By
Shaun Clayton
Arizona Daily Wildcat
For Harold Dixon, stepping onto the stage of the UA Laboratory Theatre as King Lear is a welcome change from the past and perhaps a tentative farewell for the future.
Dixon's upcoming sabbatical has given him the opportunity to return to the stage as a performer. "King Lear" showcases Dixon in the ideal lead role, and an opportunity for the theater department to go out on a limb and produce an untraditional play.
"I haven't acted here at the university with students for a long, long time because we have such a big student enrollment that we generally don't want (faculty) to do a part during the academic year," Dixon said. "You would for a part like this because you wouldn't do this play without someone in mind for King Lear because he has to be older, and I am older than all the students."
For 20 years, Dixon was head of the acting and directing program at the University of Arizona and the artistic director of the Arizona Repertory Theatre. In May, he stepped down from both programs, handing the reins over to the UA professor and director of "Lear," Brent Gibbs.
Next year, Dixon will take a sabbatical leave, followed by a year of teaching and contemplation of retirement.
Though this is the first time he has performed at the UA in a while, Dixon has kept busy with productions outside of the university. In December, he played Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" with the Phoenix Symphony, and was the narrator in "Side by Side by Sondheim" for Music Theatre Arizona in February. He also directed "Intimate Letters," an off-Broadway play in New York, which utilized a quartet from the Czech Republic.
Dixon said his life became hectic during the coinciding "King Lear," "Side by Side by Sondheim" and "Intimate Letters."
"For a time, three shows overlapped, so I was a crazy fool. The schedule wasn't originally as planned - some of the dates got changed for one of the shows, so things kind of piled up. So, for me it was crazy," he said.
Moreover, Dixon is now performing with his own acting students, which he said is more difficult than acting in the professional world.
"With (professionals), you know, it's just work, and you just kind of take on the challenge of whatever the part is," he said. "However, with your students there, I'm their acting teacher for most of them, so you don't want to mess up. It is more nerve-wrecking to do this than a normal, professional gig, I think."
Dixon, however, said he likes the challenge of performing alongside his students.
"I think it's good for me to put my money where my mouth is, you know?" he said.
Despite the trials, tribulations and thoughts about retirement, Dixon's experience with "Lear" is a rewarding one.
"I'm having a great time," he said.
