Brian Billings, PhD
Program Affiliations
Drama and English
Biography
Dr. Brian C. Billings is a creative writer who engages in musical writing (book, lyrics, and music), playwriting, and poetry writing; as a teacher, he specializes in contemporary children's literature and young-adult literature, twentieth-century and twenty-first-century American musical theatre, and nineteenth-century British operetta. He is a professor of drama and English at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, the Editor-in-Chief for Aquila Review (the university’s literary journal), and the coordinator for TAMU-T’s drama program. His teaching load includes courses in drama (appreciation, history, and musical theatre), creative writing, and children’s literature. His work has appeared in such journals as Antietam Review, Ancient Paths, Argestes, Backstreet Quarterly, Confrontation, Evening Street Review, and Poems and Plays. Publishers for his scripts include Eldridge Publishing and Heuer Publishing. His recently performed plays are the musical Gabriel Grub, or the Goblin and the Sextons and the audio musical drama Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Professional Experience
Prior to his joining the TAMUT family, Dr. Billings worked at Southwest Texas Junior College as a professor of English and drama in Uvalde, TX, and Del Rio, TX.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (English-Creative Writing in Drama) (2000-2003, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas)
Master of Arts (English) (1998-1999, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas)
Bachelor of Arts (English) (1994-1997, San Angelo University, San Angelo, Texas)
Areas of Interest
Dr. Billings is a creative-writing scholar who engages in musical writing (book, lyrics, and music), playwriting, and poetry writing; as a teacher, he specializes in contemporary children's literature and young-adult literature, twentieth-century and twenty-first-century American musical theatre, and nineteenth-century British operetta.
Teaching
Dr. Billings focuses upon literature and drama when teaching. Several of his unique classes include African drama, Irish drama, creative writing (undergraduate and graduate sections), modern musical theatre, British literature, and children’s literature.
Recent Scholarship & Creative Activity
Dr. Billings has recently published his play Straw’s for the Fire in Rushing Thru the Dark and The Best of Choeofpleirn. Belleville Middle School performed his Adventures with Pinocchio in July of 2022, and the Biblical Drama Institute performed his Gabriel Grub, or The Goblins and the Sexton in January of 2023.
Selected Scholarship and Creative Endeavors
- Straw’s for the Fire. The Best of Choeofpleirn Press, Winter 2022, p. 95. (Play)
- Straw’s for the Fire. Rushing Thru the Dark, Autumn 2022, p. 77. (Play)
- Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. 2022. (Musical Play)
- “Deliver Me,” “Hadassah the Queen,” “Haman,” “Heggai’s Harem,” “The King’s Warning,”“Wonderful to Be the Queen,” “You Must Go,” and “Zion Is Our Spirit.” 2021. (Songs for the Biblical Drama Institute’s audio-drama presentation of Esther: Destined and Redeemed.) (Songs)
- “Scurvy Santa, or Shanty Claus.” Ancient Paths Literary Magazine, 4 Dec. 2021. (Poem)
- “Driving Lesson.” Evening Street Review, no. 29, mid-spring, 2021. (Poem)
- “Dry January.” Evening Street Review, no. 29, mid-spring, 2021. (Poem)
- “A Holiday Robbery.” Evening Street Review, no. 29, mid-spring, 2021. (Poem)
- “The Moms Who Stayed in the Maynard House.” Evening Street Review, no. 29, mid-spring, 2021. (Poem) 2021. (Poem)
Recent Grants and Awards
TAMUT’s Teaching Excellence Award for Excellence (Mentorship) (2021-2022)
Affiliations
American Writers and Writing Programs (AWP)
Modern Language Association (MLA)
National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
National Storytelling Association (NSA)
National Writing Program (NWP)
San Antonio Storytellers’ Association (SASA)
San Antonio Theatre Coalition (SATCO)
Sigma Tau Delta (English Honor Society)
Tejas Storytelling Association (TSA)
Texas Educational Theatre Association (TXETA)
Two Year College English Association (TYCA)
