Arthur Holmberg, the Blanche, Barbara and Irving Laurie Professor of Theater Arts at Brandeis University, has died at the age of 80.
An email sent to the Brandeis community by Carol Fierke, the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, on Jan. 22 announced his tragic passing. According to Fierke, Holmberg died on Jan. 14, at home in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
According to Fierke, Holmberg, who grew up in Chicago and rural Illinois, studied at Northwestern University and Harvard, earning a PhD in Comparative Literature from the latter. In 1994, he first joined the Brandeis faculty as a member of the Theater Arts Department. “Over the course of his six-decade career in academia and professional theater, he taught a wide range of courses in English, French, Spanish, comparative literature, film, dramatic literature, theater history, dramaturgy, critical writing, and men’s studies”, the email continues. “His classes were known for his captivating lectures and discussions, which interwove theory and practice, and drew from his expansive knowledge of dramatic literature, performance and theater history.”
Among Holmberg’s many accomplishments are writing the books “The Theatre of Robert Wilson”, ”David Mamet and American Macho” and “David Mamet and Male Friendship.” He served as an editor of “The World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre” and “The Lively ART: Reflections on Twenty Years of the American Repertory Theatre.” In addition, Holmberg received various honors, including the National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship. Holmberg also “served for many years as the Literary Director and Dramaturg at the American Repertory Theater (ART).” He collaborated closely with many important directors and creatives, “including Robert Wilson, David Mamet, Philip Glass, and Anne Bogart”.
“Having taught generations of undergraduate and graduate students, Arthur had a profound respect for his students’ creativity, insights, and work in the theater,” Fierke concluded. “His lectures were distinguished by erudition, wit and a hands-on experience with the theatrical process. Arthur’s dedication to the life of the mind, and his belief in the importance of the arts, inspired his students, colleagues, and friends. He will be deeply missed by the Brandeis community.”
