James Frederick Fields was born to Robert and Margaret Fields in Greeneville, Tennessee on July 31, 1919. He earned his BA at the University of Tennessee (1942) before joining the military. During World War II, he served with the 8th Air Force and eventually rose to the rank of Major. After the war ended, Fields returned to UT, where he taught in the Theatre Department from 1946 until his retirement in 1979. He also completed an MA at Ohio State University (1948), where he was introduced to the concept of the theater-in-the-round. He used the idea when he founded the Carousel Theatre in 1951. Fields was also involved with the Clarence Brown Theatre and served as Director of the Hunter Hills Theatre (which became affiliated with U. T. in 1966) during the mid-1960s. In addition to his academic work, Fields was involved with the Tennessee Theatre Association, the Greeneville Community Theater, and St. John's Episcopal Church. Fields died in Knoxville, Tennessee on August 31, 1991.

Gary Kendall Buttrey was born in Fairview, Tennessee. He completed his BS degree at Austin Peay State University (1971) before coming to the University of Tennessee and working with Fred Fields. Here, he completed his MA (1979) with a thesis entitled A History of the Hunter Hills Theatre, 1956-1977.