Harper College will be closed Monday, December 23 through Wednesday, January 1 for Winter Break.
In August 2024, Harper College Professor Kevin Long was awarded the Illinois Theatre Association’s 2024 Award of Excellence in College/University Theatre. It is only his most recent accolade.
In 2015, he was nominated for a Tony Award for Excellence in Theatre Education. He is the co-author of the book Bring on the Bard, which offers expertise on how to draw students of all abilities into the work and world of William Shakespeare. And in 2018, Long received the Motorola Solutions Foundation Endowed Award for Teaching Excellence.
Each of these honors (among many more!) speak to his passion and expertise in the world of theatre. Perhaps most importantly, they speak loud and clear about the commitment he has to his students. When Long is not out spreading his love for theatre, you can find him spending time with his wife Lulia and cranking up the volume on Coldplay’s “A Sky Full of Stars.” Here are ten questions with Kevin Long.
Anytime I can get away with Lulia to spend quality time with her is a perfect day
for me (if it includes seeing live theatre together, that's a nice plus).
My father was my role model growing up. He was the manager of one of the bookstores
on the campus of Penn State University and was a hardworking man with a great moral
and ethical compass. He loved our family so much and always worked incredibly hard
to make sure that we had more opportunities in life than he had as a young man. He
also had a great sense of humor.
It would be pretty cool to be friends with The Doctor (from 'Doctor Who') so I could
travel through time and space.
“A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay. For me, it expresses all the feelings that come with truly being in
love.
My friends and I spent a lot of time in an arcade called Playland on the campus of
Penn State. We also spent many weekends at Sir Skate––the disco roller-skating rink.
I was also the "king of sweater vests."
I would love to adapt the movie "Waiting for Guffman" into a musical for the stage.
The movie is a hilarious mockumentary featuring a community theatre rehearsing and
performing an original musical they wrote to celebrate Blaine, Missouri’s sesquicentennial.
Anyone who has ever been involved in the "wild ride" of producing a theatrical production
will relate (and laugh so hard you will cry) to this movie/musical. Even if you have
never participated in the theatre, you will connect with the story.
London. I love the city, its history, landmarks, and, of course, connection to Shakespeare
and its theatre scene.
Why do we drive on a parkway, but park on a driveway?
I guess I might turn this around just a bit and say things that give me hope: Seeing
small children smiling, laughing and playing together. Seeing courage from other people.
Artists. And knowing that we are all connected.
The students. Our students are some of the most passionate and hardworking people I know. Not only are they working hard in my classes and on our stages, but they are also working as many hours as they can in order to pay for their education. This is why teaching is one of the most sacred professions. Our students expectantly turn their face to us. We are entrusted with their lives, their creative minds, and their artistic growth. Their trust in us demands to be reciprocated. And if we are really going to reciprocate, we have to bear a bit of our own soul. So being a teacher is also one of the most vulnerable professions. I am beyond grateful for all of the students I have worked with. You have helped my soul grow over the past 17 years at Harper College.