre Department’s Shakespeare Festival. With Jo Miller, the
festival’s dramaturg, they created an informal yet compelling hour of
Shakespeare.
Bush Graduated from Grand Valley with a
bachelor’s degree in English with a secondary teaching certificate.
His education continued at Michigan State University where in 1985, he
earned a master’s of fine arts in directing. Before attending graduate
school, he taught English, psychology, and theatre at Marshal High
School. He currently resides in Hamilton.
Laker Voices Video: Max Bush, '72
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