Michael Carl Buchwald

A cherished son, husband, father, brother, and grandfather, Michael Carl Buchwald, was a member of the faculty of the University of Oklahoma School of Drama for 40 years.

He is survived by his wife, Catherine C. Buchwald; his mother, Loraine Buchwald; two children, Christopher Buchwald and Michelle Moore; one sister, Leslie Kise; one brother, Keith Buchwald; and three grandchildren, Alan Gilstrap, Alexander Moore, and Nicholas Moore.

Professor Buchwald was a beloved teacher at the University, where he supervised costume design and construction for the School of Drama and other fine arts productions.  He estimated that he participated as designer or director in the production of over 300 plays, ballets, musicals, and operas for the University and more than 200 at other venues such as the Southwest Repertory Theater, Sante Fe, New Mexico, where he was artistic director.

Professor Buchwald received many awards for his teaching and his highly creative and historically informed designs.  These included the School of Drama’s Teacher of the Year and the University Regents’ Award for Superior Teaching.  He was elevated to the rank of David Ross Boyd Presidential Professor. His design work earned awards from the American College Theater Festival, held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Helen Forrest Lauterer Costume Design Award among many others.  He also received the Rupel J. Jones Directing Award.  Professor Buchwald’s many students work in academia and in professional theaters throughout the United States.