Broadway actor joins ETSU as Basler Chair of Excellence

On a blustery day in late fall, Steve Maurice Jones invoked Shakespeare as he pondered the transformative power of performance in the very classroom he'll teach from in a matter of weeks. "We need to see our humanity reflected back at us," he said. "I think the theater allows us to view ourselves in that way." Jones, a New York-based actor, director and instructor who has graced stages in productions from "Hamlet" to "Romeo & Juliet," will serve as East Tennessee State University's 2026 Wayne G. Basler Chair of Excellence for the Integration of the Arts, Rhetoric and Science. The appointment brings a world-class artist to campus this semester, one whose career embodies the intersection of classical training and the belief that everyone, regardless of background, deserves to command a stage. From Broadway to the Blue Ridge Jones arrives at ETSU with credentials that read like a theater lover's dream. As co-head of Acting at the world-renowned Stella Adler Studio, he has spent years shaping the next generation of performers. His Broadway credits include "The Lifespan of a Fact," "Saint Joan," "The Cherry Orchard" and "Julius Caesar." Critics have taken notice. The Wall Street Journal called his performance in the title role of "Hamlet" "flat-out spectacular," adding that he spoke "Shakespeare's verse with hot clarity and moving like an athlete at the peak of his youthful form." The transformation happens in the room Jones has witnessed countless students discover capabilities they never knew they possessed. "I have the incredible experience of watching people go from shy and timid and hesitant, hiding in the corner, to showing them what they are capable of when they open themselves up, when they step into a room with you, when they allow themselves to be messy and seen," he said. Students consistently tell Jones that even if they don't pursue professional performance, the training fundamentally changed how they understand themselves. Learning across disciplines The Basler Chair position allows Jones to collaborate across ETSU's campus in ways that excite him as both artist and educator. He'll work with Dr. Josh Reid in the Department of Literature and Language, bringing Shakespeare from text analysis to performance. He plans to sit in on classes across disciplines, absorbing knowledge that can inform his own artistic work. "A chemistry teacher may have to teach me about the alchemy that Shakespeare was writing about. An astronomy student may have to say something about planetary alignment that gives me insight into how to tell stories," Jones said. "As an artist, you want to remain open to learning as much as you can about everything that you can." Jones will also direct ETSU's spring mainstage production of "Passage" by Christopher Chen, a meditation on how power imbalances affect personal and interpersonal dynamics. According to Cara Harker, professor and interim chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance, Jones's residency represents exactly what the Basler Chair was designed to achieve. "His insights and expertise as a theater and film actor, Shakespeare scholar, play director and acting instructor will be an inspiration," Harker said. An afternoon with Steve Maurice Jones The community will have its first opportunity to meet Jones at a public event on Wednesday, Jan. 21, from 2-3:30 p.m. in the East Tennessee Room of the D.P. Culp Student Center. Harker will introduce Jones, who will discuss his journey as a performing artist, followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience. The event is free and open to the public. The Basler Chair, established in the 1990s, is a prestigious university post designed to bring distinguished scholars to ETSU, enriching both the academic and local community through lectures, workshops and innovative ideas. "Steve Maurice Jones exemplifies the spirit of the Basler Chair by bringing world-class artistic excellence into meaningful conversation with teaching, scholarship and the broader campus community," said ETSU Provost Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle. "His work invites students across disciplines to engage more deeply with creativity, empathy and the shared human experience."