Ivy Tech names actor Paul Daily artistic director of John Waldron Arts Center

August 3, 2010

Bloomington, Ind. – Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington has named actor Paul Daily the artistic director of the John Waldron Arts Center. Daily comes to Ivy Tech’s John Waldron Arts Center from the New York acting scene, where he performed in more than two dozen plays and films.

Daily was nominated for and named as “Outstanding Lead Actor” for the Planet Connections Theater Festival, for which he performed during the summer of 2010 in New York. The awards ceremony was held on August 1. Daily was cast in “The Manhattan Project”, which also took Overall Outstanding Production of a New Play.

Chancellor John Whikehart congratulated Daily on his acting award and says that he is thrilled to have Paul lead the Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center. “I want to congratulate Paul on winning outstanding lead actor, as it is exceptionally difficult to get a nomination for the New York Planet Connections Theater Festival since over 600 actors participate in the summer season,” Whikehart said. “Paul brings impressive experiences in performing arts and entrepreneurship to the Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center, and those skills will help to strengthen and expand college partnerships and performance arts in the community.”

In 2005, Daily co-founded Rabbit Hole Ensemble (www.rabbitholeensemble.com) based in Brooklyn, which currently performs in both Brooklyn and Manhattan. Rabbit Hole applies a minimalist approach to theater, with the focus on the performer. Here’s what one review from www.offoffonline.com said about a Rabbit Hole Ensemble production titled “The Transformation of Dr. Jekyll”: “Paul Daily captures Jekyll’s inner turmoil, perfectly embodying his tortured journey into madness. Daily contorts his body, shades his voice, and displays the physical and emotional pain of the character’s transformation … Rabbit Hole Ensemble is clearly worth keeping an eye on.”

Daily says that the Waldron is a fantastic space with potential to impress visitors. “Ivy Tech is going to make this space more inviting, more welcoming and more comfortable,” Daily said. “We are going to make this a place that people don’t want to leave.”

Daily graduated from IU Bloomington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Drama. Daily’s special skills in acting include biomechanics, stage combat, nunchuka, soccer, karate, yoga, racquetball, and SCUBA.

Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public post-secondary institution and the nation’s largest singly-accredited statewide community college system with more than 150,000 students enrolled annually.  Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana.  It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana.  It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.