Peter Sargent

A native of Massachusetts, Peter Sargent developed his interest in lighting after helping his father who worked for Sylvania in Boston and did theatrical lighting on the side. Sargent earned a BFA from Carnegie Institute of Technology and a MFA from Yale University.

 

Webster College (later Webster University) established the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis in 1966. Peter Sargent came to Webster that same year to serve as resident lighting director. He would go on to become assistant to the Rep's artistic director, chair of the Theater Arts Department, and in 1995, the first ever Dean of the College of Fine Arts (now Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts). In November 2018, Sargent announced his decision to step down as Dean at the close of the 2018-2019 academic year. He passed away on November 27, 2019.

 

Sargent's accomplishments in teaching and production lighting have been honored by various organizations as indicated below.

 

Honors, awards, & career highlights

 

Gold Medallion for Outstanding Contribution to College Theatre, Amoco Foundation

 

College of Fellows of the American Theatre, 2003

 

Lifetime Achievement Award, Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis, 2014

 

Lifetime Achievement Award, Educational Theatre Association, 2017

 

President’s Award, International Thespian Society, 1988

 

Leadership in the Arts Award, Missouri Arts Council, 2014

 

Honorary Member, Omicron Delta Kappa

 

First SMA special award for Achievement in State Management Education, Stage Managers' Association, 2018

 

Thomas DeGaetani Award for outstanding lifetime contribution to the performing arts or entertainment industry, United States Institute for Theatre Technology, 2017

 

Lifetime of Achievement in the Arts Award, Webster Groves Arts Commission, 2014.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

 

Hancock, Sierra. (2014, October 14). Webster's "Man in Plaid" Peter Sargent wins Lifetime Achievement Award. The Journal.

 

Homan, Becky. (1989, June 11). His password: Plaid. St. Louis Post-Dispatch Magazine, p. 20-21.

 

McMunn, Andrew. (2017, November 22). Peter Sargent, founder of Conservatory, receives lifetime achievement award. The Journal.

 

Murphy, Julie. (2014, January 3). St. Louis character: a Sargent of the theater. St. Louis Business Journal.

 

Peter Sargent, Alice Gerdine honored for contributions to the arts. (2003, Spring). Webster World, vol. 8, no. 4, p. 32.

 

Peter Sargent to step down as Dean of Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts after 25 years. (2018, November 21). Webster Today.

 

Picha, Kevin D. (1995, August 31-September 6). Webster appoints Sargent Dean of College of Fine Arts. The Journal, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 1, 4.

 

Remembering Dean Emeritus Peter Sargent. (2019, November 27). Webster University News.

 

Sargent, Stage Management program honored by SMA. (2018, September 26). Webster Today.

 

Shanks, Holly. (2014, February 12). Dean of College of Fine Arts Peter Sargent honored with Leadership in Arts. The Journal.

 

Shapiro, Mary. (2014, October 3). Peter Sargent: a lifetime devoted to the arts. Webster-Kirkwood Times.

 

Truckey, Sarah. (2005, Fall). Peter Sargent: Keeping things plaid and simple. The Ampersand, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 34-35.