Maguire Wilder ‘17 and Austin Short ‘11 are inducted into the Fine Arts Circle of Honor
On Thursday, April 5, Wesleyan School inducted Maguire Wilder ‘17 and Austin Short ‘11 in the Fine Arts Circle of Honor.
While at Wesleyan, Wilder performed in multiple theater productions including “The Good Doctor,” “The Apple Tree,” “Flowers for Algernon,” “The Canterbury Tales,” and “The Crucible.” She choreographed “The Apple Tree,” “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” “Hot Mikado,” “Godspell,” and “Kiss Me, Kate.” Wilder also helped direct “The Crucible” and served as stage manager for “Into the Woods,” “The Man who Came to Dinner,” and “Kiss Me, Kate.”
In addition to starring in, choreographing, and directing shows, Wilder was in the Shuler Ensemble for theater in 2016, received two Gold Key awards for scholastic photography in 2017, and won first place in informal portraiture for the Shutter Sense & Non-Sense Photography Contest. Wilder received the Wesleyan Fine Arts Award in 2017.
Upon graduating from Wesleyan, Wilder graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama. She also earned a Master of Studies in Creative Writing from the University of Cambridge. Since then, she has worked on more than 30 plays and musicals as a playwright, producer, and stage manager. Wilder currently lives in London, England and works as a writer, producer, dramaturg, and stage manager in both New York and London.
“So many experiences happened in these halls,” smiled Wilder when reflecting on her return to Wesleyan. “They forged me into a resilient, caring, compassionate person because you have no choice but to be that when you’re at Wesleyan.”
Joining Wilder in the Fine Arts Circle of Honor, Austin Short was a part of middle school and high school theater during his time at Wesleyan. In middle school, he participated in “The Fools,” “Annie,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “The Music Man,” “Holes,” and “The Hobbit.” In high school, he performed in “Revenge of the Space Pandas,” “Little Women,” “Pride and Prejudice,” “You Can’t Take It with You,” “A Man for All Seasons,” “Taming of the Shrew,” and “A Midsummers Night’s Dream.” He also played the conga in chapel band.
After Wesleyan, Short earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. After living in New York City for nine years, Short recently returned to Atlanta to continue producing documentaries.
“I love my career in the arts, and it started here at Wesleyan. The love I hold for this place goes beyond words... It was at Wesleyan that I first learned to be a creative person. You must take care of your mind, body, and spirit first in order for you to realize your immense power to create. This is what Wesleyan taught me,” Short reflects with gratitude.
Thank you, Maguire and Austin, for the ways you have served and encouraged our community, and congratulations on your induction into the Wesleyan Fine Arts Circle of Honor.
