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Carolyn Anderson, Professor

M.A., University of Illinois

            Courses taught:
                    Introduction to Theater
                    Playwriting
                    Special Studies in Theater History & Theory: Women in the American Theater
                    History of American Theater
                    Production Seminar
                    Directing for the Theater
                    Advanced Directing
                    LS 2 American Political and Radical Theater

Carolyn Anderson is a director and a playwright specializing in the Living Newspaper form of theater with her collaborator, Wilma Hall. Their plays have been performed at Actor’s Alley Repertory Theatre in Los Angeles, Arizona Theater’s Cabaret Theater, Theater of the First Amendment in Virginia, Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany, Spa Little Theater at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, The Hyde Collection in Glens Falls, and other venues. Anderson and Hall’s noted play, FACES: A LIVING NEWSPAPER ON AIDS, has been produced by a variety of theaters and organizations around the country and was the subject of a documentary produced by PBS WMHT-TV and aired nationally. FOR BREAD AND FREEDOM, a Living Newspaper about work and labor in the United States, was staged for George Mason University’s Labor and Culture Conference by the Theater of the First Amendment and directed by Alma Becker.

At the Labor Heritage Foundation’s Great Labor Arts Exchange in 1996, Anderson was invited to lead a workshop and create a play using the Bread and Puppet Theater puppets. The result, THE SKY IS FALLING, is a piece about the plight of workers in a North Carolina poultry processing plant and was actually performed by workers at the strike site. Anderson has created three short plays on western landscape. TITANS IN THE EARTH is a one-act play concerning the Titan missiles that surrounded Tucson during the cold war, and GROUND ZERO, about the Mercury Test Site in Nevada and its impact on land and people, and THE LAST RIVER is a site-specific environmental theater piece written for the Southwest Center for Biological Diversity. Recently, Anderson and Hall participated in creating a film script for the National Park Service about the Saratoga Battlefield.

In addition to the variety of plays that Anderson has directed for Skidmore (including THREE SISTERS, THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE, EXECUTION OF JUSTICE, JACQAQUES BREL IS ALONE AND WELL AND LIVING IN PARIS, OUR TOWN, ENDGAME, KRAPP’S LAST TAPE, SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY, THE MOUND BUILDERS, and most recently, THE LIFE OF GALILEO. She and Hall have completed two other full-length plays. PARTING KIND, about pioneer women making the overland crossing in the mid-1800s, has received staged readings by three professional play development groups (Merely Players, The Women’s Project and Productions, and Calliope Theater of Williamstown, MA) and PROVING GROUND, a full-length play about burial of nuclear waste on sacred land.

Anderson has been a consultant to the New York State Council on the Arts, the Alliance of New York State Arts Councils, and the National Endowment for the Arts. She is an active member of Capital Repertory Theatre board of trustees, and a member of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education, and the Arizona Theatre Alliance.

M.F.A., University of Connecticut

            Courses taught:
                        Theater and Culture I & II
                        Special Studies in Theater History & Theory
                        The American Theater: Critical Issues
                        The Director as Collaborative Artist

Gautam Dasgupta, professor and chair, Department of Theater, spent the 1998-99 academic year as one of the inaugural Berlin Prize Fellows at the American Academy in Berlin located at the Hans Arnhold Villa on the Wannsee in the company of, among others, Arthur Miller, Edward O. Wilson, C.K. Williams, Robert Kotlowitz, Ward Just, Rowland Evans, Charles Maier, Donald W. Shriver, Anthony Grafton, Robert Wilson, Volker Schlöndorff, Henry Kissinger, and Richard C. Holbrooke. While at the Academy, he delivered a talk entitled "The Bicameral Mind: Writing Heiner Müller's Life" to a select Berlin audience. During his year-long residency, Dasgupta lectured at various academies and institutions in Berlin as well as in Poland, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, France, and Spain. Towards the end of September 1999 he also participated in a symposium on "Cross Gender/Cross Genre: Glamorous Issues in Theatre, Theory, Rock Music and Performance Art in the Late '60s and Early '70s (New York, London, Germany)" in Graz, Austria, to coincide with the opening of the Steirischer Herbst Festival of contemporary art and culture.

Dasgupta's recent publications include various essays and articles in the German press, including Der Tagesspiegel (Berlin), Berliner Morgenpost, Theater der Zeit, Theater der Welt, and Di: Rampel. He was interviewed extensively on German radio and television, including Deutsche Welle and Radio Kultur, as well as in German national press. He was the sole subject of a TV film make by the well-known German Director Alexander Kluge in which Heiner Müller's life and times and artistry were discussed, and which aired over several TV stations in Europe in February. Dasgupta has also contributed a chapter on "Theatre and Art Criticism Today" for an Italian book on art and culture to be published later this year. His recent book, Conversations on Art and Performance, co-edited with Bonnie Marranca, was issued earlier this year by The Johns Hopkins University Press/PAJ Publications.

Queens College, City University of New York
Studio & Forum of Stage Design, New York City
Member of Actors’ Equity Association and IATSE, United Scenic Artists #829

            Courses taught:
                    Introduction to Theater
                    Introduction to Acting
                    Intermediate Design: From Page to Stage
                    Stage Lighting
                    Special Studies in Design and Technical Theater
                    Scenic Design
                    LS2 Art and Politics in Weimar Germany
                    Acting Shakespeare
                    Senior Seminar
                    Audition Workshop
                    Scribner Seminar (Shakespeare was Jewish?)

It is with great pride that Lary Opitz calls himself a "total theatre artist." Since his first Off-Broadway credit in 1967, he has worked as actor, director, playwright, designer, producer, stage manager, technician, and consultant on countless productions in hundreds of theatres throughout the world (Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional, stock, touring and academic productions). A graduate of Queens College (CUNY) and Lester Polakov's renowned Studio and Forum of Stage Design, in 1980 he was one of only five lighting designers inducted into Local #829 of United Scenic Artists (IATSE) when there were only one hundred lighting designers in this professional organization governing design practices on Broadway. Resident designer for the world-famous José Limón Dance Company for nine years, his work has been seen in over thirty countries and throughout the United States, and include many New York and world premières for such choreographers as Alwin Nikolais, Meridith Monk, Sophie Maslow, Carla Maxwell, Lucas Hoving, Heinz Poll, Carlos Orta, Sarah Stackhouse, Jean Cebron, Susanne Linke, and Anna Sokolow. Capital District audiences have enjoyed his many theatre and dance designs at Skidmore Theatre, Capital Repertory Company, Proctor´s Theatre, The Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and the Egg.

Mr. Opitz has designed and been consultant on many major performance facilities including Capital Rep´s Market Theatre, the Empire State Performing Arts Center, Queens Playhouse, and the Janet Kinghorn Bernhard Theatre on the Skidmore campus. He and David Yergan created a new fully-equipped modular theatre space for the Saratoga County BOCES New Visions Theatre Arts Program and developed plans for a similar facility for the Warren County BOCES. Mr. Opitz was technical editor and feature writer for Theatre Crafts Magazine (TCI and Entertainment Design), the foremost periodical dealing with theatre design and technology.

An actor since 1965 and a member of Actors Equity, he has returned to the boards in recent years performing Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night, Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Aegeon in The Comedy of Errors, Ferapont in The Three Sisters, Marcus Andronicus in Titus Andronicus, Gremio in The Taming of the Shrew, Duncan, Porter and Scottish Doctor in Macbeth, Gonzalo in The Tempest, David in Blood Relative, and Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet. He is an active member of The Saratoga Shakespeare Company and New York's Instant Shakespeare Co. He had a featured role in the independent film Disoriented, and can be seen in Seabiscuit, The Skeptic (in production) and a documentary of What I Heard About Iraq (in production). He performed in What I Heard About Iraq Off-Broadway and on tour (NY and Canada). Last summer he performed in a development workshop of Diaghilev directed by Sheryl Kaller.

At Skidmore he has developed and taught many courses in the Theatre Department (acting, design, management, seminars, etc.), the Liberal Studies program (Arts and Politics in Weimar Germany), as well as a recent Scribner Seminar (Shakespeare was Jewish?). He has designed scenery, lighting, properties, sound and costumes for well over one hundred Skidmore Theatre productions. His most recent scenic designswere for Fefu and Her Friends and Macbeth. He regularly offers internship, career planning and audition workshops to students. Chairperson of the Theatre Department, he has been active on most of the major college committees and recently served as chairman of CAPT (Committee on Appointments, Promotions and Tenure). He created and maintains the Skidmore College Theater Webpage and currently serves as the college parliamentarian.

In 1988 Mr. Opitz began writing and directing. He has developed and directed five major adaptations: Woyzeck in Auschwitz, The Threepenny Opera, Bloomsday: 16 June 1904 (based on Ulysses by James Joyce), The Trial, The Merchant of Venice; as well as Arcadia, The Comedy of Errors, Macbeth (set in a South African Township), and RAB, a one-man show dealing with the life and works of Robert Burns. Intrigued with the idea of training the "total theatre artist," he continues to explore projects for which he serves as writer, director,designer and, occasionally, actor. In the spring of 2004 he directed the Skidmore Theatre production of Shakespeare's Macbeth (set in a South African Township). Last spring he directed BLOOD RELATIVE a new play dealing with Israeli/Palestinian issues. He recently wrote a new play with Ryan Emmons entitled Shakespeare of a Certain Age.

Mr. Opitz and Barbara Opitz developed The Shakespeare Programme, a respected study-abroad program based in London and associated with The British American Dramatic Academy. In 2003 he was a Scholar-in-Residence at New York University. While in New York and England, he developed a new course entitled Acting Shakespeare and had opportunites to work and meet with with Louis Scheeder of NYU's Classic Studio, Sir Peter Hall and John Barton, founders of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Patsy Rodenburg, vocal coach of the Royal National Theatre. He most recent lighting design was for the world and New York premiere of Marathon, by Edoardo Erba, newly translated by Israel Horovitz.

            Courses taught:
                    Introduction to Acting
                    Acting Styles
                    Special Studies in Acting
                    Directing for the Theater
                    Advanced Directing

Alma Becker was a resident director at the Eureka Theater, San Francisco; Bay Area Playwrights Festival, California; and New Dramatist, New York. She is a member of The Women's Project and Productions, NYC, where she has directed productions of OLD WIVES TALE by Julie Jensen and CONSEQUENCES by Kat Smith, and directed developmental workshops of new plays by Sally Nemith, Laura Harrington, Carolyn Anderson, and Wilma Hall. Becker's other New York directing credits include productions at Primary Stages, Theater for a New City, South Street Theater, the Bitter End, West Bank Downstairs Theater Bar, and the American Place Theater. She has directed several contemporary living newspapers including BREAD AND FREEDOM, ONE THIRD OF A NATION, and FACES: A LIVING NEWSPAPER ON AIDS. For the Department of Theater at Skidmore College she has directed RED NOSES, THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA, TONIGHT WE IMPROVISE, A SLIGHT CASE OF MURDER, WALL OF WATER, THE SCARLET LETTER, and VINEGAR TOM. Becker's award-winning productions in San Francisco include DADDIES, LANDSCAPE OF THE BODY, and MOURNING PICTURES and award nominated productions include FEFU AND HER FRIENDS and MARATHON '33. Becker was a recipient of a NEA Directing Fellowship and a Jerome Foundation directing grant. She has studied with Olympia Dukakis, Lloyd Richards, and Joe Chaikin.
 

Will Bond , Artist-in-Residence

AB in English Literature from Albright College, Reading, PA
MFA in Acting from the University of Pittsburgh

                Courses taught:
                     Intermediate Acting
                     Introduction to Acting
                     Special Studies in Acting
                     Body Centering
                     

Will Bond is Artist-In-Residence for the theater department. He is currently teaching the intermediate acting classes in acting. Mr. Bond is a founding member of the SITI company which was created by artistic directors Anne Bogart and Tadashi Suzuki. He has toured nationally and internationally in SITI's The Medium (Obie award winner), Small Lives/Big Dreams, Culture of Desire, Bob (Obies for light and sound and three Drama Desk Nominations including best solo performance of the year), War of the Worlds, War of the Worlds - The Radio Play, Cabin Pressure, bobrauschenbergamerica, La Dispute and has performed at New York City Opera in Lilith and Seven Deadly Sins. Will has created and performed with SITI in Death And The Ploughman which premiered in the U.S. at the Wexner Center for the Arts in the Spring '04 and had its NYC premier Nov/Dec '04 at the Classic Stage Company. Death and the Ploughman has since toured to the Melbourne Festival, Australia and the Singapore Arts Festival. Will just completed a run of bobrauschenbergamerica at the ART in Cambridge, MA. He has toured with Tadashi Suzuki and SCOT in Dionysus and with Robert Wilson's Persephone. Recent roles outside SITI include MacBeth, The Lover and Creditors at Actors Theatre of Louisville where he is an associate artist. Regional works include: Mystery of Irma Vep, Greater Tuna, Greetings, Holiday, Night Must Fall, Tempest, Hamlet. He will begin rehearsals this Winter with the SITI company on a new piece entitled Radio MacBeth. Will has taught in schools and festivals all over the world and in the US including, Williams College, Old Dominion Univ., Amherst, Harvard, Columbia Univ., NYU, Trinity College Dublin. Will has developed and collaborated on a performance called History of the World from the Very Beginning with composer/musician Christian Frederickson which will perform at the Caffe Lena November 4, 6, 7.
 

Kate Kelly, Artist-in-Residence

BA from Temple University
Training: Catholic University, Uta Hagen, Shakespeare & Co.

Courses Taught:
     Introduction to Acting
     Intermediate Acting
     Voice and Speech in the Theater
     Voice for the Actor
     Presentation Training For the First Year Experience

Kate Kelly has spent thirty years working in the theater as an actor and a teacher. In a career, beginning with the national tour of FINISHING TOUCHES by Jean Kerr (starring the legendary Barbara Bel Geddes), she has performed throughout the country in theaters such as Hartford Stage, Philadelphia Drama Guild, Delaware Theater Company, Portland Stage, American Stage Festival, the Folger Theatre.

She has performed in three National Tours and was a part the Broadway productions of THE UTTER GLORY OF MORRISEY HALL and the Jose Quintero revival of THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH. Off Broadway: Circle Rep, Playwrights Horizons, The Hudson Guild and St. Clements. A founding member of Capital Rep and it’s predecessor, Lexington Conservatory Theater, Kate appeared in over thirty productions from 1976 – 1995 with these two organizations. A sampling of roles include Annie: THE NORMAN CONQUESTS, Shelia: JOE EGG, Sally: LIPS TOGETHER TEETH A PART Kate: DANCING AT LUGHNASA, Bananas: THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES, Peg: PEG OF MY HEART, Millie: PICNIC and Timothea: SEA MARKS.

Kate has been a part of the Theater faculty at Skidmore for over sixteen years. She trained for four years with Uta Hagen and studied extensively in many Stanislavski-based techniques. Recently, she has joined the faculty of Shakespeare and Company and has participated in numerous voice workshops at The Linklater Center.

Marie Glotzbach , Lecturer

B.A., Clarke College
M.A., University of Redlands

                    Courses taught:
                            Introduction to the Theater
                            Introduction to Acting

Marie Glotzbach has been a teacher, director, and program administrator for thirty-five years, at both the secondary and college levels, in theatre and vocal music. She earned her Masters at the University of Redlands where she taught Shakespeare and acting courses and also directed for the theatre department. She has held a variety of leadership positions in both state and national theatre education organizations. In addition to teaching, her responsibilities at Skidmore include community relations and fund raising. She is a passionate advocate for the arts and their contribution to the education and life of every student.

Barbara Gulan , Lecturer

Hartt School of Music (University of Hartford)
Skidmore College UWW

                    Courses taught:
                           Acting For The Camera

Ms. Gulan is a professional actor, director and teacher, and a member of the Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA and Actors Equity Association. She most recently directed Drama Desk Nominee, Will Bond, in Stravinsky’s L’histoire du Soldat at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (David Allen Miller, Conductor) as well as his one man show, History of the World from the Very Beginning, at Historic Café Lena in collaboration with musician Christian Frederickson (Rachels). Other directing credits include: States of Undress: An Evening of One Act Plays, featuring new works by Chuck Mee, Caridad Svitch and Ellen McLaughlin (Theatre 59, NYC) Get In The Car (Provincetown Playhouse), Looking for the Pony (Manhattan Theatre Source) and Spring Fling (The Women’s Project). Directing Credits at Actors Theatre of Louisville include Megan Mostyn Brown’s (Labrynth Theater Co.) 4th of JULY, Picnic vii (Heidiman Award), and assistant director for Quincy Long’s musical The Lively Lad for the Humana Festival of New American Plays. She is the artistic director of ROUND ARTS, in Round Lake NY and has produced the SITI Company (with Skidmore College) in The Radio Play, the Rachels, and The ON AIR Play at Round Lake Auditorium. As an actor, Barbara has appeared in numerous Off-Broadway, regional, commercial, television and theatre productions. Her most recent work includes her portrayal of Ellen in the play Breathe, written by August Wilson’s protégé, Javon Johnson for the Hip Hop Festival/NYTW/Lark/Queens Theatre in NYC. She has originated roles in premieres by such noted playwrights as Joyce Carol Oates, William F. Buckely, Jr., John Ford Noonan, Tom Dzudzik, Charlene Gordon Redick, Jerome Harris, Julie Herbert, Javon Johnson, Jonathon Bolt, Robert Sherwood and Richard Dresser among many others. She has appeared in lead roles at the Wilma Theatre, Hartford Stage Company, Hartford Theatreworks, Studio Arena, ATL, Stamford Theatreworks, The O’Neill Center, and in NYC at The Orpheum, The Lucille Lortel, Circle Rep, Theatre Four, The Lark Theatre, The Women’s Project, and the Cherry Lane. Her television credits include: Law and Order, As the World Turns (recurring), Sopranos, Chappelle’s Show, Ed, Third Watch, Spin City and Stained Glass. Favorite Film roles include: The Floys of Neighborly Lane (Blockbuster Award, HBO US Comedy Arts Fest), Bitch in the Kitchen (HBO), The Wedding Toast (Showtime, Bob Balaban/Eric Begosian), Imaginary Heroes, Random Hearts, PS, Strictly Business, Dinner and a Movie and Till Proven Innocent. Her national TV and radio commercials include: Citibank, Ponderosa, Stanley Tools, Burger King, Murphy’s Oil Soap, Comet, Budget, and Kentucky Fried Chicken among numerous others. Ms. Gulan is an Associate Artist at Actors Theatre of Louisville, where she has worked extensively with Jon Jory, Michael Dixon, Bill McNulty and Marc Masterson. As a resident company member, she has appeared in over 30 productions (Creditors, Betrayal, AM Sunday, The Lover, As You Like It) and served as a career/acting mentor for the Acting Apprentice Company. Barbara has also created several classes for the School for Film and Television in NYC, including The Business of the Business and Pilot Season, as well as teaching Scene Study For Film. She currently teaches Acting for the Camera in the Department of Theatre at Skidmore College. Barbara attended the Hartt School of Music (University of Hartford) and has assisted in casting and production for Professional Artists, Binder Casting and Abrams/Gentile Entertainment in NYC. Her writing credits include translation for the animated series Kirby and original music for John Ford Noonan’s premiere, Listen to the Lions, in which she also appeared. Today, she leads the Mayor’s Ad-Hoc Committee for Round Lake Auditorium and is working to preserve the historic building and Ferris Tracker Organ. She lives in Round Lake with her husband and son Paddo, and is proudly completing her degree through Skidmore’s UWW program.

Barbara Opitz, Lecturer

B.A., Queens College, City University of New York
M.A., Teachers College, Columbia University

                    Courses taught:
                            Movement for the Theater
                            Advanced Movement for the Theater

Barbara Opitz is a graduate of New York City's High School of Performing Arts and has studied dance with a variety of famed performers. She holds a B.A. from Queens College (City University of New York) and an M.A. from Teacher's College, Columbia University. A professional dancer in New York City, she taught ballet for twelve years and has choreographed numerous dances and theater productions, including YENTL, THE THREEPENNY OPERA, MACBETH, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, ARCADIA and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM for the Theater Department, AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS for the Music Department, and THE WIZARD OF OZ for Home Made Theater. She has also taught in special education programs and on the elementary school level. Barbara teaches Movement for the Actor for the department. She is the Assistant Director of the Office of Student Academic Services.

Patricia Pawliczak, Costume Shop Manager, Lecturer

B.S., College of St. Rose

                            Courses taught:
                                    Costume Design
                                    Special Studies in Design and Technical Theater: Costume Construction
                                    Special Studies in Design and Technical Theater: Make-up

Patty Pawliczak has designed costumes for many shows at Skidmore including ARCADIA, THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH, BOOK OF TINK, and A SLIGHT CASE OF MURDER. When not locked away in the theater basement costume shop, Pawliczak works in many local theaters including Capital Repertory Theatre, New York State Theatre Institute, Home Made Theater, and Empire State Performing Arts Center. She has also worked on many commercials, videos, and feature films such as BILLY BATHGATE, THE AGE OF INNOCENCE, and UNDER HEAT.

David Yergan, Theater Manager and Technical Director, Lecturer

B.S., Skidmore College

                        Courses taught:
                                Design and Production
                                Special Studies in Design and Technical Theater
                                Advanced Theater Production
                                Theater Company

David Yergan is the theater manager and technical director for the Department of Theater at Skidmore College, where he designs lighting and sound for many productions.  He is also the lighting designer and production manager for Lake George Opera Festival for whom he has designed ten operas including last summer's well-received production, MADAMA BUTTERFLY.  He has designed lighting for Capital Repertory Theatre, Curtain Call Theater, Proctor's Theater, Saratoga International Theater Institute, New York State School of the Arts: School of Modern Dance, LeEnsemble, and close to a score of productions at Saratoga's Home Made Theater including recent productions of THE FOREIGNER (sound design), ALADDIN (lighting design), and OUR TOWN (lighting design).  Yergan spent many seasons at Capital Repertory Theatre as technical director, overseeing the renovation of an old supermarket into their theater, and many summers as manager of the Spa Little Theater for the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.  In New York, he worked with magicians Penn and Teller, running lights and sound for their Off-Broadway show, as well as working with Circle Repertory Company and many other Off-Broadway outfits.  He served as consultant in the development of several new local theater spaces, including those at the Saratoga Arts Council and BOCES.

Garett E. Wilson, Assistant Technical Director and Lecturer

B.A., University at Albany, State University of New York

                        Courses Taught:
                              Introduction to Design, Intermediate Design

Garett E. Wilson is a faculty member and scenic designer at Skidmore College. He is a graduate of SUNY Albany with a B.A. in Stage and Lighting Design, and has designed scenery, lighting, and has done stage work for numerous local and regional companies, including Maine State Music Theatre, Hampton Playhouse, Lake George Opera Festival, Portland Ballet, Capital Repertory Theatre, Yale Repertory, Candlewood Playhouse, Curtain Call Theatre, ACT, Berkshire Theatre Festival, NYSTI, and Shadowland Theatre. Some of his favorite productions include FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at the Maine State Music Theater, STEEL MAGNOLIAS and SLEUTH at Home Made Theater, THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA at Russell Sage College, DON GIOVANNI and THE BARBER OF SEVILLE with the Lake George Opera Festival, THE NUTCRACKER at the Egg with the Capital Ballet, and THE IMP OF SIMPLICITY, MACHINAL, and ARCADIA at Skidmore.

Stephanie Fleischmann , Lecturer

BFA, Wesleyan University
MFA, Brooklyn College, CUNY

                        Courses Taught:
                              Playwriting

Stephanie Fleischmann is a core member of the Playwrights Center, a 2007/2008 HARP resident artist at HERE Arts Center, and an alumnus of New Dramatists. Grants/Awards/Fellowships include: NYSCA Individual Artists Commission for her libretto for RED FLY/BLUE BOTTLE. N.E.A. Opera/Music-Theater (FAR SEA PHARISEE, music by Miki Navazio); 2 NYFA fellowships; Tennessee Williams Fellow in Playwriting, Sewanee, University of the South; Whitfield Cook Award (ELOISE & RAY, also Village Voice Season Highlight); Frederick Loewe Award (THE HOTEL CARTER, music by Jenny Giering); Pew Charitable Trust Philadelphia Theatre Initiative Project Grant (THE STREET OF USEFUL THINGS). Residencies: MacDowell, Hedgebrook, Mabou Mines/Suite, Voice & Vision. Additional works for theater: lyrics for THE GREEKS, PARTS 2 & 3 (Juilliard); RED FLY/BLUE BOTTLE (premiere HERE, NYC, April 2009); THE SECRET LIVES OF COATS, THE WONDER-SEEKER; VIPER; ORPHEUS (conceived by Kristin Marting, David Morris & Juliet Chia); WHAT THE MOON SAW; THE WORLD SPEED CARNIVAL, and THE POLISH DOORMAN. She has contributed texts to music by Olga Neuwirth: The Cartographer’s Song and ecstaloop, Basel, Berlin, the Aldeburgh Festival and elsewhere. Her work has been developed, presented and/or produced in NYC at: HERE Arts Center, New Georges, Interart Development Series, Soho Rep Summer Camp, the Public Theater, P.S. 122, the Knitting Factory, Bric, the Hangar Lab, BACA Downtown, and Lincoln Center Directors’ Lab. And elsewhere at: Empty Space Theater (Seattle), Roadworks (Chicago), Playwrights Foundation (San Francisco), Act II Playhouse (Ambler, PA), Hollywood Bowl, L.A. Theatreworks, New Theater (Miami). Publication: PLAY: A JOURNAL OF PLAYS, Playscripts.com, Smith & Krauss, Heinemann, Meriwether Press, Boosey & Hawkes, and The Brooklyn Review. Articles: BOMB, PARABASIS, I, Theatron. She was in residence at Harvard University and has taught at Bard College, the Playwrights Foundation, and Sewanee. MFA: Brooklyn College, where she studied with Mac Wellman.

Lisa Grady-Willis , Lecturer

BA, Cornell University College of Arts & Sciences
Masters of Professional Studies, Cornell University, Africana Studies and Research Center

                        Courses Taught:
                              Black Theater
                              Community-Based Theater

Lisa Grady-Willis  joins Skidmore College as a lecturer in the Theater Department following two years as Community Arts Relations Coordinator in the College of Arts & Sciences at Syracuse University. Prior to her Syracuse University appointment, she served  on the faculty of Cornell University’s Africana Studies & Research Center where she taught courses in first year writing and Black Theatre, and directed student productions.  Lisa’s background is in community-based arts, arts for social change, Black Theatre and Africana Studies .  She is a writer and performing artist who has worked in the area of arts and civic engagement as an  administrator, arts practitioner, and educator.  She has contributed to the strategic planning and long -term development  of local, regional and national arts organizations and coalitions such as the National Center for Creative Aging, where she served as Training Director,  and Alternate ROOTS (Regional Organization of Theaters South),  which she co-directed.  She has served as a consultant for groups ranging from arts councils and foundations to neighborhood improvement organizations,  and helped to launch initiatives ranging from  “The Community Arts Partnership Project “ (which included the implementation of a grant program) to “Resources for Social Change“ (which included the creation of a multidisciplinary arts faculty and curriculum).  

Kathy Mendenhall , Management Coordinator

B.S., Syracuse University School of Music

 Kathy Mendenhall is a graduate of Syracuse University School of Music and holds a B.S. in Music (Voice). She studied in NYC with the late Sebastian Engelberg and Bernard Fischer and was a scholarship recipient of the Metropolitan Opera Studio. Kathy switched her love of opera to the world of a cappella singing and has been the music director of the award-winning Capitaland Chorus of Sweet Adelines Inc. for the past 20 years. She is a voice teacher and well-respected vocal coach in the field of a cappella music for both male and female singers and the recipient of the Larry Dale Coaching Award and the Nancy Field Excellence in Leadership Award. Kathy is the Management Coordinator in our Theater department.

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Phone: (518) 580-5430  |  Fax: (518) 580-5444  |  kmendenh@skidmore.edu