Managing Director/Artistic Director/Theatre Professor
Resume:
SPECIFIC JOB TITLE
Seasoned, highly creative and resourceful Theatre Production expert with successful experience as Managing Artistic Director for two largest nonprofit theatres in South Dakota. Adept in all facets of theatre operations and production set up including, lighting designs, audio and visual effects. Thrives in directing high quality productions and recruiting high caliber professionals with a track record of success in ingeniously directing more than 100 productions with diverse concept types.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
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Theatre Production / Operations
- Appointed Managing Artistic Director of the Black Hills Playhouse (BHP) Custer, SD, a nonprofit summer stock theatre founded by the former Dean of the College of Fine Arts, USD. Managed all facets of production, human resources, recruiting, fundraising, marketing, budgeting, education, training, development, planning, outreach, programming, scheduling, facilities, and safety
- Served as Co-founder of Children’s Theatre Company of South Dakota, and Contractor for Storybook Island Theatre of Rapid City
- Ensured appealing artistic quality of all programs at Sioux Falls Community Playhouse (SFCP) and served as production director of 42 productions including A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS, YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU, AMADEUS, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, and KISS ME KATE.
- Creatively portrayed various roles and brought each assigned character to life; theatre plays include H.M.S. Pinafore (DICK DEADEYE, SFCP), Dakota Carol (PRINCIPAL, DTC), Streetcar (STANLEY, SFCP), On Golden Pond (CHARLIE, SFCP), Miss Julie (JEAN, USD), and Midsummer Night’s Dream (BOTTOM, USD), among others.
Management & Public Relations
- Worked in partnership with board, university, the public, and governmental entities
- Hired 60–80 people annually to successfully present a season of 5 or 6 Black Hills Playhouse productions
- Raised attendance rate at SFCP by 150%, income by 200%, and won four awards in Dundalk (Ireland) International Theatre Festival
- Significantly increased budget for BHP/USD by 300% ($36,000 surplus in final season), as well as expanded recruitment and retention with 65% average alumni.
- Increased South Dakota Arts Council grants by 300%.
- Successfully recruited Ralph Koltai (the Royal Shakespeare Company’s only resident designer) as a production designer
- Handled budget preparation and maintenance; oversaw and strengthened board relations; and managed facilities maintenance, public and community relations, marketing, fund raising, planning, and bookkeeping.
- Spearheaded major fund drive and renovation, and performed long-range planning, public relations, stewardship, season selection, volunteer coordination, grant applications, recruiting, policy preparation, and scheduling
Education / Teaching, Training and Supervision
- Associate Professor at the University of South Dakota; thoroughly planned workshops and classes, as well as taught graduate and undergraduate courses during summer and annual residency at USD or East Los Angeles College (ELAC).
- Managing Artistic Director of the Black Hills Playhouse
- Taught coursework during the residencies: course topics include acting, auditioning, management, and directing
Selected Directorial Experience
- BHP, 38 productions, including EQUUS, MERCHANT OF VENICE, PETRIFIED FOREST, RUDDIGORE, CABARET
- Black Hills Community Theatre [BHCT], EVERBODY LOVES OPAL
- BHCT, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK
- BHCT, THE BIBLE: The Complete Word of God (ABRIDGED)
- Lyceum Theatre, Arrow Rock, MO [LT], THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER
- East Los Angeles College [ELAC], THE EXONERATED
- East Los Angeles Actors Ensemble [ELAE], Equity Premiere of 2110
- USD, PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD
- Pierre Players [PP], Pierre, SD, THE DIVINERS
- PP, GLASS MENAGERIE
- USD, CABARET
- South Dakota Centennial Command Performance, Riggs Auditorium, Pierre, SD (Director)
Acting
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- USD, Malvolio, TWELFTH NIGHT
- USD, Petkoff, ARMS AND THE MAN
- USD, Ghost/Gravedigger, HAMLET
- Muddy Waters Theatre [MWT], St. Louis, MO, Big Daddy, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF
WORK HISTORY
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University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD Managing Artistic Director (BHP), Custer, SD; Associate Professor of Theatre
SFCP, Sioux Falls, SD Managing / Artistic Director
Black Hills Playhouse Custer, SD Artistic Director / Production Director / Technical Director / Master Electrician
WPTA-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN Cameraman / Lighting Designer
Credithrift Financial Services, Ft Wayne, IN Manager Assistant
Other Representative Artistic Theatre Work Actor, Lighting Designer, Technical Director, Costume Assistant, Props
EDUCATION
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Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Directing
Master of Arts in Theatre
University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Classical Theatre (summa cum laude)
Southern Oregon University, Ashland, OR
Professional Training
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Jerzi Grotowski (paratheatrics), Lewis and Clark College, OR
David Boushey (weapons combat), Ashland, OR
Dick Nichols (LeCoque method), Ohio University, Athens, OH
Affiliations
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Member of Actor’s Equity Association, South Dakotans for the Arts,
Consultant with the Technical Assistance Group (TAG) of South Dakotans for the Arts
Selected Awards and Distinctions
- Best Director, Audience, and Best Show awards at Dundalk International Theatre Festival
- Production Manager for Governor’s Command Performance at South Dakota’s Centennial Celebration
- Member of peer panels for numerous state and regional arts councils, adjudicator for numerous South Dakota high school play and oral interp contests
- Member, Playreading Committee, BHCT (Jan 2009 to present)
- Adjudicator, South Dakota High School Activities Association [SDHSAA], State Oral Interp Contest (Dec 2008)
- Adjudicator, SDHSAA Regional One-Act Contest (Jan 2008)
- Adjudicator, SDHSAA, State Orol Interpretation Contest (Nov 2007)
- Adjudicator, SDHSAA, Regional Oral Interpretation Contest (Oct 2007)
- Adjudicator, SDHSAA, Regional Speech Contest (Nov 2006)
- Volunteer Host (Properties, Costumes, Makeup), 2006 National Veteran’s Performing Arts Conference, Rapid City (Award)
- Member, Board of Directors, Allied Arts Fund, Rapid City (2006-present)
- Volunteer/Consultant, 2005 National Veteran’s Performing Arts Conference, Denver, CO
- Member, Governor’s 2004 Initiative Task Force
- Judge, Miss Western Plains/Miss West River Pageant (2001)
- South Dakota Arts Fellow
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