Porter, R. Russell (Robert Russell), 1908-1986.

R. Russell Porter served as Head of the University Theater and Chairman of the School of Communication Arts at the University of Denver, Denver, Colo. from 1964 to 1976. In addition to his teaching and administrative functions, Porter wrote, directed, and produced plays, operas and radio dramas. He also acted in plays and radio dramas. Many of his artistic endeavors were librettos written with Normand Lockwood who was composer-in-residence at the University of Denver from 1959-1968. These collaborative works include: Land of promise, a piano-vocal score (1960); Early dawn, an opera(1961); No more from thrones (1962); The wizard of Balzar, an operetta for children; The Hanging Judge, an opera (1964) written for the University of Denver Centennial celebration. Porter also wrote a play entitled, Shale oil.