Michael Mathias holds a doctorate from Rutgers and advanced degrees in literature, drama and education and has taught at Seton Hall, St. Johns University, University of Rhode Island and many other colleges and universities.  Hailed as "one of our major epic lyric poets" by the late Muriel Rukeyser, he has published his poetry in The Awakener, Resonance, Glow International and other magazines and journals.  His plays have been performed in New York and abroad.  He has worked extensively with Ruth Warrick, star of Citizen Kane-, on international productions of THE SECRET BREAD, ON HELOISE AND ABELARD: Winner of the Huntington Hartford First Prize for Poetic Drama, 1964, Poet's Theater, Riverside Church, Library of Lincoln Center, Metropolitan Museum Cloisters Medieval Festival, Theater of the Open Eye, Folkways Records, starring Broadway Actresses Marian Seldes, Lorraine Serabian, and Dancer, Kacy Cook en route to India to become personal assistant to Mehera.  His international play on Samuel Beckett and Lucia Joyce, THE FIRE CHAMBER, was chosen by the late film actor, William Hickey, for presentation with Lorraine Serabian and Marian Seldes, at the Playwright's Foundation on Bank Street in New York City.  Mathias is a member of the Dramatist's Guild and Writer's Guild of America, his awards include a Best Actor Award for his performance as Leopold Bloom in the 1985 New York James Joyce Centennial production of Ulysses.  PHOTOGRAPH