Posted on March 12, 2004 at 9:13 a.m.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Ward Haarbauer, Ph.D., associate dean of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Arts and Humanities, was awarded the Suzanne M. Davis Memorial Award at the recent Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC), held March 3-7 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The award is regarded as the highest honor bestowed by the SETC and recognizes outstanding service over an extended number of years. Haarbauer is the 40th recipient of the award.

“We are, of course, proud of Ward and all that he has done for theatre at UAB and throughout the region,” said Marc Powers, chairman of the UAB Department of Theatre. “It’s wonderful to see that recognition is more widespread.”

Haarbauer grew up in Alabama and earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the University of Alabama in the 1960s. One of his first professional theatrical jobs was on the light crew at “Horn in the West,” an outdoor drama in Boone, North Carolina. He later became director of the show. Haarbauer earned his Ph.D. in theater at the University of Wisconsin and, after returning to Alabama, joined the faculty at UAB. He was chairman of the UAB Department of Theatre for many years. He has directed at least 50 productions in the Birmingham area, including classical, modern, original and children’s plays.

Haarbauer already has begun preparing for his next project, directing “Antigone” for UAB Theatre’s 2004-2005 season.

Visit the UAB Department of Theatre at www.uab.edu/cas/theatre.