Jules Irving: Professor of Drama; Chair of Drama Department

Jules Irving. 1948. Professor of Drama; Chair of Drama Department. BA (1947) New York University; MA (1949) and advanced studies Stanford University. Irving taught theater history, acting, and directing. Besides directing campus theatre productions, Irving was involved in producing and directing the campus variety show Kampus Kapers during the 1950s, which spotlighted student talent including Johnny Mathis, Sheldon Feldner, Dan Sullivan, Jack Lang, Dale Ahlstorm, and Richard Vartanian. Irving and Herbert Blau met at NYU and later attended Stanford University. SF State faculty member Mark Harris described Irving as a “showman, flamboyant, impeccable in dress, invincible at poker [and] given to tears and sentiment.” Irving and Blau co-founded San Francisco’s Actors’ Workshop in a rented loft over a judo studio in 1952. It became a landmark regional repertory company that lasted until 1965, when the pair left to run New York City’s Lincoln Center Repertory Company. On May 16, 1965, Irving and Blau became the first recipients of San Francisco State’s Presidential Award for Distinguished Service. Died in 1979.