1.
November
3,
2015
To
Whom
It
May
Concern:
Brad
Johnson
has
asked
that
I
write
a
letter
commenting
on
his
writing
skills
in
support
of
his
application.
I
am
more
than
pleased
to
honor
his
request.
Brad
wrote
a
feature
story
about
me
on
the
evolution
of
my
career
in
theatre
from
actor
to
professor
spanning
the
1960s
to
the
present.
The
conceit
of
the
paper
is
couched
in
the
form
of
the
actor
intersected
with
the
cultural
cross
currents
drawn
from
my
own
personal
and
professional
experiences.
Though
a
modest
essay
it
does
creatively
yet
accurately
frame
what
we
talked
about
in
our
interview
(a
tribute
to
his
discerning
listening
skills
which
more
than
a
few
seasoned
professional
writers/reporters
lack!).
Further
he
created
a
scaffold
on
which
to
hang
the
narrative
of
our
discussion.
It
demonstrates
the
skill
of
an
emerging
writer
who
will,
I
believe,
continue
to
grow
under
the
right
mentorship.
Brad’s
other
work,
a
brief
essay
on
Samuel
Beckett’s
brilliant
play
Endgame,
captures
fundamental
elements
of
this
elusive,
absurdist
work;
one
facet
being
the
confrontation
of
one’s
true
nature.
The
themes
in
this
complex
dramatic
piece
do
not
yield
up
their
secrets
easily.
In
his
essay
Brad
captured
the
central
metaphor
of
this
play,
that
of
life
as
a
game.
Brad
is
in
possession
of
fine
writing
skills
that
will
only
continue
to
grow
and
mature
in
the
coming
years.
I
am
happy
to
further
discuss
this
letter
and
Brad’s
writing
skills
at
your
convenience.
Sincerely,
John
R.
Poole,
PhD
Illinois
State
University
309-­‐438-­‐3884
Email:
jrpoole@ilstu.edu