Many consider Perry Morgan the founding father of NJACT. By creating the AVY Awards in 1973, which eventually became the Perry Awards, Perry Morgan created a movement in the New Jersey theater community that thrives today. Each year at the Perry Awards Gala, we celebrate not only outstanding artistic achievement but the sense of pride and community that started with Perry Morgan and his friends over 50 years ago.

Today, Wm. Perry Morgan is a freelance stage director. His credits include Texas Shakespeare Festival, Riverside Shakespeare, Playhouse On The Square, The Clinton Area Showboat Theatre, Barter Theatre, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, Bigfork Summer Playhouse, Cane River Rep, The Rep in Little Rock, and Summerblue on the gorgeous shores of Lake Superior in Minnesota. He also staged the very successful tour of The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me for Fish Tank Productions. A proud member of AEA, Mr. Morgan began his professional acting career opposite his sister Nancy in The Challenge of the Cross. He is a graduate of Long Island University (BFA – Music/Theatre and MS-Education), The Actor’s Institute Mastery Program (NYC), and Naropa University (MFA-Contemporary Theatre Performance). Perry served as Company Composer for Cara Gargano and Dancers, premiering his ballet and dance scores in New York, Switzerland, and France. As Company Composer for Pyramid Productions (Indiana), he received two Grammy Award nominations. Perry shares his life with his wife, actress Josephine Hall, their energetic twins Max and Molly, and Sierra the cat.