By Bernadette Pieper
At a young age, Richard Burk (Rich) thought he would be a fireman when he grew up and his brother would be a policeman. However, his mind was changed when he was a junior in high school and his English teacher talked him into auditioning for a play. Burk said he was cast as Peter Van Daan in the play, which changed his mind about his future career. A friend who also participated in theater and who was a year ahead of him in college encouraged him to go into theater at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. There, Burk studied drama and theater. He then earned his master’s degree in acting from the University of Illinois.
Burk is now an instructor for the department of theater and director of many of the shows produced at Casper College. Burk will be retiring in May from instructing at Casper College.
He said, “I believe that all great actors are introverts. And because they’re introverts, they know that they have to fit into various different worlds. So they have learned to effort their way of introversion so they can do the job of the actor—to bring a character to life.”
Burk talked about how he too was shy and introverted and that acting helped him to get out of being shy and introverted. He never thought that he was going to be an actor. He is an actor but also a director and directs a lot of the plays that are done at the college.
Burk stated, “I like directing because it’s coordinating a whole group of people in one common journey, and I am acting all of the roles. And I like acting because it’s all on me to do what I have to do create the character moving forward so that everybody in this group can move forward in the same journey.”
Chontelle Gray, a theater instructor at CC, talked about the teamwork aspect of working in theater. She said in theater, the team works together to help create a show. According to Gray, theater is a collaborative job because not just one person can instruct and help all of the actors, the scenes, backgrounds, backdrops, setting, and all of the other things that go with acting. Multiple people work together to create it. While Burk spends much of his time directing, he is willing to work with the other instructors to help create a good show for the audience.
Gray said, “You can tell that he really enjoys being a director. He has a lot of fun when he directs.”
Even though Burk is a director and an instructor at the college, he still finds time to act. Last year he acted in a film, and he is currently acting in a local independent film. He got the acting part in the film “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” last year because a student got sick.
“I teach so I am acting every day,” Burk said of his role as a theater instructor. “I like both acting and directing.”
Gray talked about how Burk comes from a diverse background that helps with theater. She said he is skilled in movement, fight choreography, scenic background, and more. Gray explained that Burk’s background is helpful when another instructor is in trouble, as Burk can offer assistance. There are also times when instructors and staff can swap positions and do the other person’s job for a scene or part of the performance.
Such performances require the instructor’s full attention. So, Burk said he is still more focused on teaching the students and will worry about what he will do during retirement when it comes.
“I have been spending my intellectual energy and time being a Casper College faculty member, which is worthy in itself,” Burk said.
Burk talked about how he does not know what he is going to do in his retirement because he will not be on a strict schedule working in an academic year. He knows that he wants to travel, maybe do some acting, directing, writing, and much more. Burk said he is interested in helping to solve problems that exist today that need to be discussed, like human inequity.
Burk said he once read that stuck with him. He applies the quote to his life. It reads, “Your goal in life should be simple — do your best today, and if you wake up tomorrow, do the best you can do that day…”
As he wraps up his final semester, Burk continues to teach and help students learn about drama, theater, acting, and much more. Even in retirement, Burk said he will make it a point to come support and watch the shows at CC, but he will let the new instructor do the instructing.
As Burk taught throughout his career, he said he always shares a specific message with his students.
He says, “Excellence can be attained by you if: One, you care more than others think is wise. Two, you risk more than others think is safe. Three, you dream more than others think is practical. Four, you expect more than others think is possible,” Burk said.