Perry Gethner

Perry Gethner, a Professor of French at Oklahoma State University, is one of the world’s leading experts on early modern French drama. His particular interests include the history of staging and acting conventions, the development of musical comedy and opera, religious plays, and the history of women playwrights. Perry has over 70 articles published on topics in these areas, not including book reviews and entries in reference works. He has published critical editions and translations of French plays by authors such as Jean Rotrou, Jean Mairet, Pierre Du Ryer, Thomas Corneille and Voltaire. His recent efforts have included collaborating on a five-volume anthology of French women playwrights covering the entire pre-Revolutionary period. He was active in the process of getting a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the most prestigious American academic honor society, established at OSU, and he was elected as the chapter's first president.

When Perry is not lecturing at OSU, grading papers or discovering the joys of various French plays, he is involved with practicing the piano, occasionally giving solo or chamber music concerts.