Dedicated to advancing the creative work of Bill George — actor, playwright, director, producer — Theatre Artist.
original theatre that uplifts and transforms
original theatre that uplifts and transforms
The work these days is the most demanding and important I’ve ever attempted. What you see in my work is not so much an investigation of form or themes as it is an attempt to turn a cry of the heart into something beautiful and something useful. Come, you are invited: be uplifted if you will, be inspired — be a part of it.
The Long Winding Road
An English Literature degree from Lehigh University in hand, Bill studied for his MFA with the great Paul Baker at the Dallas Theater Center and went on to several years of study with the master, Paul Curtis, founding genius of the American Mime Theater in New York City. Co-founding People’s Theatre Company in 1976, he, his wife Bridget, and colleague Lorraine Zeller-Agostino went on to found Touchstone Theatre in 1981. Then, striking out on his own in 1990 to explore “theatre of transcendence”, Bill began Kingfisher Theatre, returning to Touchstone full-time in 2003. Now, roughly fifty years since the creative journey began–newly minted in 2022 as Touchstone’s first Ensemble Member Emeritus–he and Bridget, with their two children, Anisa and Sam, have established a cultural center, Little Pond Arts Retreat, as a refuge for artists and all who are interested in the intersection of creativity, spirituality, and harmony with Nature. It is here where Kingfisher Theatre resides and Bill has his home.
Little Pond rests on the ancestral lands of the Lenni-Lenape people, infamously swindled from them during the “Walking Purchase” of 1737.
on tour 2023-25: Odysseus
Odysseus, Bill’s magnificent and delightful rendition of Homer’s timeless epic, The Odyssey, will be available for performances and accompanying workshops from the Fall of 2023 through 2024 and into 2025.
What people are saying about THE PERFORMANCE…
Such an amazing accomplishment! Congratulations…so well done and remarkable. It was a marvel!
Roseann Bowerman, Lehigh University social Science Librarian, retired
I wanted to most sincerely tell you how amazing I thought your performance was last night. Stunning. This truly is your Odyssey, and I feel that I might diminish the work if I say any more. You are truly amazing. What an honor to be at the premier.
Laura lawrence, of Wdiy radio
We were thrilled… WOW! The whole piece was stunning. Bill is incredible at drawing the audience in with his powerful presence, his poetry that flows from his tongue, and his humility which is felt…
Robyn Hubbard, D.Min. (Doctor of Ministry)
Odysseus was a phenomenal accomplishment!
Jim West, Professor of Economics, Lehigh University and Moravian University
“Odysseus” is more than a tour de force. It is a monumental and important work that puts the follies of men (and women) through the lens of Ancient Greece. The journey is profound and fun in ways unexpected…
Paul Willistein, ABE Award to Odysseus for Best Original Play 2022
Linda and I were enchanted, enthralled, enraptured (running out of adjectives here…) by your magnificent performance last night. What a terrific tour-de-force! All best, and a thousand thanks for a wonderful evening of theater.
Larry Lipkis, Composer in Residence, Moravian University and member Baltimore Consort early music ensemble
a fewarchived works
…An ongoing fascination with the theatre of place, of enchantment, of transcendence
Walden (1990’s)
SteelBound (1999)
56 Photos & an old man dancing (2017)
SERVICES
Whether you’re interested in having Bill perform at your venue, collaborate on a project, adapt a text, act, direct, teach, or just make small talk–the possibilities are endless; get in touch at the contact information below or stop by and see us at Little Pond just outside of Nazareth, Pa–that’d be a joy.
The work
Life is Performance
Not to put too fine a point on it, let’s say it this way: The Theatre Artist looks at the empty space, perhaps as a visual artist looks at the blank canvas, and then fills it with movement, sound, story, character, language — informed by the zeitgeist, that particular space, the intended audience, and the capacities and biases of the creators. Below is a sampling of Bill’s range of work.
Original Works
Kingfisher’s Wing, The Marriage of Munirih Khánum, Poochi Learns to Ride a Bicycle, The Whitman Piece, Of Arrows and Roses
Community Based Productions
Don Quixote of Bethlehem, Produced and Adapted;
The Maafa, Co-Produced;
A Resting Place, Performed Dan Rice; Journey from the East, Co-wrote and Performed
Commissions
Mr. Bach Comes to Call, adapted and directed for the Bach Choir of Bethlehem and Classical Kids; 56 Photos and an Old Man Dancing, created and performed for Lehigh University Art Galleries
teaching
Acting,
Mask & Movement,
Pantomime,
Devised Work,
Organic Creation,
Theatre and Spirituality
Reading of The Hidden Seed at Touchstone Theatre, Bethlehem, Pa. Co-written with Seth Moglen and based on Seth’s manuscript. Produced for Touchstone’s Festival UnBound 2019.
upcoming performances:
The work load of a theatre artist requires not only keeping on top of the two or three projects that are “up next” in the calendar, but perhaps six to even ten others he must always be “getting ready for the fire”. Along with the upcoming performances on Bill’s calendar, he is presently working on, among other things, a possible film documentary, a children’s book, workshops of various sorts, a planned book on Touchstone Theatre and a new play on Emerson, Margaret Fuller, Frederick Douglass and The Dial.
Sept. 2023
Odysseus tour
Odysseus, Pig Iron Studios, Philadelphia. Sept. 6 – 10; lehigh university, Bethlehem, PA, Sept. 15, 16.
Sept. – Oct. 2023
TOUCHSTONE THEATRE
Most beautiful House maybe. Sept. 28, 29, 30, Oct 1 (Festival Unbound)
Nov. – Dec. 2023
TOUCHSTONE THEATRE
christmas city Follies. nov. 30 – dec 17
GET IN TOUCH
kingfish@fast.net
address
92 South Penn Dixie Rd., Nazareth, PA 18064
Call Us
610-570-1335
