Associate Professor W. Douglas Powers, Artistic Director and Department Head

B.A., Southeast Missouri State University

M.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City

M.F.A., Ohio University

Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia

As facilitator of the Performance Emphasis, Dr. Powers teaches Acting I, II, and III; Non-Western Theatre History; Dramatic Theory and Criticism; Directing, and he directs three mainstage productions each year. He is the author of An Eliadean Interpretation of Frank G. Speck's Account of the Cherokee Booger Dance. Other recent publications include "'Lifted Above the Hot Tin Roof': Tony Kushner's Angels in America as Midrash" in the quarterly journal The South Atlantic Reveiw , as well as entries in The Tennessee Williams Encyclopedia, The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Multiethnic American Literature, The Columbia Encyclopedia of Modern Drama, and The Encyclopedia of American Indian Literature. He is presently completing two manuscripts: one, a collection of critical essays on the plays of Cherokee playwright Lynn Riggs, and the other concerning musical theatre's role as myth-maker in the formation of American racial and sexual identity. A professional actor and director, Dr. Powers is a member of Actors' Equity Association.

Associate Professor Andrew Rich, Scenographer

B.A., University of Arkansas

M.F.A., Indiana University (Bloomington)

Professor Rich serves as scenic and lighting designer for departmental theatre productions and supervises the work of student designers in mainstage productions. Professor Rich facilitates the Production and Design emphasis of the theatre major and teaches courses in lighting and scenic design, theatre history, advanced scenic painting and play analysis. He has served for several years as a board member with the Chesapeake section of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology.  Professor Rich has co-authored articles on undergraduate learning and lighting technology and participates in an ongoing USITT project entitled "Tracing our Bloodlines:  the American Scenic Design Family Tree."  His research interests include scenic painting techniques and the history of theatrical design. 

Assistant Professor Erik Viker, Technical Director

B.S., University of Florida

M.F.A., University of Texas-Austin

Professor Viker is the technical director for theatre department productions and teaches courses in Stagecraft and Production, Stage Management and Dramatic Literature.  He serves as the facilitator for the Minor in Theatre and supervises student theatre technicians and managers.  Professor Viker’s articles on theatre education, organization and management have appeared nationally in Stage Directions magazine, Teaching Theatre and the quarterly journal Theatre Design and Technology.  He is a member of the United States Institute of Theatre Technology and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 636. His research interests include theatre production management and the role of technical theatre in liberal arts education.  

Assistant Professor Karen J. Gilmer, Costume Designer

B.A., West Chester University

M.F.A., Boston University

Professor Gilmer serves as the costume designer for the departmental theatre productions and teaches Costume Design. Costume Technology, Introduction to Theatre, Core Perspectives, and Stage Makeup and Wigs. She has designed costumes for the Huntington Theatre Company of Boston, Boston University Theatre, Boston Midsummer Opera, Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival, Walnut Street Theatre, the Lantern Theatre Company of Philadelphia, University of the Arts, Arden Theatre Company, Everyman Theatre Company of Baltimore, Morgan State University, the City Theatre of Pittsburgh, Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh, Point Park University, Point Park Dance Company, Bucknell University, Bucknell Dance Company, Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Monadnock Music Festival and Virginia Arts Festival. Her research interests include costume history; fabric dyeing, modification and painting; millinery; and mask making.

Dracula

Based on the novel by Bram Stoker, freely adapted by Crane Johnson

Masks by The Maskery (www.themaskery.com)

Fall 2006