The Nicholls theater director and assistant professor of mass communication will retire at the end of the semester. Stanley Coleman, who has directed the Nicholls Players in more than 20 productions since he arrived at Nicholls in 1999, will cap his directing career at the University with the upcoming performance of “The Diviners.”

His love of theater and music spans back to his early childhood, when he received a toy theater set and began taking piano lessons.

Coleman went to Dillard University, where he majored in theater, took piano and voice lessons and acted in numerous plays, including a few New Orleans Dashiki Theater presentations.

He later went to the University of Southwestern Louisiana to earn his master’s degree.

Coleman taught English, speech and drama at high schools in Eunice for 17 years. Then from 1990-1999 he taught theater and speech at Louisiana State University in Eunice.

Coleman said one of his favorite aspects of the theater has been to witness the professional growth of his students.

“I enjoy seeing students become more creative,” Coleman said. “I also enjoy seeing them develop the talents that they have so they can give quality performances.”

Coleman came to Thibodaux when he heard of an opening in the theater and speech department at the University.

“Nicholls had a reputation for doing great stage work,” Coleman said.

Once the Board of Regents abolished Nicholls’ theater major and minor, citing it as duplicative and lacking high enrollment, Coleman said he has seen a decline in student involvement.

“Many students work now, so we are losing students who could act in plays,” Coleman said. “We still get some who are devoted to it though.”

In 2003 he earned his doctorate in theater from LSU while still working at Nicholls.

James Stewart, associate professor of mass communication, said Coleman has worked well with the local school system to provide theater to the community.

“He has been a tremendous asset to community theater,” Stewart said. “Not just at Nicholls but the surrounding area as well.”

Stewart said there are a couple of reasons so many people have come to see plays directed by Coleman.

“His shows have had a high standard of production,” Stewart said. “The people that have come to see the plays have really enjoyed them.”

Christian Samaha, education graduate from Houma, said during the theater’s tough times, Coleman has been extremely resourceful.

“The first few plays I worked on with him, we hit rummage sales for costumes,” Samaha said. “He also gets as much donated from the community as he can.”

Samaha said Coleman genuinely cares about his students’ ability to improve their performance.

“He is a great teacher,” Samaha said. “He’s not just one of those directors that tells you what to do. He teaches you how something should be done.”

Samaha said Coleman is not only a great director but is also fun to watch perform.

“He is amazing to watch,” Samaha said. “He can get on stage and become anyone.”

Future goals Coleman has set for himself include reviving his own production about Paul Robeson, famous African-American civil rights activist, continuing to explore his music and working with professional theater companies.

As he prepares to leave the University, Coleman said he hopes that he has made an impact on his students over his career.

“I hope my students have more confidence in themselves,” Coleman said. “I hope I have passed on some experiences that will live with them for a lifetime.