Appearing at TEDxSwarthmore, actor Stephen Lang '73 delivered the lecture "On Beyond Glory: The Architecture of Acting." In the talk, he speaks about the creative evolution of Beyond Glory, a solo play that he began working on in 2003 and has performed more than 300 times. At heart, the play is a meditation on themes of courage, honor, fortitude, and humility. In his fifth decade as a professional actor, Beyond Glory represents Lang’s most personally meaningful work. In “The Architecture of Acting,” he attempts to explain why in 18 minutes.

Actor and playwright Lang is perhaps best known for his role as Colonel Quaritch in Avatar. Other memorable roles in film include Last Exit to Brooklyn and Tombstone. On Broadway, he has appeared in Death of a Salesman and A Few Good Men, among other plays.