Donald G. Williams is a producer, director, educator, technical advisor, and lecturer at the University of California, Santa Cruz and Cabrillo College. Williams has presented plays, presentations, and workshops throughout California. He is a member of the California Educational Theater Association, Black Theater Network, National Black Theater Festival, United States Institute of Theater Technology and NAACP. Williams has been teaching at UCSC for 28 years within the UCSC Theater Arts. He is the founder and director of the UCSC African American Theater Arts Troupe in 1991 and producer of Rainbow Theater in 1993, focusing on African Americans, Asian Americans, and Chicanx/ Latinx Americans' culture and experiences.
University of CA Santa Cruz
2007-present Lecturer, Introduction to African American Theater UCSC Theater Arts
1997-98 Co-Lecturer, Theater of Diversity: Crossing Cultural Divides
1996-94 Lecturer, Introduction to African American Theater
1994-Present Lecturer, Introduction to Rainbow Theater
2005- Present Lecturer, Rainbow Theater Cultural Studies
1988-94 Mentor/Consultant, Stevenson College Theater Guilds
1988-95 Producer/Director, Annual Casa Primera & Casa Segunda Talent Show
2008-11 Producer/Director, KCAB Radio Hour 1940's Radio Drama
Cabrillo Community College
2008-11 Producer/Director, KCAB Radio Hour 1940's Radio Drama
2010 Instructor/Director, Theater Arts 85 Production Class
2003-present Lecturer, Narrative Performance
2002-present Lecturer, Introduction to Acting
Director
2020 Skeleton Crew, Dominique Morisseau, UCSC Second Stage; Monterey Peninsula College (MPC.)
2019 Crowns, Regina Taylor, UCSC Second Stage; MPC.
2018 A Raisin In The Sun, Lorraine Hansberry, UCSC Second Stage; MPC
2017 Detroit 67, Dominique Morisseau, UCSC Second Stage; MPC
2016 Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, August Wilson, UCSC Event Center; Monterey Peninsula College; Cabrillo College
2015 Black Eagles, Leslie Lee, UCSC Stevenson Event Center; Oldemeyer Community Center (OCC); Cabrillo College
2014 To Be Young Gifted, Beautiful and Black, Lorriane Hansberry, UCSC Stevenson Event Center; Oldemeyer Community Center
2013 The Amen Corner, James Baldwin, UCSC Main Stage; Oldemeyer Community Center
2012 Ruined, Lynn Nottage, UCSC Second Stage; Oldemeyer Community Center
2011 American Menu, Don Wilson Glen, UCSC Experimental Theater; Oldemeyer Community Center; Santa Cruz High School
2010 These People Can Fly, Deborah Ferguson, UCSC Main Stage; MPC; OCC
2009 The Piano Lesson, August Wilson, UCSC Main Stage; OCC; Santa Cruz High School
2008 The Trial of One Short-Sighted Black Woman vs. Mammy Louise and Safreeta Mae, Karani Marcia Leslie, UCSC Stevenson College; OCC.
2006 Don’t Get God Started, Ron Milner, UCSC Second Stage; OCC
2005 Steal Away, Ramona King UCSC Main Stage; Oldemeyer Community Center
Urban Transitions: Loose Blossoms, Ron Milner, UCSC Experimental Theater; Santa Cruz High School; MPC
2004-11 KCAB Radio Hour: 1940's Radio Drama, Cabrillo College; toured six convalescent homes in Santa Cruz/Watsonville, CA
Ceremonies in Dark Old Men, Lonnie Elder III, UCSC Second Stage; Cabrillo College; Monterey Peninsula College
2003 Seven Guitars, August Wilson, UCSC Second Stage; Cabrillo College; Monterey Peninsula College; Hartnell Community College; Louden Nelson Community Center
2002 Before It Hits Home, Cheryl West, UCSC Second Stage; King Middle School; Hartnell Community College; Louden Nelson Community Center
The Meeting, Actors Showcase Theater, Eight Tens @Eight – ten-minute play festival
Liberty Lost…Lessons in Loyalty, Veteran's Hall, Watsonville, CA
2001 Blues for An Alabama Sky, Pearl Cleage, UCSC; MPC
2000 A Long Time Since Yesterday, P.J. Gibson UCSC; MPC.
1999 Gods Trombones, James Weldon Johnson, UCSC Second Stage; MPC; LCC
1998 An' Push the Wind Down, Lisa Harper, UCSC Stevenson & Crown College
1998 Fences, August Wilson, UCSC Stevenson College; Monterey Peninsula College
1997 A Soldier's Play, Charles Fuller, UCSC Second Stage; MPC; LCC
1996 Conduct of Life, Maria Irene Fornes, UCSC Stevenson College; Rainbow Theater
Building Bridges, African American Theater Arts Troupe, Oldemeyer Center,
Tambourines to Glory, Langston Hughes, UCSC Mainstage Theater;
Louden Nelson Center; Oldemeyer Community Center
1995 Walking with the Blues, African Theater Arts Troupe, Life of Robert Lowery, Oldemeyer Center, Seaside, CA
Once in a Wifetime, Celeste Walker, UCSC Concert Hall; Louden
Nelson Center; Oldemeyer Community Center
1994 Wine in the Wilderness, Alice Childress, UCSC Porter College (co-directed)
Joe Turner's Come And Gone, August Wilson, UCSC Stevenson College; Louden Nelson Center; Cabrillo College
1993 Amen Corner, James Baldwin, UCSC Stevenson College; Louden
Nelson Community Center
Streamers, David Rabe, UCSC Stevenson College
1992 Ceremonies In Dark Old Men, Lonnie Elder III, UCSC Stevenson College
1982 For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When The Rainbow is
Enuf, Ntozake Shange, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (co-directed)
1976 Going to Buffalo, Ed Bullins, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI
Producer
1993-94 Rainbow Theater, UCSC Stevenson College
2008 Killa Dilla, Oyamo, UCSC Stevenson Center
1997 A Soldier's Story, Charles Fuller, UCSC Second Stage; Louden Nelson Center; MPC
1983 Dutchmen, Leroy Jones /Amiri Barraka, University of Southern California
1979 In The Wine Time, Ed Bullins, Michigan State University
1978 Ceremonies in Dark Old Men, Lonnie Elder III, Lansing Community College
No Place To Be Somebody, Charles Gordone, Lansing Community College
Streamers, David Rabe, Lansing Community College
1976 Black Sentinel, 101% Theater Company, Michigan State University,
1976 Nuts, James Faulkner, Lansing Community College, Boarshead Theater
1975 Dutchmen, Leroy Jones Barraka, Michigan State University
Sound Designer
1986 Buried Child, Sam Shepherd, Bing Theater, USC.
The Sea Gull, Anton Chekhov, Bing Theater, USC.
1985 Seascape, Edward Albee, Bing Theater, USC.
You Can't Take It With You, Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, Stop
Gap Theater, USC. Bing Theater
1984 Candide, Bing Theater, USC.
Hedda Gabler, Henrik Ibsen, Main Theater, USC.
The Master Builder, Henrik Ibsen, Green Room Theater, U.S.C.
The Moon is Blue, F. Hugh Herbert, Green Room Theater, USC
1983 Fool For Love, Sam Shepherd, Stop Gap Theater, USC.
The Hot L Baltimore, Lanford Wilson, Stop Gap Theater, USC.
The Zoo Story, Edward Albee, Green Room Theater, USC.
1982 The Cherry Orchard, Anton Chekhov, U.S.C. Bing Theater
1985 Born A Unicorn, Ted Lange, Inner-city Cultural Center, Los Angeles,
2019 Mayor Proclamation, City of Santa Cruz, Rainbow Theater
2015 Senior Class Recognition, UCSC African American Graduating Class
2013 25 Years Outstanding Service Award, UCSC
2011 Achievement Award, Rainbow Theater The American College Theater Festival
UCSC Chancellor's Achievement Award for Diversity
2008 Presenter for Annual National Conference for Race & Ethnicity in American Higher Education in Miami, Florida
2008 20 Years of Service Award, SOMECA
2007 Certificate from NASPA Multicultural Institute
2004 Senior Class Recognition, UCSC African American Graduating Class
2003 Cal Grant Recipient
2002 Cal Grant Recipient
1997 Best Cultural Event - Rainbow Theater
1997 Best Publicity/Outreach - African American Theater Arts Troupe
1996-97 Hewlett Foundation Grant For Rainbow Theater
1995 Meritorious Achievement Award, American College Theater Festival
1995-96 African American Theater Award (Leadership), AASL.
1995 Rainbow Theater Award, UCSC Student Affairs
1994 Senior Class Recognition, UCSC African American Graduating Class
1994-93 Senior Class Recognition, UCSC African American Graduating Class
1993-92 Event of the Year Award, African American Student Life
1992 The "Lifting As We Climb" Service Award, African American Student Li
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University of CA Santa Cruz
Cultural Arts & Diversity
Stevenson College
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