1. Art and Diseño

Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival
47
Region IV
February 3-7, 2015
Produced and presented by
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts
Hosted by
Darton State College and Albany State University
Region IV
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Southern Virginia
The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival™ 47,
part of the Rubenstein Arts Access Program,
is generously funded by David and Alice Rubenstein.
Additional support is provided by The Honorable Stuart Bernstein and Wilma E. Bernstein; the Blanche and
Irving Laurie Foundation; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Harold and Mimi Steinberg
Charitable Trust; Hilton Worldwide; and Beatrice and Anthony Welters and the AnBryce Foundation.
Education and related artistic programs are made possible through the generosity of the
National Committee for the Performing Arts
and the
President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts.
Additional support of KCACTF Festival XLIV in Region IV
is provided by
Southeastern Theatre Conference
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
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Dear Region IV students and faculty,
Welcome back to Albany, Georgia!
Let us all express our appreciation and gratitude to Deborah Liss-Green, Dr. John Ray Proctor, Rebecca
Dodson and the students and staff of Darton State College and Albany State University for taking on the
gargantuan task of hosting this festival.
Our festival will truly be a model of how we can build community through the practice of our craft as a
substantial act of civic engagement. The program of offerings and productions serve as a clear illustration
of how theater holds a mirror up to nature, reflects and comments on the times in which we live.
Our growing list of new and returning partners and guest presenters will provide an impressive array of
opportunities for festival participants. We are grateful for their willingness to share of their experiences
and insights with our students of the region. We would most especially like to thank the Southeastern
Theater Conference, which provides substantial cash awards for our students, the Dramatist Guild Fund
for making Pearl Cleage’s participation possible, the National Partners of the American Theatre, Actor’s
Equity Association, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Artists Striving to End Poverty (ASTEP), and the
Association for Theater in Higher Education. Finally, I want to thank each and every faculty member who
has given of their time to respond to the work of their peers. We all owe a debt of gratitude to our friends
and colleagues who serve on our executive committee, our festival programing coordinators, and most
especially to our response coordinators: Lisa Abbott, Becky Becker, Be Boyd, Tim Davis, and Joel Williams.
All of these people give selflessly of their time and energies in service to KCACTF Region 4.
This is my ―last hurrah‖ as I pass the baton to our incoming regional chair, Annie-Laurie Wheat. Serving
in this capacity has been one of the most humbling tasks I have ever taken on. I am very grateful for the
generosity and patience from all of you as we faced the challenges and changes of the last three years. I
must especially thank my wife, Debbie, without whose constant support I could not have possibly
performed this role.
Best wishes for a wonderful festival,
Jeff
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
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KCACTF Region IV 46-2014 Schedule
Festival Registration Hours: Registration is located in the
lobby of Building J, Darton State College from 2:00 pm –
9:00 pm, Tuesday, February 3 On Wednesday, Festival
Registration will move to J 101, located just off the lobby.
Registration Hours are 8:00am -11:00am, Wednesday through
Friday.
Design/Technology Exposition Hours: The National KCACTF
Awards for Theatrical Design Excellence, The Allied Design and
Technology Awards, SETC/David Weiss Awards, and Faculty
Design Expos are open for viewing Wednesday, February 5
through Saturday, February 8. The expo strikes on Saturday
from 12:30-2:00PM. No designs will be allowed to strike before
12:30PM! Please visit the 2nd floor of the Darton State Student
Center to view the design exhibitions. Responses are open to all
festival participants.
Institute for Theatre Journalism and Advocacy Formerly
known as the National Critics Institute, please look for the
abbreviation ITJA for all Institute for Theatre Journalism and
Advocacy events.
KCACTF Wednesday Night
Student Party…Merry Acres Inn,
Conference Center
dance party / d.j.
Bring I.D.–under 21 will be
About the Faculty Hospitality Suite…
The hospitality suite is open following evening
performances and announcements. The suite is located
in the Rock House of the Merry Acres Inn. All guest
artists, faculty and staff are welcome… please
join us!
Faculty/Staff Continuous Coffee Lounge Hours: Coffee is
available from 7:30 am – 11:30 am daily, in the kitchen of Bldg. J,
near the Lobby, Darton State College.
Jazzman’s Cafe: Looking for a latte, smoothie or cappuccino?
Try Jazzman‘s Café in Darton State‘s Student Center.
KCACTF Saturday Night Student Party…
Merry Acres Inn,
Conference Center
Dance Party / D.J.
Bring I.D.–under 21 will be stamped.
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
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.
FESTIVAL 47 INVITED PRODUCTIONS
WEDNESDAY
Amelia Earhart
Written by Kathryn Schultz Miller
The Bluest Eye
Morehead State University
Adapted by Lydia R. Diamond
Wednesday—12:00p.m.
From the novel by Toni Morrison.
Darton State Theatre
North Carolina Central University
Friday--8:30p.m.
She Stoops to Conquer
Albany Municipal Auditorium
Written by Oliver Goldsmith
Valdosta State University
SATURDAY
Wednesday—8:30p.m.
―Fact Check‖
Albany Municipal Auditorium
Written by Laura King, Hollins University
―Fall Out‖
THURSDAY
Written by Laura King, Hollins University
Breath, Boom
Saturday – 2:00 p.m.
Written by Kia Corthron
Darton State Theatre
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State
KCACTF Region IV Festival 46 2014 winning
University
Student-Written Short Plays in full production.
Thursday—12:00pm
Darton State Theatre
Trouble in Mind
Written by Alice Childress
Race; A Play
Albany State University
Written by David Mamet
Saturday – 12:00p.m.
Georgia Southern University
Billie C. Black Auditorium, Albany State
Thursday—8:30p.m.
University
Albany Municipal Auditorium
Bread and Circuses (David Shelton Award for
FRIDAY
full length student written play)
Memigery
Written by Edward Precht
A company devised work
College of Charleston
University of South Carolina – Upstate
Saturday –8:30p.m.
Friday—12:00p.m.
Albany Municipal Auditorium
Darton State Theatre
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
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New Play Program Events
DAVID SHELTON FULL LENGTH
STUDENT WRITTEN PLAY READING
David L. Shelton (Full-length play) Award Winner
In the Hour Before the Bars Open Nate Harpel
Savannah College of Art and Design
Friday—9:00 am Bldg. B, Room 101, Darton State Colege
Response Session 11:00 am Bldg. C, Rm. 252, Darton State College
Ten-Minute Play Festival
Saturday – 9:00a.m.
Darton State Theatre
Invited Ten Minute Plays – (In Alphabetical
order)
I’m Sorry by Ward Brock, University of
Tennessee, Knoxvile
Injection by Kathleen Riley, James Madison
University
Invitations by Keri DeTullio, James Madison
University
Red by Brittany Fisher, James Madison University
What by Kamilah Bush, University of North
Carolina, Greensboro
Yours and Mine by Amy Slothower, James
Madison University
Short Play Festival
Session I – Wednesday – 2:00p.m.
Bldg. B, Room 101, Darton State College
Bullshit by Lacey Alexander, Troy University
Almost Maimed by Rebecca Kane, University of
Central Florida
Short Play Festival (Continued)
Session II – Thursday – 2:00p.m.
Bldg. B, Room 101, Darton State College
Mass by Kamilah Bush, UNCG
Hello Stranger by Abigail Gandy University of
Alabama
Session III – Friday – 2:00p.m.
Bldg. B, Room 101, Darton State College
Missed by Jacquelyn Loy, USM
Breathless byWendy-Marie Martin,
Hollins
University
SDC Fellowship Participants
Gina Dropp – Young Harris College
Ricky Drummond – James Madison University
Nick Suwalski –University of West Georgia
James Parker - University of West Georgia
Corey Bradberry – University of Southern
Mississippi
Kaylyn Kriaski - University of Southern Mississippi
Christan M. McLaurine – Middle Tennessee State
University*
Tara Kromer – University of Central Florida*
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
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Workshop Descriptions:
Design, Technology, and Management (DTM)
Alternative Avenues in the Entertainment Industry with Jesse Dreikosen. A
session to discuss the alternative design careers one can pursue other than
traditional theatre. This workshop will explore the answers to the question ―what do
I do with a theatre design degree?‖ by looking at professional designer‘s work that
will inspire you to think ―outside the box‖ when it comes to picking a career path.
(Saturday 4:00-5:30pm Bldg. B, Rm. 101, DARTON STATE)
A Conversation with Jane Childs. An opportunity for you to learn more about
the famed Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas and the exciting things happening at
SILV. Jane, a co-founder of SILV, is one of the most generous and studentcentered people you will ever meet and she has spent a lifetime creating
opportunities for students. This should not be missed! (Friday 4:00-5:00pm
Bldg. C, Rm. 203, DARTON STATE)
A Stage Management Conversation with David Apichell A round table
discussion for aspiring stage managers. Topics will include training, internships, the
job search, AEA, and many others. (Friday 9:00-10:30am Bldg. C, Rm. 203,
DARTON STATE)
A Stage Management Conversation with Kathy Synder A round table
discussion for aspiring stage managers. Topics will include training, internships, the
job search, AEA, and many others. (Friday 2:30-4:00pm Bldg. G, Rm. 202,
Library, DARTON STATE)
Designer Director Collaboration with Michelle Ney and Charles Ney. This session
will address one of the most important elements of theatrical production, the
collaboration between the director and the designer. Michelle and Charles will focus
on how to create the ideal production environment. (Friday 3:00-4:00pm Bldg. J,
Rm. 133, DARTON STATE)
Do You Believe In Magic (Sheets)? with Paul Collins. The Magic Sheet is a
graphical ‗cheat-sheet‘ and an invaluable tool for the lighting designer from the
beginning of the design process to the last day of tech. The workshop will focus on
techniques for creating effective magic sheets, as well as the creation of different
styles of magic sheets for different types of productions. LDs at any level are
encouraged to attend, whether you already use magic sheets extensively, or if you
are unfamiliar with this mythical beast. (Thursday 2:00-3:30pm Bldg. J, Rm.
133, DARTON STATE)
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Getting Hired with Val Winkelman. A Question and Answer Session on: The Job
Search, Application Process Dos and Don'ts, and Networking. Feel free to bring your
resume. (Thursday 4:00-5:00pm Bldg. J, Rm. 133, DARTON STATE)
Introduction to Millinery Techniques (I’m talking Hats!!) with Stephanie
Shaw. This session is a brief introduction to millinery techniques practiced in
theatre. We will review how to take measurements, individual hat components,
basic structure materials including buckram and felt, and participants will have the
opportunity to build a fabric based hat. Participants must know a minimum of hand
sewing techniques to take part in fabric hat construction. Those without sewing
skills are welcome to observe. (Thursday 1:00-2:30pm Bldg. C, Rm. 252,
DARTON STATE)
Introduction to Theatrical Photography with William C. Kenyon. This hands-on
workshop, appropriate for beginners and those with some experience, will discuss
the challenges of capturing theatrical pictures for your design & technical portfolio.
Students from all areas are welcome. Please bring your camera, as we will spend
some time working with the various specialized settings available to digital
cameras. If you have access to the manual, bring that too! Feel free to join us even
if you don‘t have a camera, or are thinking about getting one, you will still get a lot
out of this session. (Thursday 6:00-7:30pm Bldg. B, Rm. 101, DARTON
STATE)
Marker Rendering Basics for Costume Design with Alyssa Couturier. In this
hands-on workshop Alyssa will demonstrate the basic techniques for marker
application in costume rendering. (Thursday 6:00-7:30pm; Bldg. C Rm. 252,
DARTON STATE)
Theatrical Tradition to the Monstrosities of the Silver Screen: Masks for
Theatre & Film with Brad Darvas. In this workshop we will discuss both
traditional and modern materials commonly used in theatrical mask making
including: leather, paper mache, fosshape, friendly plastic, and epoxy resins (magic
sculpt). We then will discuss materials and techniques in creating creature masks
and prosthetics used in film and television, (latex, foam latex, silicone, and
polyfoam). This session is full of information and resources that anyone interested
in masks, special makeup effects, or props will not want to miss! (Friday 1:002:30pm Bldg. J, Rm. 133, DARTON STATE)
Patterning with a Half-Scale Dress Form with Marina Pareja. This workshop will
show you how to use the half-scale form for costumes both design and
construction. We will discuss the benefits of working in half scale including how to
create muslin and/or paper samples of period garments, resources for patterning,
and enlarging patterns to 50% and 100% from books and other sources.
(Wednesday 9:00-10:30am Bldg G, Rm. 202, Library, and Thursday 9:0010:30am Bldg. B, Rm. 101, DARTON STATE)
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
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Planning & Managing the Entire Production Process with Jim Lile. This session
is a discussion about how to approach all aspects of the production process; design,
budgeting, scheduling, build, load in, tech rehearsals, performances, and strike. We
will also address the different methods to manage available resources; time, labor,
and materials. It all starts with effective collaboration. (Saturday 10:30-12:00pm
Bldg. C, Rm. 203, DARTON STATE)
Rendering with Pastels with David Tidwell. Hands on workshop focused on
scenic, costume, and lighting design rendering with pastels. Techniques will include
dry and wet techniques as well as methods of pastels. (Friday, 9:00 – 10:30 am,
Bldg. G, Rm 202, Library, DARTON STATE).
Sinful Design with Tony Galaska. Join up with fellow designers from across Region
4 to create a design of one of the seven deadly sins! The three day intensive will
begin with planning and creating an approach to the design, continue with the
execution of the choices, and finish off with finalizing the project and discussion of
the approach. After completion the designs will be on display in the design expo.
This exciting workshop will require all of your design and collaborative powers. Be
ready to draw, create, and have a sinfully good time!! (Wednesday, Thursday
and Friday, 9:00 – 10:30 am; Bldg. F, Rm. 117, DARTON STATE).
Sound Design Roundtable Discussion with Richelle Thompson. A round table
discussion for aspiring sound designers. Come and hear about Richelle‘s process as
a sound designer and how he is creating the current show he is involved in at The
Alabama Shakespeare Festival. (Wednesday 3:00-5:00pm; Bldg. G Rm. 202,
Library, DARTON STATE)
Visual Art to Theatre Design: Becoming a Multi-faceted Designer with
Jennifer Baker. This workshop explores techniques and exercises developed
through a background in visual arts and the translation to theatrical design. We will
explore how to take non-theatrical approaches to design challenges when working
"outside of the box", among other ideas. There will be some interactive hands on
work involved. (Saturday, 9:00 -10:00am, Bldg. C, Rm. 203 DARTON STATE).
GENERAL
Collecting Theatrical Historical Memorabilia with David Tidwell. Discussion,
technique, demonstration and examples in collecting Theatrical renderings,
drawings and related theatrical items. Workshop will be in conjunction with a
historical rendering display of more than 40 important original scenic, costume and
lighting designers of the 18th, 19th and 20th century. Participants will have the
opportunity to discuss and learn methods for starting their own rendering collection
for personal or departmental use. (Wednesday, 11:00am -12:30PM, Bldg. C,
Rm. 266-C, DARTON STATE)
Faculty Response Training with Jeff Green. Information for faculty interested in
responding for KCACTF. The Region Chair shares the philosophy and answers
questions. (Wednesday, 1:00 – 2:00 PM, Bldg. C, Rm. 203, DARTON STATE)
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
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Film Screening: SHAKESPEARE BEHIND BARS. Take Shakespeare‘s final play,
The Tempest with its violent seas, windswept island, crucial connection to nature,
and underlying theme of forgiveness and bring it into a prison, the ultimate venue
of confinement. The result is an extraordinary story about the creative process and
the power of art to heal and redeem—in a place where the very act of participation
in theatre is a human triumph and a means of personal liberation.
In Hank Rogerson‘s revelatory trip into and around this prison production, we
embark on a year-long journey with the Shakespeare Behind Bars theatre troupe.
Let by director Curt Tofteland, whose innovative work with Luther Luckett inmates
begin in the mid-1990‘s, the prisoners cast themselves in roles reflecting their
personal history and fate. Their individual stories, including information about their
heinous crimes, are interwoven with the plot of The Tempest as the inmates delve
deeply into the characters they portray while confronting their personal demons.
SHAKESPEARE BEHIND BARS is a tremendously moving film, where the
protagonists are not merely defined by their crimes, but are afforded dignity and a
fresh chance to look truth in the eye, and embrace it. Written and directed by Hank
Rogerson and produced the Jilan Spitzmiller, the husband and wife team of 15
years, including the award-winning documentary HOMELAND for ITVS and CIRCLE
OF STORIES, also for ITVS, which was part of the Sundance Online Film Festival in
2003.
Produced by Philomat Films in association with the Independent Television Service
(ITVS) and the BBC, with major funding provided by the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting. The film has received major support from the Sundance Institute
Documentary Story and Edit Lab, as well as the Sundance Documentary
Composer‘s Lab in 2004. (Wednesday 1:30 -3:00PM Bldg J, Rm 133, DARTON
STATE).
Q & A with Curt Tofteland The creative force behind SHAKESPEARE BEHIND
BARS answers your questions about this amazing documentary. (Wednesday,
3:00 – 4:00pm, Bldg. J, Rm. 133 DARTON STATE).
Owning your Artistic Identity with Aaron Rossini of ASTEP. What are you
passionate about? What are you good at? What could the world use more of? Artists
Striving to End Poverty (ASTEP) wants to help you locate the perfect intersection
between your unique passion and the needs of your community. We‘ll veer away
from the straight-and-narrow to consider non-traditional career paths, and to help
you find what resonates deepest with you in order to use it to shape your life, your
art, and the world around you. (Thursday 4:00 – 5:00PM, Bldg. C, Rm. 252,
DARTON STATE)
Songspotting with Brittany Ayers. Everyone has the ability to write a song, and
this workshop will help you find your inner lyricist. In this workshop students will
study the basis AABA song structure in classic music theater songs, as well as
contemporary pop songs. In analyzing the songs, students recognize how a song
functions in the greater arc of a story. The second half of the workshop is spent
writing the lyrics for a song inspired by dramatic text. Students will walk away with
a sense of empowerment about their own song-writing abilities. (Thursday, 4:00
– 6:00PM, Bldg.C, Rm. 203, DARTON STATE).
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What We Do Together Makes A Difference: theatre for social change with
Sarah Mitchel of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. You don't have to stop what
you're doing to help. Instead, use what you're doing to make a difference! Learn
how Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has empowered college theatre students
nationwide to raise money and awareness for a variety of causes. By doing what
you love, you can help men, women, and children in your own community,
nationwide and around the world. Come learn how easy, fun and rewarding it is to
make a difference through your art. (Wednesday, 9:00 – 10:30am; Bldg. C,
Rm. 266-C AND 4:00 – 5:00pm, Bldg. C, Rm. 252, DARTON STATE)
PERFORMANCE
A Career in the Theatre with Tom Miller of Actor‘s Equity. Equity protects and
secures the rights of actors and stage managers. The workshop explains how and
when to join and the benefits of membership. It will offer pragmatic insight into
balancing artistic and business mindsets and provide tips on negotiating, record
keeping, networking, and more. The session is Q & A driven and is designed to
ease the transition from an academic environment to a professional career.
(Thursday, 1:00 – 2:00PM; Bldg. J, Rm. 133, DARTON STATE).
Activating the Monologue with Kevin Kennison. Opening new approaches to the
performance of the monologue by reminding the actor about making bold, specific,
personal choices. After the workshop, students will be much more open to initial
exploration of the material in order to determine the strongest acting choices for an
active experience with the monologue. Students should bring a copy of the piece or
the play if available. Observers welcome! (Thursday, 3:00 – 4:30PM, Bldg. J,
Rm. 124 – 126, DARTON STATE).
All About the Base with Rebecca Covey. This hands-on workshop offers lively
physical exercises that encourage an embodied voice. Specifically, we will explore
opening up the lower body to the possibilities of vibration to achieve a fuller, richer,
more direct connection to the voice. Participants should arrive prepared with a
short (1 minute) monologue so they can bring the lower body vibrations into text
and even into characterization. (Friday, 12:00 – 1:00PM, Bldg C, Rm. 266,
DARTON STATE)
Audition Monologues: How to Get the Job Done with Thomas Keith. This
workshop will look at the practical aspects of the actor‘s responsibilities when it
comes to performing monologues for auditions, including choosing a piece, analysis,
rehearsal, focus, character, and the audition experience. At least 5 participants will
need to arrive prepared to perform a 90 second monologue of any kind. Everyone
should bring a notebook and something to write with. ( Wednesday, 1:00 –
2:30pm, Bldg. J, Rm. 121-123, DARTON STATE)
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
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Droznin: An Introduction to Russian Movement with Brittany Ayers. Actors
require a methodical key to unlock their impulses. Through a series of rigorous
physical exercises, students access physical freedom and are able to truthfully
respond to their impulses. Students will be introduced to partner acrobatics and
learn to connect with their scene partners on a purely physical level. In this
workshop, students will be introduced to Russia's foremost movement technique,
developed by Andrei Droznin, Professor of Stage Movement at the world renowned
Moscow Art Theatre. (Friday, 9:30 – 11:00 am, Student Center Ballroom,
ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY).
Embodying Shakespeare’s Verse with Adriano Cabral The voice and body are
inherently connected. After a brief destructuring sequence inspired by Fitzmaurice
Voicework, we will explore dynamic movement through an investigation of Laban
Efforts and dynamic speech through a focus on Lessac‘s Consonant Orchestra. By
combining these two techniques, we will explore how the physical and vocal inform
the meaning of Shakespeare‘s text. Wear movement clothes! (Saturday, 3:00
– 4:30PM, Bldg. C, Rm. 266-C, DARTON STATE).
Michael Chekhov: Unite Body, Mind, and Spirit with Lisa Dalton. This Michael
Chekhov Technique intro class is a psychophysical workout that will help you get
your ideas out of your head through your body/voice to the audience. Play with fun
tools for characterization and instant emotional power without pain. Learn
techniques to reduce anxiety and get objectives off the page and onto the stage.
Bring a one minute monologue or 8 line scene with a partner. Workout clothes,
soft-soled shoes/barefoot. Take this class after Mind Maps of Chekhov and with
Psychological Gesture. Both students and faculty welcome. (Saturday 10:00
– 11:30 am, Bldg. J 124-126, Darton State).
Mind Maps of Michael Chekhov for Actors and Teachers with Lisa Dalton.
Discover in active play how the Chekhov tools unite with logical learning structure
enriching us as performers and human beings. Shortly before passing, he drew a
Chart for Inspired Acting for Mala Powers, who in turn gave it to Lisa with the
Goblet and the Graph of Imagination to further understand creativity. Lisa Dalton
shares these interactively with experiential games and exercises to help us grasp
how to meet three universal challenges all storytellers must. (Thursday, 11:00 –
12:30pm Bldg. J, 124-126, Darton State)
Movement for Actors: Jazz Dance (All Levels) with Dr. Elizabeth ―Liz‖ Delancy.
This high energy dance class will explore a range of jazz elements: isolations,
rhythms, and dynamics. The warm up, across the floor progressions and dance
combinations will reinforce or teach participants dance movement that should be a
part of the musical theatre actor's movement vocabulary. (Friday, 11:00 am –
12:30PM, E Building—Cavalier Arena, Rm. 108, DARTON STATE).
Musical Theatre Dance: Intermediate Level with Paul Finocchiaro. A true
intermediate level dance class that will contain warm-up, across the floor and
combination along with lecture interjections and a questions and answer period. All
attendees should arrive with dance clothes and dance shoes. (Friday 9 -10:30
AM, BLDG C. RM. 251, DARTON STATE)
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Psychological Gesture: What is it and How do I find it? With Lisa Dalton.
Imagine being able, in one breath, to instantly transform into the character's
thoughts, feelings, desires, and physicality! For actors, directors, and teachers this
highly active "playshop" will reveal the powers of Michael Chekhov's most famous
and often misinterpreted gift to performing artists: The PG. Learn what it is plus
three pathways to discover the most powerful PG! Come prepared to move freely,
with three lines of text from a character. Great to take with Mind Maps and Michael
Chekhov: Unite Body, Mind, Spirit. (Thursday 3:00 -4:30PM, J 124-126 AND
Saturday 2:00 -4:00PM, J 124-126, DARTON STATE.
Shakespeare: Don’t be Scared, It Doesn’t Hurt with Dr. John Ray Proctor.
Actors learn to work with Shakespeare's text because, like learning to sing because
musicals get produced often, companies produce Shakespeare--very often. This
workshop will help participants figure out how to make sense of Shakespeare's
texts for cold readings, monologues, and scene work. The focus of this workshop
will be doing away with "Shakespeare Voice" and learning to use your own voice
when approaching this material. We are going to try and figure out how to talk like
people…who just happen to be speaking Shakespeare's words. We are going to
look for subjects, verbs, intentions, and objectives. We're going to ask "What do
you want?"--a lot. (Wednesday, 1:00 -2:30 PM, Billie C. Black Auditorium,
ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY)
Sight Reading with Lisa Abbott. Introduction to and work on basic sight reading
skills for auditions. Participants will work on effective ways to work a cold audition,
sight read effectively while making clear choices, connecting to a scene
partner/ready/camera, and get some tips for improving this fundamental skill
necessary for auditions. (Thursday, 10:00 – 11:30AM, Bldg. J, Rm. 121-123,
DARTON STATE)
Talking Bodies with Barney Baggett. Appealing to the fearless creators and
performers of the next generation, this workshop approaches performance,
playwriting, and directing from a movement based perspective of physical euphoria.
Combining elements of Butoh, Mime, and Acrobatics, this workshop is for those
interested in pioneering both new works and new worlds.Move your body, abandon
your intellect, create your own work, and be the next genius. Actors, Dancers, and
Singers welcome. Come dressed to move and ready to sweat. (Thursday, 11:30
am – 1:00PM, Bldg. J, Rm. 121-123, DARTON STATE)
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The Art of Play with Barney Baggett. Abandon the self and engage what really
matters: the play. Learn how losers triumph, victors fail, and everybody wins in
this physical theatre workshop that explores how the game is truly played. Rooted
in the principles of the Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre,
participants will approach performance and creation through the lens of game and
strategy, unlocking the secret tactics of the body and revealing the infinite play
within us all. (Saturday 12:00 -1:30PM, J 124-126, DARTON STATE)
Using the Sounds of Shakespeare with Andrew Basenak. This workshop breaks
down large speeches into playable bits that allow actors to make a great variety of
character and story choices based in the sounds of Shakespeare's words. Students
are invited to bring their own 12 - 16 line monologues, but we will also work on
selections from Titus Andronicus and The Comedy of Errors. (Saturday, 10:30 12, J 121-123, DARTON STATE)
Voice Acting or How to Make Money in a Totally Different Medium with
Richard Bristow. Voice Overs, Animation, Videogames, and Commercials! The art
of voice acting or how to use all your acting skills to make money in a totally
different medium. Tips on how to get an agent, how to set up your own home
studio for about $100 and much, much, more! (Thursday 1:00 – 3:00; Friday
2:00 – 4:00PM; Bldg. C. Rm. 252, DARTON STATE)
NPP/Dramaturgy
The Building Blocks of Action with Richard Herman. How do you as a playwright
develop your plot? How do you select and create an order of events that provide
meaning? What is the importance of a scenario? Does your plot have to follow a
formula? What are the outcomes you are seeking? And ultimately, how do you tell
your story? These are some of the questions we will explore in creating action in
your plays. (Friday, 1:00 – 2:00PM; Bldg. B, Rm. 101, DARTON STATE)
Creative Strengthening Agents with Nancy Lee Painter. What are some ways to
dive more deeply into creating strong characters, conflict and point of view?
Whether you are a playwright, actor, or director, courageously looking inside
yourself and the world around you holds a wealth of rich information and
inspiration. Exercises in curious and honest observation are at the center of this
workshop. (Wednesday, 1:00 – 2:00PM; Bldg. B, Rm. 101, DARTON STATE)
Drawing a Play with Heather Helinsky. In this two-part class taught by
professional dramaturg Heather Helinsky, we will explore the process of drawing a
play (that‘s right, actually drawing!) as a method for interpreting scripts, classic
and contemporary. Please bring materials for sketching (old-fashioned or high
tech). You can opt to come to one part of the workshop or stay for both. Design
students are encouraged to attend. (Wednesday, 3:00 – 5:00PM; Thursday,
5:00 – 6:30PM; Bldg. C, Rm. 252 DARTON STATE)
Get Your Play Off the Stack with Nick Newell. Advice for playwrights on the
unwritten rules of new play submission. Practical and vital advice for students who
aspire to be read and produced. (Thursday, 1:00 – 2:00PM; Bldg. B, Rm. 101
DARTON STATE
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
Page 13
Festival 47 Biographies
Festival 47 Biographies
Lisa L. Abbott (SDC Directing Mentor,
―Sight Reading‖)is an Associate
Professor of Theatre at Georgia Southern
University. Ms Abbott has lived and
worked all over the United States as a
theatre director and stage manager. Most
of her professional credits are in the
development of new works with such
companies as Portland Center Stage,
Pavement Productions (Co- Artistic
Director), The Organic Theatre in Chicago,
and the Chicago Dramatists. She is
currently the South Carolina and Georgia
Response Coordinator for the Kennedy
Center/American College Theatre Festival.
David Apichell (SM Respondent)is a
stage and events manager based in New
York City. Recent Off-Broadway credits
include the thirtieth anniversary edition of
Forbidden Broadway: Alive and Kicking
(named Best Musical of 2012 by Time
Magazine and a 2013 Drama Desk
nominee for Best Revue) and work with
INTAR Theatre on American Jornalero &
Intringulis. David spent eleven seasons
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
with the national tour of the Radio City
Christmas Spectacular, the final four as
PSM. Recent regional credits include: Mill
Mountain Theatre‘s The Sound of Music;
Chicago, Fiddler on the Roof and Les
Miserables (Reagle Music Theatre of
Greater Boston), and three seasons as
Production Stage Manager for the Hudson
Valley Shakespeare Festival. David serves
as the Production Manager for NYU‘s
annual campus-wide talent show
UltraViolet Live. Currently in its eleventh
year, UVL has produced talent such as Elle
Varner (2013 Grammy & BET award
nominee) and Stefani Germanotta (better
known as Lady GaGa). Recent events
include work with Rosie‘s Theater Kids,
The Bradley Prizes at the Kennedy Center,
Second Stage Theatre and the National
Dance Institute. David is a member of
Actors‘ Equity Association and graduated
from Penn State University with a BFA in
Theatre-Stage Management.
Brittany Corrine Ayers. (IR Judge,
Songspotting, Droznin) Currently
working as Program Representative for
the National Theater Institute, Brittany
spends most of her time traveling and
teaching theater classes to college
Page 14
students across the country and
internationally. In addition to her work at
NTI, Brittany has appeared onstage at
Long Wharf Theater in New Haven, CT and
worked as a Teaching Artist at The
Warehouse Theatre in Greenville, SC. She
has also directed staged readings of
several original plays and is a lyricist. A
few of her favorite roles include Prospera
in "The Tempest", Catherine in "Proof",
Maria in "Twelfth Night", and Aunt Abby in
"Arsenic and Old Lace". Brittany was an
honors scholar and graduated Magna Cum
Laude from North Greenville University
with a BA in Theater Performance, and is
a Fall 2012 Alum of the National Theater
Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theater
Center.
Jennifer Baker ((Visual Art)is a
Costume and Scenic Designer, as well as
Production Designer and Scenic Charge
Artist based in Norfolk, Va. She is a
Resident Designer and Costume Shop
Manager for ODU Theatre. She has
designed, constructed, and painted close
to 100 productions, both professionally
and academically in the past 15 years,
ranging from theatre, opera, dance, film
and interactive projects. Ms. Baker is also
the recipient of multiple Excellence in
Faculty Design awards from the Kennedy
Best Direction and Outstanding
Production for Avenue Q. Dr. BaxterFerguson also works extensively as a
scenic designer and his designs have
appeared on the stages of CAST, Charlotte
Children‘s Theatre, Queen City Theatre,
Collaborative Arts Theatre, Spartanburg
Repertory Theatre, and others.
Christopher Berry(Irene Ryans) is an
Assistant Professor of Speech and Theatre
at Albany State University. He is a 2011
Graduate of the Brown University/trinity
rep MFA Acting program. Credits include:
Coriolanus, Four little Girls... Birmingham
1963, The First Noel (workshop), A
Christmas Carol, twelfth night,
Threepenny Opera and others.
Andrew Blasenak(Using Shakespeare)
currently teaches acting at Emory & Henry
College. He holds an MFA (Acting) in
Shakespeare and Performance from Mary
Baldwin College, and he has performed
with the American Shakespeare Center,
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
Center American College Theatre Festival,
Region IV. Most recently, she designed
costumes with the Warehouse of Theatre's
production of The Death of Thomas
Edison, invited to the NYC International
Fringe Festival.
Barney Baggett (Talking Bodies, Art
of Play)is a performer and educator
based in Brooklyn, NY. He holds an MFA in
Ensemble Physical Theatre from the
Dell'Arte International School of Physical
Theatre and has collaborated with several
notable ensembles including Pig Iron
Theatre Company, Touchstone Theatre,
The Dell'Arte Company, The Hinterlands,
and most recently with Brooklyn's LAVA
company in their first dance
choreographed for men. His work is
physical, image based, and emphasizes
play as a means of re-imagining
community. He is currently devising a new
work inspired by the music of Nick Cave
and the life of Mary Shelley. For more
information, visit www.barney.website
Dr. Tim Baxter-Ferguson((IR Faculty
Respondent) has been the director of
Limestone College‘s Theatre program for
fifteen years. Dr. Baxter-Ferguson has
directed over fifty productions and was
fortunate enough to be awarded the
Metrolina Theatre Award for
the Actor‘s Shakespeare Company, The
Maryland Shakespeare Festival, and
companies in Ohio, Michigan, Virginia, and
New York. He also holds a Ph.D. in
Theatre History/Literature/Criticism from
The Ohio State University where his
dissertation focused on the rehearsal
practices and company structures of six
major Shakespeare companies.
Richard Bristow (Voice Acting).
Represented by 5 agencies around the
country, Mr. Bristow's credits include a
National commercial for Tecate Beer,
Georgia Lottery spots, VO Berry College
Life Ready campaign, many video and
audio (videogames for the blind) game
credits, Corporate explainer videos VOs,
VO National Civil Rights museum, and
more.
Adriano Cabral (Embodying
Shakespeare’s Text)is the Assistant
Professor of Voice and Movement at the
University of West Georgia, holding his
MFA in Theatre Performance from Arizona
Page 15
State University and BA in Musical Theatre
from Rhode Island College. Cabral is the
Director of Technology for the Voice and
Speech Trainer‘s Association and is
currently working on certifications in
Fitzmaurice Voice work, Knight-Thompson
Speech work, Lessac Technique, and
Yoga.
Charlie Calvert (Model Making) is an
Assistant Professor of Scene Design at
College of Charleston. He has worked as a
designer or assistant designer in New
York, Chicago, and regionally at The
Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey and
Olney Theatre Center.
Jane Childs (DTM Respondent) is the
Director of Stagecraft Institute of Las
Vegas and has a varied 45 plus years
theatre past including costuming, assisting
her husband Don on his scenic and
lighting design projects, performing
simultaneous French translation for
Ladislav Vychodil, and being the den
mother to many years of theatre students.
Her managerial and development skills
bode well for SILV‘s partners and for her
work as VP-Development with SW Chapter
of USITT. Her studies have included
Indiana University, La Sorbonne, and
University of Iowa. Jane prides herself on
the meshing of good materials and good
practices with good people for the best
future for our industry. Jane also shares
husband Don‘s true passion for theatre
and teaching and his demand for integrity
from those you work with be they
students or collaborators which drove his
work on a daily basis.
Pearl Cleage is an Atlanta based writer, currently Mellon
Playwright in Resi- dence at The Alliance Theatre in Atlanta
where her new play, ―What I Learned in Paris,‖ opened the
2012-2013 Season. Her works include award winning
plays, bestselling novels and numerous columns, articles
and essays for a wide variety of publications including
Essence, Ebony, Rap Pages, Vibe, The Atlanta Tribune, and
The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Her first novel, What
Looks Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day, was an Oprah Book
Club pick and spent nine weeks on the New York Times
bestseller list. She is the author of thirteen plays, including
Flyin’ West, the most produced new American play in the
country in 1994. Her Blues for An Alabama Sky was
included in the 1996Olympic Arts Festival in Atlanta and
will receive a 20th anniversary revival at the Alliance in
2015. Her other plays include Chain; Late Bus to Mecca;
Bourbon at the Border; A Song for Coretta and The
Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at a
Celebration of Their First One Hundred Year. She is
theauthor of eight novels, including Baby Brother‘s Blues,
which received an NAACP Image Award for Literature. She
is also the co-author with her husband, writer Zaron W.
Burnett, Jr., of We Speak Your Names, a praise poem
commissioned by Oprah Winfrey for her 2005 Legends
Weekend and A 21st Century Freedom Song: For Selma at
50, commissioned by Winfrey for the 50th anniversary of
the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March. Cleage and Burnett
are frequent collaborators, including their award winning
ten year performance series, ―Live at Club Zebra!‖
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
Page 16
featuring their work as writers and performance
artists. Her new book of non-fiction entitled Things I
Should Have Told My Daughter: Lies, Lessons and
Love Affairs, was published by Simon and Schuster/ATRIA
Books in April, 2014.
Paul Collins (Magic Sheets) is currently
Assistant Professor for the College of
Charleston teaching courses in design and
production, especially lighting design.
Recent professional lighting designs
include Hair and Fiddler on the Roof at the
Barn Theatre in Augusta, MI, August;
Osage County at the Warehouse Theatre
in Greenville, SC, and Hamlet with the
Annapolis Shakespeare Company. Recent
designs at the College of Charleston
include The Bacchae and Tommy.
Paul received a BFA in Theatre at
University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, a
Masters in Communication at Grand Valley
State University, and a MFA in Lighting
Design at the University of Iowa.
Alyssa Couturier (Marker Rendering)
earned her BFA from the Savannah
College of Art and Design in 2008 after
completing an internship at Ralph Lauren.
Santa Barbara. She has worked in
theatres across the Midwest, Scotland,
Australia and France. Favorite roles
include Hermione in The Winter’s Tale,
Lady MacBeth, Hester in The Scarlet
Letter, Abigail in Denial, Artemis in
Eleomoysonary, Viola in Twelfth Night,
and Simone de Beauvoir in Nelson and
Simone. Research interests include
neurodiversity and the intersection of
culture and voice.
Lisa Dalton (Mind Maps, Psychological
Gensture, Michael Chekhov) is an
award-winning film/stage actor/director
and President of the National Michael
Chekhov Association, Inc., who instructs
the NMCA Teacher/Director Certification.
www.chekhov.net. Lisa has taught in
London, Paris, Moscow, Brussels, NY, and
LA; judged Emmy‘s, Cable Ace,
Independent Spirit Awards, many KCACT
Fests. Acting credits include 50+ stage
shows and a 30 year career on-camera as
an actor, stunt player, clown and
comedienne. Lisa trained with more direct
students of Michael Chekhov than any
other active teacher, learning many
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
Since graduating, she has had the
pleasure of working at several theaters in
New York and Georgia. Her greatest
passion is to help directors of plays,
musicals, and films, bring their vision to
life through costume design. Last year she
placed first in the graduate costume
design category at SETC, second in the
David Weiss design category at KCACTF,
and was recognized for design excellence
at USITT SE. She is currently pursuing a
masters of fine arts at the University of
Florida.
Rebecca Covey (All About the Base) is
a designated Linklater Voice teacher,
Equity Actor and Assistant Professor of
Voice and Acting at Florida International
University. She holds an MFA from the
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a
BFA and BA from the University of
California,
fascinating interpretations of his theories,
allowing her to develop a succinct
approach to teaching it and surefire path
to finding the PG.
Brad Darvas (Mask Making) is an
Assistant Professor of Theatre at
University of West Georgia, specializing in
Scenic Design and mentoring students in
props and media design. In addition to
designing sets, he also owns his own
mask company where he creates latex
creature masks, busts and props. Outside
of theatre, Brad is continuing to peruse
work as a Special Make Up FX Artist for
film and television, working at Toby Sells
Creature FX Shop.
Derek Davidson (Region 4
Dramaturgy Chair) teaches Playwriting,
Theatre History, and Script Analysis at
Appalachian State University. Before ASU,
Derek taught Dramaturgy at Carnegie
Mellon University for one year, and had
worked at The Barter Theatre in Virginia
as a Resident Company Member and
Coordinator for the Appalachian Festival of
Plays and Playwrights. Directing credits
include As You Like It, Mother Courage
and her Children, The Goat, or Who is
Page 17
Sylvia?, and the premiere production of
Man of Constant Sorrow: The Story of the
Stanley Brothers. He is also a playwright;
his plays The Road Where It Curves Away
and Holmes have been performed at
Barter and in theatres in Ohio. His film,
This is Not the South (which he wrote and
directed), has shown at festivals and
conferences throughout the southeast.
Tim ―X‖ Davis (IR Coordinator) is the
coordinator of the Theatre program at
Bluegrass Community and Technical
College in Lexington, KY. He is a proud
alumnus of the University of Southern
Mississippi (MFA 97) and Middle
Tennessee State University (BS 93). Tim
has performed and directed all over the
southeast and has appeared onstage at
the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
Recently, he had the opportunity to
perform in London with the Burning Coal
Theatre‘s hit production of David Edgar‘s
―Iron Curtain Trilogy‖. He was also
associated for many years with the Ft
Harrod Drama Association as both actor
and director of the nationally acclaimed
outdoor drama DANIEL BOONE: THE MAN
AND THE LEGEND. Tim ―X‖ is also a
member of the Kennedy Center/ American
College Theatre Festival Region IV
selection team, and a KCACTF Region IV
respondent coordinator.
Elizabeth "Liz" Delancy (Movement
for Actors), PhD, MFA is the Dance
Program Coordinator and assistant
professor of dance at Darton State
College. Dr. Delancy earned her BA in
mass Media Arts from Hampton
University, and completed her MFA in
Dance at Florida State University. She
was awarded a prestigious McKnight
Doctoral Fellowship for her studies in the
humanities at FSU. Her doctoral thesis,
"In God's Presence: Conquering Addiction
through Dance" explored how one
Tallahassee-based dancer used Christian
based dance as a tool for drug addiction
rehabilitation. VDM Publishing Company
publihsed her work in 2008. Dr. Delancy
is the videpresending of the executive
board of World Ballet, Inc. (WBI), in
Tallhassee, FL. She is also a WBI guest
faculty member and the assistant
choreographer for WBI's Youth American
Grand Prix competitors. As a professional
dancer, Dr. Delancy worked with Jawle
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
Wille Jo Zollar, artistic director and found
of Urban Bush Women, as a dancer,
community workshop leader and rehearsal
assistant. During her tenure, she
performed "Hands Singing Song", the
stellar work, "Shelter", and "Soul Deep to
the Bone".
Jesse Dreikosen (Alternative Venues)
is Region IV Chair of Design, Technology &
Management. Jesse is also Head of Design
and Production at Florida International
University in Miami, Florida. He received
his MFA in scene design from Purdue
University and a BFA in theatre design
from Viterbo University in La Crosse,
Wisconsin. He has designed around the
country at such theatres as The Alabama
Shakespeare Festival, The Texas
Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare
Theatre of New Jersey, The Mint Theatre,
Texas Repertory Theatre, New Theatre,
Southern Repertory Theatre, The Red Fern
Theatre, The Ohio Theatre, The
Renaissance Theatre and The 6th Street
Playhouse in Santa Rosa, California. He
currently holds the position of ViceCommissioner of Education in the Scene
Design & Technologies Commission for
The United States Institute for Theatre
Technology (USITT). He has also worked
outside of theatre as a visual and
marketing consultant for GAP, Inc. where
he helped layout and open new GAP
stores in New York, Miami and the
Midwest. He was responsible for teaching
the employees lighting, window displays,
marketing placement and dressing
mannequins. In his spare time he has
painted murals for private residences,
interior designed for dental offices and
graphic designed an array of different
materials and displays.
Paul E. Finocchiaro (Musical Theatre
Dance) from the University of Tampa has
sung, danced & acted all over the
world. He had a 17 year career in Musical
Theatre and worked with many stars
including Michael Crawford, David
Cassidy, Sheena Easton, Chita Rivera,
Vanessa Williams and many more. His
career has spanned many areas, from
National & European tours, to Cruise
Ships, Theme parks and 11 years as a
singer/dancer in Las Vegas.
Page 18
Shelly Elman (Hospitality
Coordinator)is the immediate past Chair
of Region IV. She is a Professor of Theatre
specializing in Acting and Directing at the
University of West Georgia, where she
served as Director of the Theatre Program
for ten years. Some directing credits
include: The 25th Annual Putnam County
Spelling Bee, RENT, In the Blood, The
Shape of Things, and A Midsummer
Night‘s Dream. Shelly was selected to
participate in the 2009 Summer Silberman
Faculty Fellowship at the United States
Holocaust Memorial Museum. She was
also selected to participate in the Scholars
for Peace in the Middle East faculty
fellowhip to Israel in the Summer of 2010.
Tony Galaska (Sinful Design) is the
Stage Management Coordinator for Region
IV. He is also an Assistant Professor of
Lighting Design at Florida International
University in Miami, Florida. He received
his MFA in lighting design from Purdue
University, a BFA from the University of
Wisconsin Stevens Point and an AA from
the University of Wisconsin Waukesha.
Prior to joining the faculty at FIU, Tony
worked as a designer in NYC with
companies such as Toy Box Theatre
Company, The Gallery Players, Wings
Theatre Company, Metropolitan
Playhouse, and New Perspective Theatre
Company. He also works regionally with
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey
and The Texas Shakespeare Festival. He
has won numerous regional and national
awards for his designs.
Jeff Gibson (Registrar) is Chair of
Speech and Theatre at Middle Tennessee
State University where he teaches courses
in arts management and stage
management. Gibson is a past Chair of
KCACTF Region IV as well as current Chair
of the Theatre Division of the Tennessee
Governors‘ School for the Arts. He is a
former Assistant to the President of
Watkins College of Art & Design in
Nashville, Tennessee. He received his
MFA in Theatre Management from the
University of Alabama and served as a
management assistant at the Alabama
Shakespeare Festival.
Jeffrey Green (Region Chair), serves
as Chair of KC/ACTF Region IV. He is
Professor and Chair of Theater,
Communication & Media Arts at Georgia
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
Southwestern, Artistic Director of the
Rylander Theater/CP Productions, faculty
advisor/producer for GSW-TV16 student
television productions. A member of
Actors‘ Equity Association since 1985, he
has performed in the companies of the
Milwaukee Repertory Theater, the
Cleveland Play House, and the Riverside
Shakespeare Company. Prior to his move
to Georgia, he was the Director of Theatre
at the University of Nebraska at Kearney
and the Artistic Director of the Great
Platte River Playwright‘s Festival, a new
play development program that premiered
the Darrah Cloud/Kim Sherman
adaptation of O Pioneers! and Toni PressCoffman‘s Touch, among many others.
He is a graduate of the MFA acting
program at Ohio University.
Heather Helinsky (Dramaturgy
Respondent) is a dramaturg that
playwrights have recognized as ―especially
adept at freeing energies in unexpected
ways. She encourages discovery.‖
Nationally, her dramaturgical work has
been seen at the Accessible Theatre in
Boston, American Repertory Theatre, the
Apothetae, Arizona Repertory Theatre, the
Athena Project, Borderlands Theatre
Company, City Theatre of Pittsburgh,
Great Plains Theatre Conference, The
Kennedy Center‘s Page-to-Stage, The
Lark, Miracle Theatre in Portland, Moscow
Art Theatre‘s American Studio, Omaha
Community Playhouse, Pennsylvania
Shakespeare Festival, Philadelphia Theatre
Company, Phoenix Theatre in
Indianapolis, Pittsburgh Irish and Classical
Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Plan-B
Theatre, Plays and Players of Philadelphia,
Salt Lake Acting Company, Telluride
Playwrights Festival, and Woolly
Mammoth. She is also a script reader for
The O‘Neill, PlayPenn, GPTC, Jewish Plays
Project, Philly Young Playwrights, and
Sundance Theatre Lab. She moves fluidly
between classical dramaturgy and new
play development; she has been the
Literary Manager of the Pittsburgh Public
and PICT Classic Theatre as well as part of
the National New Play Network‘s rolling
world premiere of Caridad Svich‘s Guapa.
Recently, she has also worked on plays
about the disabled experience with The
Apothetae in NYC and Accessible Theatre
Page 19
in Boston. As an educator, she‘s mentored
emerging dramaturgs at KCACTF Regions
4 & 6 and was the National Dramaturgy
Coordinator for KCACTF in ‘12 & ‗13. She
has been a Visiting Professor of
Dramaturgy at the University of Arizona
(‗07/08), Carnegie Mellon School of
Drama (‗12/‘13), and a guest teaching
artist at Texas Tech. Her M.F.A. in
Dramaturgy and Theatre Studies is from
the American Repertory Theatre/Moscow
Art Theatre Institute for Advanced Theatre
Training at Harvard. Member of LMDA
since 2006. www.helinskydramaturgy.com
Gregg Henry (Artistic Director –
KCACTF) Recent productions: Theatre
Alliance (2012) and Hub Theatre (2011)
Helen Pafumi and Jason Lott‘s Wonderful
Life, Round House Theatre- Melanie
Marnich‘s A Sleeping Country, WSC Avant
Bard- Julie Jensen's Two-Headed and
Barbara Field's adaptation of
Scaramouche. He directed the US
Premieres of Girl in the Goldfish Bowl by
Morris Panych for Metro Stage and You
Are Here by Daniel MacIvor for Theatre
Alliance. For Catholic University:
Swimming with Whales by Bob Bartlett,
Morning, Miranda by Stephen Spotswood.
For the Kennedy Center- Tom Isbell‘s The
Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg
(from the Newbery Honor book by
Rodman Philbrick, Helen Hayes Award
nomination for Outstanding Production
Theatre for Young Audiences), Teddy
Roosevelt and the Treasure of Ursa Major,
Teddy Roosevelt and the Ghostly Mistletoe
(with songs by Mark Russell), Six Stories
Tall by Marco Ramirez, Dreams in the
Golden Country by Barbara Field, The
Light of Excalibur by Norman Allen. He is
artistic associate for New Works and
Commissions for Kennedy Center Theatre
for Young Audiences and is director of the
Kennedy Center/Kenan Trust Performing
Arts Fellowship Program. For twelve years,
he has curated and co-produced the
Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage New Play
Festival. He produces the annual MFA
Playwrights‘ Workshop at the Kennedy
Center in association with NNPN and the
National Center for New Plays at Stanford
University. Gregg has acted, directed,
and/or staged the fights with the
Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Oklahoma and
Wisconsin Shakespeare Festivals. He
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
received his MFA in Acting from the
University of Michigan and is formerly the
director of theatre and an associate
professor at Iowa State University. He is
proud to serve on the National New Play
Network Ambassador Council, on the
Board of Taffety Punk Theatre Company,
on the Welders‘ Advisory Council, on the
National Advisory Board of the Literary
Managers and Dramaturgs of the
Americas [LMDA], and is a member of the
Dramatists Guild of America.
Dr. Richard ―Buzz‖ Herman
(Respondent, NPP, Building Blocks of
Action) is Chair and Professor of Theatre
and Dance at the University of Central
Missouri. At UCM, Buzz teaches courses
in directing, acting, playwriting, and
theatre history and has served as director
and actor for over 150 academic and
professional productions. Buzz currently
serves on the KCACTF National Playwriting
Program Vice Chair. He is Past KCACTF
Region V Chair of NPP, has served as a
director for the 10-Minute Playwriting
Program, served as Assistant Irene Ryan
Acting Coordinator, and been a member of
the Region V Selection Team. He has
received three KCACTF Meritorious
Achievement Awards for Directing and
served as director for Blue Window which
was a Region V Invited Festival Production
in 2013. Buzz‘s teaching honors include
the Speech and Theatre Association of
Missouri Outstanding Teacher Award, the
Missouri Governor‘s Award for Teaching
Excellence, the Meridith Harmon Sauer
Distinguished Endowed Professor of
Theatre and the University of Central
Missouri‘s highest teaching honor, The
Byler Distinguished Faculty Award.
Iona Holder(IR Respondent)is
currently furthering her education as she
pursues her MFA in Playwriting after
teaching for eight years at Georgia
College. She is still directing a few plays
each year and her heart remains
dedicated to new plays. She is enjoying
being on the other side of the desk and
finds learning even more enjoyable than it
was in her youth. Her first One-Act play
won a spot in the Acting Out INK FEST
2015 and will be produced later this year
in Hollywood, California.
Page 20
Crosby Hunt (Region 4 ITJA Chair) is
professor of Theatre at Middle Tennessee
State University, where he teaches Script
Analysis, Storytelling, and Theatre
Appreciation for those who are basically
disgusted by anything theatrical. In 1968,
he attended a Led Zeppelin concert in
Syracuse, N.Y., where he sat behind a
man with red hair, which began, during
the song "Dazed and Confused," to writhe
about like snakes. While failing to finish
his MFA in Theatre at the University of
Florida, he appeared in the State Play,
"The Cross and the Sword," arguably the
worst script ever written. The cast of this
play lived in a house near the beach, right
next door to a paranoid socialist who was
convinced the actors were bugging her
plumbing pipes. As possibly they were.
He is the author of the one-man show
"The Deerfield Massacre," which he begins
reciting if you buy him a Red Bull.
Julius John (IR Respondent) is a
professional actor, educator, and coach,
specializing in Musical Theater. A veteran
of the Mac-Haydn Theatre in New York,
where he performed major roles in such
productions as Crazy For You, Grease,
Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat, A Funny Thing Happened on
the Way to the Forum, Meet Me in St.
Louis, and The Sound of Music, he has
also performed principal roles in many
summer stock productions and touring
children's shows including Really Rosie!,
Rodney the Reluctant Dragon, A Tribute to
Shel Silverstein, and Jack and the
Beanstalk. He has immortalized roles such
as Marat in Marat Sade, Tevye in Fiddler
on the Roof, Captain Hook in Peter Pan, Al
Calinda in Working, Geronte in Scapino,
and John the Baptist in Godspell among
others. Julius now resides in his home
tome of Winter Park, Florida, providing
exclusive lessons in acting, voice, and
auditioning to individuals, and traveling
frequently to study and attend productions
in London.
Julius received his training in auditioning
and musical theatre from well-known
professionals Mary Zimmerman, and Kipp
Niven. He studied tap dance under
Rosemary Howard, jazz under Nina
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
Wheeler, and voice under Mary Gale
Green.
Notable acting teachers include Fred
Rubeck and Sonny Bell. He has obtained
credentials in London, as well as at the
Drew Summer Shakespeare Institute and
Elon College in North Carolina, where his
degree encompassed the complementary
fields of English and Music. He obtained
his terminal degree in Acting from
Western Illinois University.
Julius has taught and directed at the
collegiate level at both Elon College and
WIU. He specializes in diverse areas of
theatrical education: acting; theatre
management, development, and history;
musical and multicultural theatre; script
analysis; Shakespeare; private voice;
movement, yoga, and constructive rest.
Julius currently serves as an Associate
Professor and Director of Theatre at
Bethune Cookman University. His second
passion, fashion; has allowed him to serve
as Vice President for Fashion News Live
and attend Mercedes Benz Fashion Week
where he has produced shows in New York
and LA for RLG, Productions. Julius was
also seen on the reality TV show, The Real
World, as a fashion consultant
Thomas Keith(IR Judge, Audition
Monologues) has taught theater and
acting at Ohio University and The Lee
Strasberg Institute, and currently at Pace
University and the Atlantic Theater
Company Acting School in New York City.
Keith has worked as a stage actor with
directors and playwrights including Tom
O‘Horgan, Edward Cornell, Terry Gilliam,
Peter Hedges, John Vaccaro, Maria Irene
Fornes, Jeff Weiss, Sharon Ott, Clifford
Williams, Kathryn Long, and Ellen
Stewart, and played principal roles in over
forty commercials. The Creative Producer
for the Drama League-nominated OffBroadway revival of Tennessee Williams‘
comedy The Mutilated, Keith has served
as a dramaturg for The Sundance Institute
Theater Lab, The Mabou Mines, and at
LaMaMa E.T.C. As Consulting Editor for
New Directions Publishing, Keith edited
sixteen titles by Tennessee Williams,
Page 21
including three volumes of previously
unpublished one-acts, and he serves as an
advisor to Tennessee Williams Festivals in
New Orleans and Provincetown. Keith has
written numerous scholarly essays and
chapters, including an article for American
Theater Magazine.
Kevin Kennison(IR Judge, Activating
the Monologue, After College) is a
Casting Director, acting coach and career
counselor based in New York. Mr.
Kennison has cast for Broadway, national
and international tours, regional theatre,
film, television, plays/musicals in
development, and multi-media projects.
Prior work includes casting for ABC/Disney
for five years, faculty/administration of
NYU‘s Tisch School of the Arts for thirteen
years where he designed acting classes,
business of acting classes, the internship
program, the high school summer
program and the senior showcase. He is a
former faculty member of Lee Strasberg
Institute, Atlantic Theatre Co., CAP 21
Musical Theatre program, among others.
He continues to teach, direct, produce and
work with many university performing arts
programs across the country in
admissions, auditions, and senior
showcases. www.k2casting.com,
www.facebook.com/actoradvice.
Jenny Kenyon(DTM Respondent) is a
freelance Costume & Scenic Designer,
with additional expertise in Scenic Art,
Costume Crafts, Hair/Wigs & Makeup, and
Drawing & Painting. She recently served
as a Visiting Professor of Design for the
Department of Theatre & Dance at
Bucknell University, teaching Scenic
Design for a year and Costume Design for
another year. Previously, Jenny taught
Scenic Art & Design at Penn State for 5
years. Prior to entering academia, Jenny
worked as a Costume Designer in New
York City. She was the Assistant Costume
Coordinator for the Radio City Music Hall
Christmas Spectacular, as well as
designing numerous shows for theatre,
opera and dance.
Her design work has been seen at the
WPA Theatre, the Duplex Cabaret, the
Russian Ballet Theatre of Delaware, and
OperaDelaware. One of her most recent
large-- ‑ scale projects is the historical
production ―'ʹLincoln: Upon the Altar of
Freedom‖. Her designs will be shown in
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
Moscow this summer in the exhibit
Costume Design @ the Turn of the
Century. In addition to Bucknell & Penn
State, she has taught Costume Design
and/or Scenic Design at the University of
Nebraska-- ‑ Lincoln, University of
Evansville, Manhattanville College, and
the Berkeley Carroll School in NYC. She is
a member of the United Scenic Artists
Local #829 in the area of Costume
Design.
Additionally, she has spent the last year
receiving an MSc in Forensic Art at the
University of Dundee, Scotland. In
addition to continuing to design for
theatre and dance, she also hopes to use
her artistic skills to bring archeological
history to life and to help find missing
children. She will be interning at the
National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children in January 2015, and her facial
reconstructions will be featured at the
Trelleborgs Museum, Sweden in an exhibit
about the Skateholm archaeological site, a
Mesolithic cemetery and settlement.
William Kenyon (DTM Respondent;
Theatrical Photography) serves as
Head of the Design & Technology
Program, and runs the Lighting Design
Program in the School of Theatre at Penn
State. An active professional designer,
Prof. Kenyon has designed over 150 plays,
operas, and dances, along with over a
dozen national and international tour
seasons with several theatre & Dance
companies. Prof. Kenyon‘s recent work
includes performances at The Kennedy
Center, Lincoln Center, Wolftrap, the
Qatar International Arts Festival, and
Bucknell University. He has also designed
for the Metropolitan Playhouse, Opera
Delaware, Ballet Theatre of Central
Pennsylvania, Nebraska Rep, Russian
Ballet Theatre of Delaware, Opera Omaha,
University of Iowa, and MTI-Disney. Prof.
Kenyon has been involved in Native
American theatre and dance for over 15
years, serving as resident LD for the
American Indian Dance Theatre, and was
involved in the complete reimagining of
―Unto These Hills‖, a massive outdoor
spectacle celebrating the history of the
Cherokee. Prior to Penn State, William
taught Lighting & Sound Design at the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Prof.
Kenyon received his BFA from the
Page 22
University of Connecticut, and his MFA
from Brandeis University. Prof. Kenyon
serves as the US Delegate to the OISTAT
(Organisation Internationale des
Scénographes, Techniciens et Architectes
de Théâtre) Education Commission, after
haivng served 2 terms as Commssioner
for education for the United States
Institute for Theatre Technology. Prof.
Kenyon is also the Education Editor for
USITT‘s journal TD&T. Member of USITT,
OISTAT, IALD, IESNA, and USAA Local
#829 in the areas of Lighting and Sound
Design. When not on tour or in tech, Prof.
Kenyon is working on climbing the highest
point in each U.S. state. He lives in
Pennsylvania with his wife Jenny, a
Costume and Scenic Designer, and his
daughter Delaney.
David Lee-Painter (National Chair,
KCACTF) earned an MFA in Directing from
Illinois State University and has been a
Professor of Theatre at the University of
Idaho since 1995, specializing in acting
and directing. David has worked
professionally at both the Idaho and
Illinois Shakespeare Festivals, Idaho
Repertory Theatre, the John F. Kennedy
Center for the Performing Arts, Idaho
Theatre for Youth, Three Tall Women, Mt.
Baker Theatre, and the American Stage
Company in St. Petersburg, Florida,
among others.
His production of Moby Dick represented
North America at the 1996 ASSITEJ World
Congress in Rostov on Don Russia.
David's absolute favorite role is sharing
life with his darlin‘ wife and very best
friend Nancy, four furry critters, two
inspiring grown-up daughters and their
amazing fellas and teaching passionate
and curious students. What a wonderful
life!
Nancy Lee-Painter(Respondent;
Creative Strengthening) is the NPP
chair in region VII. She teaches and
directs at Lewis-Clark State College in
Lewiston, Idaho where she is a devoted
advocate of new plays and student
playwrights. As a professional actor she
has worked with the Idaho Repertory
Theatre, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival,
and the Idaho Shakespeare Festival.
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
Nancy makes her home in Moscow, Idaho
with her really great husband David, an
animal menagerie and inspiring athletic
offspring.
Jim Lile (Festival Tech Liaison;
Planning and Managing) has spent the
last 25 years working live theatre. He is
currently an Assistant Professor of
Technical Production at Florida State
University. He earned his MFA in Technical
Design and Production from Yale School of
Drama. He worked at Purdue University
Theatre as an Assistant Professor and
Technical Director. He has worked with
Norwegian Cruise Lines, Utah
Shakespeare Festival, Pensacola Opera,
and Nashville Opera. He has been
Production Manager and Technical Director
of Des Moines Metro Opera. He worked as
Production Manager for Indiana University
School of Music. He works as a freelance
Production Manager, Technical Director for
numerous regional opera companies and
he is also KCACTF Region 4‘s Technical
Director and Liaison.
Deborah Liss-Green(Co-Host,
Program Coordinator) is an Assistant
Professor of Theatre at Darton State
College, and serves Region 4 as the
Program Coordinator. She earned her
MFA in Acting from Brooklyn College and
traveled with The Shoestring Players
national touring company before
beginning her teaching career. More
recently, she appeared as Vivian Bearing
in Wit, directed by her husband, and with
the playwright in residence, and has
received two KCACTF Meritorious
Achievement in Direction awards for A
Midsummer Night’s Dream and Dead
Man’s Cell Phone. She and Jeff Green are
the proud parents of Jamie and Tessa.
Todd McNerney(IR FACULTY
RESPONDENT) (BA - Theatre, St. John's
University {MN}; MFA - Acting, University
of Iowa ) is an Associate Professor in
Performance and served as Chair of the
regionally recognized and National
Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST)
accredited Department of Theatre and
Dance at the College of Charleston from
2005 until 2014. He successfully led the
Department to its initial NAST
accreditation in 2008 and its subsequent
re-accreditation in 2014. In 2014, he was
Page 23
elected Speaker of the Faculty. He
teaches Acting I, Acting II, Introduction to
Theatre and Voice for the Actor. In his
nearly thirty-year career in the theatre he
has directed and/or acted in over seventy
productions. He has worked
professionally on both coasts in theatre,
film, and industrials. He is an active
member of the department's production
program, directing productions of The
House of Blue Leaves, On the Verge, The
Caucasian Chalk Circle, Take Me Out, and
Spring Awakening among others. He is
also a co-founder of The Shakespeare
Project, a former summer component of
the department, which produced two
productions of Shakespeare's works each
year. Some of the works he directed for
the Project included The Merchant of
Venice (2000), Richard II (2002), The
Merry Wives of Windsor (2004), King Lear
(2006), Measure for Measure (2008),
(which was voted Best Play (Non- Spoleto)
by the Charleston City Paper in 2008),
Cymbeline (2010), and Rosenencrantz and
Guildenstern Are Dead (2013).Todd spent
three years touring around the world with
the Swiss mime troupe Mummenschanz .
In addition to those wonderful experiences
of world travel, he developed a passion for
the business side of the arts. In order to
satisfy that passion he worked with the
city of Charleston by serving as the
Piccolo Spoleto Theatre Series Coordinator
from 1995 through 2005. Nine years ago
he founded the Stelle di Domani series
now presented at Piccolo Spoleto
annually. Stelle focuses on the students,
faculty and alumni of the Theatre and
Dance Department and in its nine years
has raised nearly $60,000 for
scholarships.
Tom Miller (IR Judge, A Career in the
Theatre). Prior to joining the staff of
Actors' Equity Association, Tom was an
Actor for over 25 years, performing in
National Tours, Regional Theatre, Off
Broadway, with the Atlanta Ballet, Ballet
Florida, Carl Radcliff Dance Theatre, at
Opryland USA, and in Europe. Tom is a
graduate of Indiana University. For over a
decade, Tom served as a voter for the
annual Tony Awards. He has been an
Equity Member since 1983.
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
Sarah Mitchel(IR JUDGE, BC/EFA) is
the Outreach Associate at Broadway
Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, a nonprofit and
grant-making organization that utilizes the
unique abilities of the theatre community
to provide aid to individuals and families
affected by HIV/AIDS and other health
related issues. Sarah was a leader of
BC/EFA's longest-running college
partnership, Emerson Fights AIDS Week
at Emerson College, and now works to
create and nurture new partnerships and
fundraising efforts between college
students and Broadway Cares. In addition
to her work with BC/EFA, Sarah is a New
York based actor, working regionally and
in New York City. Sarah holds her BFA in
Musical Theatre from Emerson College in
Boston, MA.
David Moberg (Region 4, NPP Chair)
has directed, performed, and taught
theatre at Indian River State College in
Florida since 1981. He has directed over
200 main stage, black box, and touring
productions. To date, Mr. Moberg has
written 17 plays, including full length
serious, comedies, and mysteries,
children‘s plays, and one-acts. A portion
of his plays are represented by on-line
dramatic publishing, NoTechTheatre.com.
David's newest drama, Teaching A Dillo To
Cross the Road, was a 2008 Finalist for
Abingdon Theatre's Christopher Wolk
Award. His recent play, Falling From
Trees, written for high school/college age
students, won first place in the national
Marilyn Hall Youth Theatre Playwrighting
Competition, sponsored by the Beverly
Hills Theatre Guild and first place in the
Original Full Length Play category in
Auburn University‘s TigerTheatreCafe
Playwrighting Competition. Mr. Moberg
has served as the FCCAA Theatre Division
Advisor to the FCCAA Executive
Committee, has served on the FTC
Executive Board, and has received the
Florida Theatre Conference Distinguished
Career Award in the University/College
Division.
Nicholas Newell(Getting Your Script)
Nicholas Newell recently directed the
world premieres of Sheet Cake Sliding by
Stacia Saint Owens at Theatre of NOTE in
Los Angeles.and The Baristas by James
Rasheed at South Carolina Repertory
Company. He is the co-founder and
Page 24
director of the Hilton Head Island New
Play Festival and served three years as
Artistic Director of the Bok Players in
Cambridge, Massachusetts. His credits
include plays at The American Repertory
Theatre, Trinity Repertory Company,
Actors Shakespeare Project, New York
Stage and Film, Chester Theatre
Company, Dorset Theatre Festival, Mill
Mountain Theatre, Wellfleet Harbor Actors
Theatre, Riverrun Theatre Company, 78th
Street Theatre Lab, Theatre for a New
City, The Duke Theatre, and Off-Broadway
with the world premiere of Elvis People at
New World Stages. He is an Assistant
Professor of Theatre at Georgia Southern
University, Chair of the Professional
Division of the Georgia Theatre
Conference where he produces the GTC
One Act New Play Competition, and is a
graduate of the Institute for Advanced
Theatre Training at Harvard University
and the Moscow Art Theatre School.
Charles Ney (DTM Respondent,
Designer-Director) is a professor of
directing and acting in the Department of
Theatre & Dance at Texas State University
where he is head of graduate directing.
Past positions include artistic director at
Idaho Repertory Theatre, Manhattan
Clearing House, and Mary Moody Northen
Theatre. Prior to coming to Texas State he
was chair at the University of Idaho and
taught at St. Edward‘s University.
Chuck has directed at the Kennedy Center
(Top Girls), Illinois Shakespeare Festival
(Comedy of Errors), Texas Shakespeare
Festival (Measure for Measure,
Cymbeline), Idaho Repertory Theatre (A
Midsummer Night‘s Dream, Two Booths
and a Lincoln, Lost in Yonkers), Mary
Moody Northen Theatre (Medea, Chicago,
Fences, The Threepenny Opera, Playboy of
the Western World), and Zachary Scott
Theatre Center (On Golden Pond). His
Texas State directing credits include
Richard III, As You Like It, Macbeth, Much
Ado About Nothing, Going after Cacciato
(world premiere of Romulus Linney‘s
adaptation of Tim O‘Brien‘s novel of the
same title), A Little Night Music,
Transposing Shakespeare, and Tongue of
a Bird. Acting credits include Polonius in
Hamlet, Henry Boyd in The Two Lives of
Napoleon Beazley (for which he was
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
nominated for outstanding lead actor –
Austin Circle of Theatres) and Nonno in
Night of the Iguana.
Since 2004 he has traveled to
Shakespeare theaters coast to coast,
interviewing over 50 artistic directors and
directors about their working methods and
productions. He has written articles for
American Theatre on his work and is
presently working on a book, Directing
Shakespeare in America.
His PhD is from the University of Illinois.
His MFA in directing is from Southern
Methodist University where he took an
additional year‘s training in their MFA
acting program. His BFA is from Illinois
Wesleyan University.
Michelle Ney (DTM Respondent,
Designer-Director) has designed
scenery and costumes for numerous
theatre and opera companies, including
The Colony Theatre and The Theatre at
Boston Court (Los Angeles), Illinois
Shakespeare Festival, Texas Shakespeare
Festival, Idaho Repertory Theatre, Austin
Shakespeare, ZACH Theatre, and Austin
Lyric Opera. Her work was featured in the
prestigious Prague Quadrennial
International Design Exposition, and her
designs have been published multiple
times in Theatre Design & Technology.
Several of her designs will be exhibited in
Moscow this summer in the "Costume
Design at the Turn of the Century" exhibit.
Ms. Ney served as Head of Design &
Technology at Texas State University for
13 years, and Chair of the Kennedy
Center American College Theatre Festival,
Region 6. She received the John F.
Kennedy Center for Performing Arts Gold
Medallion in 2012. Ms. Ney has served on
faculties at University of Idaho, University
of Texas at Austin, and St. Edward‘s
University. She received her M.F.A. in
Theatrical Design at The University of
Texas at Austin. Her work can be viewed
at: www.michelleneydesigns.com.
Marina Pareja( ½ Scale Dress Forms)
was born in the city of Lima, capital of
Peru. She completed her BFA in Costume
Design for theater at Florida International
University in 1998 and later her MFA in
theater production at Queen Margaret
University in Edinburgh, Scotland. With an
AA in fashion design, she has worked in
theatrical costume for 18 years. Marina
Page 25
joined the FIU family in 2006 as Instructor
and Head of the Costume Shop. She
teaches costume design and construction
classes as well as designs and builds the
costumes for FIU Theatre department
productions. As the head of the costume
shop, she oversees student participation
in the costume building process. She has
recently designed for such shows as
Medea, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot
and The Liar.
John (Ray) Proctor(Festival Co-Host;
Shakespeare) has been an actor for
more than 20 years. His professional
acting credits include appearing as an
ensemble member in the Organic Theatre
Company‘s productions of Ain’t Misbehavin
and as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet. He
has also played Shylock for Arizona
Repertory Theatre‘s The Merchant of
Venice. He has toured nationally with the
Ordway Theatre‘s Buddy: The Buddy Holly
Story. His regional credits include the title
role in Othello, the Venticelli in Amadeus,
the Stage Manager in Our Town, and Peter
in Les Blanc. His Darjeeling Tea won the
1992 Webster Playwriting completion
followed by his winning of the 1993
Webster New Play Festival Award winning
Hot Coffee.
In 1993 Proctor earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree in playwriting from Webster
University in Webster Groves, MO. In
1997 he earned a Master of Fine Arts
degree in acting from West Virginia
University in Morgantown, WV. In 2002
Proctor decided to put his professional
acting career on hiatus and to begin
pursuit of a PhD at the University of
Wisconsin Madison Theatre Department,
with a concentration in numerous
University Theatre productions, The
Madison Repertory Theatre Company and
the PEOPLE Project. Proctor has served as
dramaturg for Ron OJ Parsons, Rick Khan
and Devon Hoester. He earned his PhD in
May of 2011.
In May of 2012 Proctor joined the Speech
and Theatre Department of Albany State
University in Albany, Georgia. Professor
Proctor is thrilled to be a faculty member
at this growing and inspiring institution.
One of his greatest joys is getting to work
with students as they forge their own
paths of discovery.
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
Todd Ristau(Region 4, NPP ViceChair) is a distinguished graduate of the
Iowa Playwright's Workshop. His work has
been performed in theatres across the
U.S. and England, including London's West
End. He founded No Shame Theatre in
1986 and oversaw its evolution into a
national network of venues for new works
in dozens of cities. He has an extensive
theatre background, with expertise in
acting, directing, and design. He worked
with Mill Mountain Theatre for six years as
coordinator of their second stage and as
literary associate overseeing new works
programming. Ristau served as the first
artistic director of Studio Roanoke, a
storefront theatre space dedicated to new
works development in downtown
Roanoke. Todd is an active member of the
Dramatists Guild, and member of Literary
Managers and Dramaturgs.
Aaron Rossini (Devised Respondent;
ASTEP) is an actor, director, and
producer currently based in New York
City, and was raised in Pittsburgh, PA. He
received his B.F.A. in Acting from Miami
University of Ohio and completed his
Master of Fine Art in Acting at the Brown
University/Trinity Rep MFA Program. Fault
Line Theatre: Breathing Time, The Faire,
Doctor Faustus, Frogs, From the Same
Cloth, From White Plains, Hitchhiker‘s
Guide to the Galaxy. New York: Guerilla
Shakespeare Project, Funny Sheesh
Productions, Sanguine Theater Company,
Hip to Hip Theatre, Target Margin Theatre,
Fringe NYC, Planet Connections, Emerging
Artists Theater, Young Playwrights Inc.
Regional: Trinity Rep, Kitchen Theatre
Company, The Gamm Theatre, Purple
Rose Theatre Company, Michigan
Shakespeare Festival, The Boar‘s Head
Theatre, The Mosh Pit Theatre, Pittsburgh
New Works Festival.
Joel P. Rogers (IR Faculty
Respondent) Most recently from
California State University, Chico, where
he was the Director of their Musical
Theatre Degree Program. He served as
Chair of the Department of Theatre (CSU,
Chico) for five years and for a year served
as Dean of Visual, Applied, and Performing
Arts at Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz,
California. He was the President of the
Page 26
Chico Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi and served
on many University Committees. He has
been very active in KC/ACTF in Region VII
and Region VIII and has served as festival
accompanist and as a respondent for
many productions throughout the region.
Prior to California State University, Chico,
Joel was the Director of Theatre for Bethel
University in Tennessee for two years.
Joel has served as Artistic Director for
Theatre on the Ridge in Paradise,
California, and for many years was the
Producer/Artistic Director of Court
Theatre, a summer repertory company
associated with CSU, Chico. Joel earned a
B.F.A. in Musical Theatre Performance
from Northern Kentucky University and an
M.F.A. in Direction from the University of
Memphis. He has served as Musical
Director/Conductor for over a hundred
productions and has directed several
shows around the country. Some of his
favorite productions have been Hello
Again, A Little Night Music, The Will
Rogers Follies, H.M.S. Pinafore, Gross
Indecency, Urinetown: the Musical,
Fiddler on the Roof, Into the Woods, Side
by Side by Sondheim, Honk!, and
Tintypes. A member of Actor's Equity
Association, he has appeared in such
shows as Man of a Mancha (Padre),
Cabaret (Ernst Ludwig), Ruthless: the
Musical (Sylvia St. Croix), Pump Boys and
Dinettes (L.M.), Nunsense, A-Men
(Reverend Mother), and Anything Goes
(Sir Evelyn Oakleigh). In his spare time,
Joel has served at several churches as
Organist/Choirmaster, where most
recently he was at St. John's the
Redeemer Episcopal in Chico, California.
Dewey Scott-Wiley (Region 4 SDC
Chair)is an Associate Professor of
Theatre, and heads up the performance
curriculum at University of South Carolina,
Aiken. She was recently appointed Artistic
Director of the Trustus Theatre in
Columbia, SC. She received a Master of
Fine Arts in Theatre, with an emphasis in
Directing, from the University of South
Carolina in 1994. She earned a B.A. in
Communications and Theatre Arts from
Susquehanna University in 1986. As a
professional actor and director, Dewey has
worked extensively up and down the east
coast, from Off-Broadway, to The
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C.,
to the Dock Street Theatre in Charleston,
SC and beyond. Dewey has been
recognized three times by the Kennedy
Center/American College Theatre Festival
for her achievement in Directing. Dewey is
an active member of the Southeastern
Theatre Conference, and Vice President of
the South Carolina Theatre Association.
Leigh Selting (National Executive
Committee, KCACTF) is an Equity actor,
free-lance director, and Equity stage
manager, and has worked in various
theatres around the country. Broadway
credits include work as a production
assistant on the 1996 Tony-nominated
Juan Darien: A Carnival Mass, directed by
Julie Taymor (Lion King), and as a
production assistant/stage manager for
the Broadway revival of The Little Foxes
starring Stockard Channing, and directed
by Tony Award-winner Jack O'Brien
(Hairspray, The Full Monty). He also
worked as the assistant to the director for
the Toronto production of Shirley
Valentine (starring Helen Reddy). OffBroadway and regional credits as an actor
include Little Heart, (with Michael Gross) a
full development reading for the New
Harmony Project, IN; The Marriage of
Bette and Boo, Orphans, and Balm in
Gilead, all for the Alley Theatre in
Houston, TX; The Heiress for the Arvada
Center in Denver, CO; the American
National Theatre Academy's touring
showcase with Marshall W. Mason, for
both the Douglas Fairbanks Theatre in
NYC and the John F. Kennedy Center in
Washington, D.C., and numerous
summers working with the National New
Play Network workshops in Washington,
DC.
Leigh holds the MFA in Acting and
Directing from the University of Idaho,
and a BA in Secondary Education
(Speech/Theatre and Journalism) from the
University of Nebraska at Kearney.
A former member of the board of directors
for the Rocky Mountain Theatre
Association (RMTA), Leigh received their
Presidents Award for outstanding and
dedicated service. In 1993, he was
selected as a participant in the 25th
Page 27
Anniversary KC/ACTF Symposium on
Acting led by Uta Hagen, at the John F.
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
As a director, his productions of Marvin's
Room, Dead White Males, and Frequency
98.6 were all selected as Region VII
finalists for KCACTF, and he has the
unique distinction of being the first twotime Regional Winner of the Irene Ryan
Acting Scholarship as a student long ago.
He is a past regional chair for Region 7 of
KCACTF, and is currently serving as a
Member-at-Large for the National
Executive Committee of KCACTF, is the
Artistic Director of Snowy Range Summer
Theatre, and particularly enjoys
developing new work.
The recipient of numerous extraordinary
merit awards for teaching, research, and
advising at the University of Wyoming, in
2006, Leigh was awarded the Ellbogen
Meritorious Classroom Teaching award
and selected as the Wyoming nominee for
the national CASE Teaching Award. He
was also appointed to receive the London
Semester Professorship for Spring 2012,
Spring 2003, and the Seibold
Professorship in 1996-97. Recently, he
was awarded his second Kennedy Center
Medallion of Excellence for his work as an
acting coach and service to KCACTF. He is
married to Marsha Knight, professor of
ballet at UW, and has two sons, one stepson, and is proud to have batted .750 in
the Broadway Show League!
Stephanie Shaw (I’m Talking Hats) is
the Instructional Assistant Professor of
Costume Technology at The University of
Mississippi, Ole Miss Theatre. BFA in
Theatre Design/Technology from West
Virginia University and MFA in Costume
Design/ Technology from Purdue
University. Served as costume shop
manager and costume technologist for
institutions such as Contemporary
American Theatre Festival, Purdue
University, Texas Shakespeare Festival,
Weston Playhouse Theatre, North Shore
Music Theatre, Des Moines Metro Opera,
and The University of Maryland, College
Park. Design credits include Hamlet
(Reduxion Theatre Co, NYC), The Merry
Wives of Windsor, Blood Brothers, and
The Taming of the Shrew (Texas
Shakespeare Festival, TX), The Spitfire
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
Grill (Ole Miss Theatre, MS), South Pacific
(Surflight Theatre, NJ), and the puppet
design/construction for Little Shop of
Horrors (Purdue University, IN).
Kathy Snyder (SM Respondent)
recently finished her tenth season at the
Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey
having done such shows as The Alchemist,
Othello, The Misanthrope, The Lion in
Winter, No Man‘s Land, Hamlet, The Bald
Soprano, and most of Shakespeare‘s
Henrys (Henry IV, Part One, Henry V, and
Blood and Roses: Shakespeare‘s Henry
VI). Other credits: 4000 Miles at Long
Wharf Theatre, A Picture of Autumn, Mary
Broome and What the Public Wants at the
Mint Theater, The Complete Works of
William Shakespeare (abridged), Glyn
Maxwell‘s Wolfpit and The Lifeblood with
the Phoenix Theatre Ensemble; The Man
Who Came to Dinner, ‗Art‘ and The
Drawer Boy with New Century Theatre;
Belize and Delicious Rivers with The
Talking Band at La MaMa, E.T.C.; Party
Time at the Napoli Scena Internationale
Festival in Naples, Italy; and All My Sons,
Proof, The Piano Lessons, Fully Committed
and the national tour of Romeo and Juliet
with Arkansas Repertory Theatre.
Richelle Thompson(DTM Respondent,
Sound Design) joined the Alabama
Shakespeare Festival as resident sound
designer in 2007. She holds a bachelors
degree from Southern Utah University and
has worked with companies including The
Alabama Ballet, The Alys Stephen‘s
Center, The American Folk Ballet, Nevada
Dance Theatre, and The Utah
Shakespearean Festival. While in
Birmingham, Richelle designed sound for
Birmingham Festival Theatre: Reindeer
Monologues, First Lady Suite, and The
Subject Tonight is Love (Alabama ACT
Best Play 2004), the 13th Street
Ensemble‘s Private Lives and T‘Bone N‘
Weasel and numerous productions for the
University of Alabama at Birmingham
while on staff with the Department of
Theatre. Previous sound designs at ASF
include: Dracula, Cowgirls, Hamlet, Lettice
and Lovage, All‘s Well that Ends Well,
Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Cymbeline, A
Christmas Story, A Christmas Carol the
Musical, Beehive, West Side Story, Fair
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and Tender Ladies, Misalliance, Doctor
Faustus, Over the Tavern, James and the
Giant Peach the world premiers of
Nobody, Rocket City, and the cooperative
production of The Nacirema Society with
the Alliance Theatre.
David Tidwell (Collecting Theatrical;
Pastel Rendering) is the Faculty Scenic
Designer at NC A&T State University and
is a Scenic Design member of USA 829.
He has been collecting prints, renderings
and related theatrical memorabilia for
more than 30 years.
Curt Toftland (Respondent;
SHAKESPEARE BEHIND BARS) is the
founder of the internationally acclaimed
Shakespeare Behind Bars (SBB) Program.
During his 20+ years of work with
Shakespeare in corrections, he has
created many innovative programs. From
1995 – 2008, he facilitated the SBB/KY
program at the Luther Luckett
Correctional Complex, producing and
directing 14 Shakespeare productions.
The 2003 SBB/KY production of The
Tempest was chronicled by Philomath
Films producing a documentar that
premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film
Festival and has screened at 40+ film
festivals around the world, winning a total
of 11 film awards.
In the summer of 2010, Curt partnered
with filmmaker/director/producer Robby
Henson and playwright Elizabeth Orndorf
to create Voices Inside, a 10 minute
playwriting program at the Northport
Training Center in Burgin, Kentucky. The
program has generated inmate authored
plays that have won 4 Pen Prison Writing
Awards. Additionally, prisoner plays have
been professionally produced at
Theatrelab, and Off-Off Broadway theatre
in New York City and given readings at
Actors Theatre of Lousiville.
On February 12, 2011, Curt created the
Shakespeare Behind Bars/Michigan
program at the Earnest C. Brooks
Correctional Facility in Muskegon Heights,
Michigan. Curt currently facilitates 8 SBB
circles in 2 Michigan prisons, working with
250 prisoners on a weekly basis.
For his work as a prison arts practitioner
using Shakespeare in corrections, Curt is
the recipient of 3 distinctive fellowships, 2
from Fulbright Foundation and 1 from the
Petra Foundation. Curt‘s 2011 Fulbright
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
Senior Scholar Fellowship took him to
Australia to share his SBB experience
with Queensland Correctional Centre in
Queensland. Curt‘s 2015 Fulbright Alumni
Initiative Grant will take him back to
Australia to direct plays written by
prisoners from the Voices Inside program,
produced by Queensland Shakespeare
Ensemble, and performed for prisoners in
the Southern Queensland Correction
Centre in Gatton.
Curt is a published poet and essayist.
Currently, his writing his own book,
Behind the Bard-Wire: Reflection,
Responsibility, Redemption, and
Forgiveness…The Transformative Power of
Art, Theatre, and Shakespeare.
Curt is the recipient of a number of
prestigious honors including a Doctor of
Humane Letters from Bellarmine
University, an Al Smith Fellowship in
playwriting from the Kentucky Arts
Council, the Fleur-de-lis Award from the
Louisville Forum, the Mildred A. Dougherty
Award from the Greater Louisville English
Council, and a Distinguished Alumni
Award from the University of Minnesota.
Annie-Laurie Wheat, Vice Chair
KCACTF Region 4 is a Professor of
Theatre at Winthrop University. She holds
a B.A. in Drama and Elementary Education
from Tusculum College and an M.F.A. in
Drama and Theatre from the University of
Georgia. She considers herself a theatre
generalist with a broad range of teaching
and professional experience. She has
directed pieces ranging from the rock
musical Hair to the Greek tragedy
Antigone to social commentary plays like
The Colored Museum and Dead Man
Walking. Currently she is directing for two
York County theatre groups who specialize
in new works including the Main Street
Theatre in Rock Hill, SC. She has designed
and built costumes for more than 100
drama, musical theater and opera
productions, as well as over 50 dance
pieces. Her recent design credits include
Thoroughly Modern Millie and Macbeth for
Anderson University. In 2010 she was
awarded the Faculty Student Life Award
from the Division of Student Life at
Winthrop University for her work with
students. Annie-Laurie is also active with
the National Association of Schools of
Theatre (NAST). In addition to
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accreditation site visits all over the
country she serves on the NAST
Commission on Accreditation.
Joel Williams (Region 4 Devised
Theatre Chair) is completing his thirtieth
year of teaching - twenty at Appalachian
State University, NC, and previously ten at
LaGrange College, GA. He received his
MFA in stage direction from the University
of Alabama. In addition to teaching, he
has worked professionally as a director,
designer, and actor. His most recent
credits include work with The Barter
Theatre and The Blowing Rock Stage
Company. Two of his productions have
been featured at previous Region IV
festivals, The Pursuit of Mr. Rockefeller
(2011) and A Lesson Before Dying (2001).
Joel is excited to be involved as the
coordinator of The Devised Theatre
Project.
Val Winkelman is Region IV Vice-Chair
of Design, Technology & Management
and is Interim Department Head for
Communication and Theatre at Auburn
University Montgomery. She is the
Production Manager for the Texas
Shakespeare Festival. She has directed
and/or designed costumes over 200 plays,
musicals, or ballets at Georgia Springer
Opera House, Circa Dinner Playhouse,
Alabama Dance Theatre, Dallas Repertory
Theatre, Theatre AUM, West Virginia
Lakeview Theatre, Stephen F. Austin State
University, University of TN Chattanooga,
and Houston Country Playhouse. She is
an Associate Member of the Stage
Directors and Choreographers Society.
She received an MFA from the University
of Texas in Austin and is aDistinguished
Alumna of the University of North Texas
where she received a BA. She and her
husband, Mike, are the proud parents of
Emily and Courtney.
Special Recognitions
KCACTF NATIONAL COMMITTEE 2014-2015
National Chair- David Lee Painter, University of
Idaho
National Vice Chair-John Binkley, California State
University, Northridge
Chair, National Playwriting Program-Jeanette Farr,
Glendale Community College, CA
Vice Chair, National Playwriting Program-Richard
Herman, University of Central Missouri
National Playwriting Program Member-at-LargeSteve Feffer, Western Michigan University
Regional Chair at Large-Leigh Selting, University of
Wyoming
National Chair, Design, Technology and
Management-Gweneth West, University of Virginia
National Vice Chair, Design, Technology and
Management-Rafael Jaen, University of
Massachusetts Boston
Design, Technology and Management Member at
Large-Ronn Campbell, Columbia Basin College, WA
Regional Chairs
Region 1 – Paul Ricciardi, Kingsborough Community
College and John Devlin, St. Michael‘s College
Region 2 - Scott Mackenzie, Westminster College
Region 3 – Michelle Bombe, Hope College
Region 4 – Jeff Green, Georgia Southwestern State
University
Region 5 – Rick Anderson, Kirkwood Community
College
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
Region 6 – Joy Pace, Artistic and Executive Director
of Itinerant Theatre
Region 7 – Kelly Quinnett, University of Idaho
Region 8 – Matt Neves, Riverside Repertory Theatre
National Playwriting Program Chairs
Region 1 - Robin Stone, Roger Williams University
Region 2 - Allyson Currin, George Washington
University
Region 3 - Jennifer Blackmer, Ball State University
Region 4 – David Moberg, Indian River State College
Region 5 - Patrick Carriere, Minnesota State
Moorhead
Region 6 – Jim Anderson, Texas A&M UniversityCommerce
Region 7 – Nancy Painter, Lewis Clark State
University
Region 8 – Jim Holmes, Loyola Marymount University
Design, Technology and Management Chairs
Region 1 - Charles Wittreich, Suffolk County
Community College and Daniel Kozar, Dean College
Region 2 - Greg Griffin, University of Findlay
Region 3 - Kathleen Donnelly, University of
Wisconsin Oshkosh
Region 4 - Jesse Dreikosen, Florida International
University
Region 5 - Sheila Tabaka, Southwest Minnesota
State University
Region 6 - Jason Foreman, Oklahoma City University
and Jon Young, University of Oklahoma
Region 7 - Rae Robison, Humboldt State University
Region 8 - Catherine Zublin, Weber State University
Page 30
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing
Arts
David M. Rubenstein, Chairman
Deborah F. Rutter, President
Darrell Ayers, Vice President for Education and Jazz
Susan Shaffer, Producing Director KCACTF
Gregg Henry, Artistic Director KCACTF
Festival Hosts
Deborah Liss-Green, Darton State College
Dr. John Ray Proctor, Albany State University
Festival Program Coordinators
Jeff Gibson, Festival Registrar
Rebecca Dodson,Technical Director Darton State
Derek Davidson, Dramaturgy
Jim Lile, Technical Liaison
Crosby Hunt, ITJA
Tony Galaska, Stage Management
Deborah Liss-Green, Program and Workshop
Coordinator
Deborah McInerney, Irene Ryan Auditions
Charlton James, Irene Ryan Auditions
Dewey Scott-Wiley, SDC Directing Initiatives
Joel Williams, Devised Works
Todd Ristau, Vice-Chair, NPP
Val Winkleman, Vice-Chair, DTM
NATIONAL PARTNERS OF THE AMERICAN THEATRE
AN ORGANIZATION OF THEATRE EDUCATORS AND OTHERS DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING
THE NEXT GENERATION OF THEATRE ARTISTS. MANY PARTNERS ARE CURRENT OR
FORMER MEMBERS OF THE KCACTF NATIONAL COMMITTEE
NAPAT PRESENTS
A CLASSICAL ACTING AWARD
AT EACH KCACTF REGIONAL FESTIVAL
A NATIONAL CLASSICAL ACTING AWARD
CO-SPONSORED BY CANADA’S
SHAW FESTVIAL
INCLUDING A SUMMER INTERNSHIP AT THE FESTIVAL
A NATIONAL DESIGN EXCELLENCE AWARD
CO-SPONSORED BY KOREAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS
A WEEK LONG VISIT TO KNUA IN SEOUL, KOREA
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
Page 31
PLAYWRITING EXCELLENCE AWARD
CO-SPONSORED BY UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS
INCLUSING A WEEK-LONG PLAYWRITING WORKSHOP AT UNLV
ALL AWARDS FUNDED BY TAX-DEDUCTABLE MEMBER DUES AND CONTRIBUTIONS
AND THE GENEROSITY OF OUR CO-SPONSORS
JOIN US: CONTACT MEMBERSHIP CHAIR JOYCE CAVAROZZI
[email protected]
KCATCF Region IV
Wishes to Thank
SETC
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
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Southeastern Theater Conference
For Continuing Support of
Acting and Design
Awards
KCACTF Region IV – Festival 47
Page 33