As the director of the Virginia Museum Theater from 1958-1966, Robert S. Telford dramatically grew subscriptions to the theater, stabilized management and formed a strong volunteer corps. He also introduced the VMT's first musical production, "Kiss Me Kate." He is probably best known for his casting of African-American actors at a time when it was illegal in Virginia to have black and white actors together on the same stage. In 1966, he cast two black actors in the theater's production of "You Can't Take It With You," marking a major milestone in Virginia theater history. After his departure, Telford went on to direct theaters in Texas and Oklahoma, finally landing in California, where he had a successful television acting career in the 1980s and published several books.

Source: of "The Dark Side of Ambition"