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Honors & Awards | Teaching Experience & Positions | Directing & Facilitation | Performances | Writing & Editing | Mask Making | Presentations | Other

Education

M.A. in Theatre, Education, and Social Change, Empire State College, New York, 2003

B.A. in Anthropology with High Honors, Charter Oak State College, Connecticut, 1994

Completed Coursework in Anthropology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., 1989

Graduate, Dell ’Arte School of Physical Theatre, Blue Lake, California, 1986

Professional Seminars:

Alan Arkin, Improvisation, 3-day intensive, 2003


Zajal, Community School of Music and Arts, Belly Dancing, 2002-2003


Binghamton University, School of Education and Human Development, Dual Disorders: Substance Abuse Issues and Mental Illness; workshops on the intersection of art, performance, and mental health, 1998-2003 (annual 2-day seminars)


Balinese performers, shamans, and artists, Bali, 2001


Powerhouse/New York City film and stage company, Performance, 7-day intensive, 2000

Sean Curran, Modern Dance, 3-day intensive, 2000


Patch Adams/Southern Tier AIDS Program, Humor in Medicine, 1999


Geoff Navias, Open Hand Theatre Company, “The Many Faces of Creative Play: Children and Masks,” “Using Masks to Encourage Storytelling,” “Drawing with Groups,” 1996


Craig MacDonald, Scene Study, 8 weeks, 1996


Connecticut Humanities Council and the Hartford Stage Company; “The Critical Eye: Critical Methods of Play Analysis,” 2-day seminar, 1994


Connecticut Humanities Council, West African Dance, 8 weeks, 1993

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Honors and Awards

Awarded Special Opportunities Stipend, Ireland Mask Project, 2003

Elected Regional Chair, New York State Theatre Education Association (NYSTEA), 2003

Awarded grant, Partners Arts Education, Who’s Telling the Story? Mayan History, Culture, and Performance, 2003-2004

Awarded grant, Good Shepherd Foundation, Ray of Sunshine Project, 2003

Fellowship, Civic Fellowship, Cornell University, Ray of Sunshine Project, 2002-2003

Awarded grant, Partners for Arts Education, Bali: Art, Culture and Performance, 2002-2003

Elected Board Member, NYSTEA 2002- present

Awarded Special Opportunity Stipend, humanitarian clowning in Russia with Patch Adams, 2001

Awarded grant, Center for Religion, Ethics, and Social Policy, Cornell University, humanitarian clowning in Russia with Patch Adams, 2001

Awarded Local Hero Award, Community Wellnet, Ithaca, N.Y., 2001

Awarded grant, United Way Venture Grant; Youth Alive! Performance project with Roberson Museum, 2001

Awarded Decentralization Grant, Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County, Babes in Arms productions, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000

Honored for Afrocentric theatre programming at Southside Community Center, Ithaca, N.Y.; Jacqueline Melton-Scott, executive director, 1995

Awarded grant, Durland Alternative Library, Babes in Arms’ Passages, 1995

Awarded Presidential Scholar finalist (one of two people from New York State), 1983

Awarded full scholarship, Norton National Exchange Student Award; 3 months in applicant’s choice of countries (Switzerland), 1983

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Teaching Experience

Recent Courses Taught

Commedia dell’Arte (introductory, advanced student, professional workshops)


Mask Making (introductory, advanced student, professional workshops)


Physical Theatre (introductory, advanced student, professional workshops)


Acting (high school, performance school, college level, professional workshops)

Teaching Positions

Teaching Artist, Hangar Theatre, 1995-present

Stage Combat, Acting II, Acting III, Masks, adult classes in Improvisation and Scene Study

Teaching Artist, CSMA, 1995-present

Improvisation (adult class), Musical Theatre Masterclass, Shakespeare, Arts All around You, Postcards from America

Independent Acting Coach, 1997, 2002-present

Monologues, Physical Theatre/Acting, Scene Study

Guest Lecturer, Undergraduate Programs

SUNY Cortland: Speech Pathology Department, “The Role of Play in Providing Treatment,” 2003-present


Cornell University: Education Department, “Empowering Education: Theory and Practice,” “Using Clowning Exercises to Promote Public Speaking Skills,” 2003


Ithaca College: Theatre Department, Dr. Norm Johnson, “Mask Making with Aquaplast,” 2003

Acting Teacher, New York State Theatre Education Association Student Conference, 2002-2004

Melodrama, Comic Theatre and Clowning, Commedia dell’Arte, Masks

Teaching Artist, Ray of Sunshine Training Program, Cornell University/ Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier, 2003-2004

Mime, Commedia dell’Arte, Movement, Clown Therapy, Comedy, Contact Improvisation

Guest Teacher, Performing Arts Programs in High Schools

Commedia dell’Arte, Physical Theatre, Masks

Brighton High School, Rochester, N.Y., 2004


Indian River School of Performing Arts, Philadelphia, N.Y., 2003


Manhasset High School, Manhasset, N.Y., 2001, 2002


Garden City High School, Garden City, N.Y., 2001, 2002


Holy Trinity High School, Hicksville, N.Y., 2002


Ossining High School, Ossining, N.Y., 2000


Croton-on-Hudson High School, Croton, N.Y., 2000

Visiting Artist, Black Umbrella Theatre Company, Ithaca, N.Y., 2001, 2002

Commedia dell’Arte and Shakespeare

Teacher, Theatre for English Credit Program, Evergreen High School, Vestal, N.Y., 1998-2002

Acting Teacher, Cornell Summer Program, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., 1996

Drama and Movement Teacher, Greater Hartford Academy of Performing Arts, Hartford, Conn., 1990-1994

Acting I, Acting 4, and Contact Improvisation

Artist-Mentor, Quirk Middle School/Connecticut Commission on the Arts, West Hartford, Conn., 1994

Co-Chair/Teacher, Job Training in the Arts Program, Greater Hartford Academy of the Performing Arts, Hartford, Conn., 1993

Drama Teacher/Director, Bulkeley High School, Hartford, Conn., 1992-1993

Drama Teacher, Mime Coach, Hartford Children’s Theatre Company, West Hartford, Conn., 1990-1992

Drama Teacher, Connecticut Drama Association Convention, 1990-1993 (annual event)

Set Design Teacher, Lighting Designer, West Middle School Committee, Asylum Hill Project, Hartford, Conn., 1992

Drama Teacher, Gifted and Talented Program, Farmington School District, Farmington, Conn., 1990-1991

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Directing and Facilitation

Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA), Director

Harry Potter and the Enchanted Q-tip, 2003


Bad Cats, 2003, 2000


The “Y” Files, 2002


Titanic · la Disney, 2002, 1999


Stranded! 2001


The Further Adventures of Arabella Swift, Private Eye, 2001, 1998


The Search for Hamlet, 2000


Star Wars, the Musical, 1999, 1997


As You Like It, 1997


The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, 1996

Hangar Theatre, Director

Empire State Partnership plays, 1995-present


TST BOCES Alternative School productions, 2002, 2003


Next Stage Winning Plays, 1998-2001

Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier, Mental Health Players Department: Mental Health Players, Peacetown Puppets, Ray of Sunshine Project, Director, Facilitator

Selected Mental Health Player Shows:

Most local schools, What Is Bullying? and Dangerous Decisions, 1998-present


Johns Hopkins University and Bassett Clinic; training for pediatricians 2002-2004


Broome County Jail; Relationships, Communication, and Responsibility, 2003-2004


WSKG, Origins of Violence, April 2003, Teen Suicide, November, 2003, January, 2004


SUNY Binghamton, MSW training, 2003


Suicide Prevention Conventions, 2001, 2002


SUNY Binghamton, Psychology of Race, 1999, 2000, 2001

Selected Puppet Shows, 2001- present:

Paper Bag Princess (adaptation)


Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad


Prince Ahmed and Peribanou (adaptation)


Sam Can!


Buzz Off!


Various puppet shows for Binghamton’s World AIDS Day Observances

Ray of Sunshine, Performance Troupe/Therapy Troupe, 2003-2004:

Good Shepherd Nursing Home, Lakeside Nursing Home, Oak Hill Manor, New York State Veterans’ Home of Oxford, Rivermede Nursing Home, Lourdes Hospital

Gateway Project, Moravia, Director, Visiting Artist

Who’s Telling the Story? Mayan History, Culture, and Performance, 2003-2004


Bali: Art, Culture and Performance, 2002-2003


Japanese Folktales and Bun Raku, 2001-2002


Greek Mythology, 2000-2001


The Underground Railroad, 1999-2000

North Side Youth Theatre, Director, Unify America, 2002

Bah! Humbug! Players, A Christmas Carol (adapted for a radio production), 2002

Babes in Arms Company, Artistic Director and Director:

Marassa and Midnight, 2001


Live! And in Color! 2000


Aunt Jemima and the Traveling Menstrual Show, 1999


Ain’t I a Woman and a Sister (commissioned: National Women’s Rights Museum), 1998


Sally’s Rape, 1997


Big Butt Girls and Hard-Headed Women, 1997


Two or Three Things I Know for Sure, 1997


WOMBman Wars, 1996


Passages, 1995

Firehouse Theatre, Director

The Vagina Monologues, 2001


Sleuth, 1998


The Sea Horse, 1997


A Christmas Carol, 1996


The Real Thing, 1995

Ithaca High School, Director

Anything Goes, 2000


Koi and the Kola Nuts, 1999


Into the Woods, 1999


Oklahoma! 1998


Pullman Car Hiawatha and The Dramatic Circle, 1997


Fame, 1997


Lysistrata, 1996


One Acts, 1996


The Wiz, 1995-1996

Ithaca Opera, Director/Choreographer

El Retablo de Maese Pedro, 1998


Of Thee I Sing, 1996

Dryden Footlighters, Director

Moon Over Buffalo, 1998


Above the Clouds (Dryden Bicentennial Celebration), 1997


Steel Magnolias, 1994

Many Faces Behind the Mask, Co-Director, Many Faces Behind the Mask, school year 1996-1997

Cornell Savoyards, Director, Trial by Jury, 1995

Connecticut Heritage Productions, Director, The Attic, 1994

Greater Hartford Academy of Performing Arts Fund-Raising Performance, Director, Marco Polo Sings A Solo, 1994

Intergenerational Theatre Group, Director, Chestelm Convalescent Home, Connecticut, 1992

The Gilbert School, Director, Godspell, 1992

Kids on the Block, Director/Coordinator, Differently-Abled Puppet Series, 1989-1992

Wesleyan University, Director, The Madwoman of Chaillot, performed in French, 1989

Oddfellows Playhouse, Staff Member/Director, small original productions by class ensembles, winning student playwrights, and urban performing troupes, 1985-1994

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Performances

Finger Lakes Women’s Chorale Ensemble, alto, 2003-2004


Various plays by Third Floor Writers, Third Floor Productions, Ithaca, 1995-present


Clown Shows and interactive “clown therapy,” Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kabul (all with Patch Adams), Rome, Pisa, Lucca, Napoli, and Broome and Tompkins Counties, New York, 2001-present


Mental Health Players, includes simulated patients: training for pediatricians, high school students with destructive behaviors, and people with schizophrenia, Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier, Binghamton, 1998-present


Sam Can!, Buzz Off!, The Paper Bag Princess, Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, Sam, Arte, Magic Butterfly, Dragon, Puppet with AIDS, Buzz, Peacetown Puppets, Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier, Binghamton, 1998-present

Radio Commercials, REP Studios, Ithaca, 1996-present


Dracula (abridged), Mina, The Dracula Project, Harpursville, New York, 2003


Marassa and Midnight, Live! And in Color!, Aunt Jemima and the Traveling Menstrual Show, Ain’t I a Woman and a Sister (commissioned by the National Women’s Rights Museum), Sally’s Rape, Big Butt Girls and Hard-Headed Women, Two or Three Things I Know for Sure, WOMBman Wars, Passages, Babes in Arms productions, Ithaca, 1995-2001


The Magic Bird, ArteGiocco, commedia-style original piece, Ithaca Festival, 2002


A Short Evening of Monologues, Rude and Bold Women Celebration, Binghamton, 2001


Medea--the Clown Version, Medea, Tompkins-Cortland Community College Professors, Cornell University, 2002


Reduced Shakespeare Company’s Hamlet, Laertes, Horatio, First Night, Binghamton, 1999


El Retablo de Maese Pedro, Enamored Moor, Don Gayferos, Ithaca Opera, 1998


Chimera, Chimera, Kitchen Theatre, Ithaca, 1996


The Baltimore Waltz, The Third Man, Manchester Community and Technical College faculty production, Connecticut, 1994


Haiku, Louise, Connecticut Heritage Productions, 1994


They’re Playing Our Song, Sonia, Greater Hartford Academy of Performing Arts faculty showcase with original touring star Kevin Daly, Connecticut, 1993


Kids on the Block, Puppeteer, Tri-County region, Connecticut, 1987-1992


Commedia dell’Arte (original plays), Pantalone, Brighella, Arlecchino, Columbine, Oddfellows Playhouse, Connecticut, 1983-1985


Free Radicals, commedia dell’arte/physical theatre company, many characters, especially Coviello, 1987-1989


Summer Circus, stilts and clowning, Oddfellows Playhouse, Connecticut, 1986-1988


Various original works, Women’s Mime and Mask Ensemble, California, 1986


Two Gentlemen of Verona (adaptation), Crab the dog (on stilts) and vocal soloist, Dell’Arte School of Physical Theatre touring show, California, 1986

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Writing and Editing

Writer: Education Modules

Bali Module has been sold to half a dozen school districts; publication likely


"Group Playwrighting" has been used by school teachers, artists, and community organizations

Writer: Plays

Mental Health Players shows on suicide, relationships, mental illnesses, diversity, violence, sexuality


Peacetown Puppet Scripts: Paper Bag Princess (adaptation), Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, Prince Ahmed and Peribanou (adaptation), Sam Can!, Buzz Off!, and for Binghamton’s World AIDS Day Observances


Marassa and Midnight, for Babes in Arms, currently being revised for further production; preliminary reviewer claimed “will become a children’s classic”


Koi and the Kola Nuts, for Ithaca High School, currently being revised for further production, favorably reviewed


Passages, for Babes in Arms, favorably reviewed


Quack! for the Free Radicals, reviewed favorably for Connecticut’s Finest magazine

Writer: Mystery, Murder and Adventure Events, 1993-present

Yearbook Editor, Greater Hartford Academy of Performing Arts, 1993, 1994

Writing and Technical Consultant, Joe Young Productions (Joe...Picture This! Show), 1992-1993

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Mask Making

Commedia dell’Arte Masks (Brighton High School) 8 commissioned commedia dell’arte masks, 2003-2004

Community School of Music and Arts, Faculty Show, Ithaca, 2003

Ireland Mask Project, “Green Man,” “Aonbarr,” “Forgall the Wily,” 2003

Manhasset High School, Long Island, 12 commissioned Commedia dell’Arte Masks, 2002

Bali Project, “Barong,” “Rangda,” 2001

Koi and the Kola Nuts, “Sky Chief,” mentor for 20 mask makers, Ithaca High School, 2000

Raven Steals the Light, “Raven,” Roberson Museum/Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier, Binghamton, 1999

El Retablo de Maese Pedro, “Don Gayferos,” “Enamored Moor,” “Moorish King,” “Melissandra,” Ithaca Opera, 1998

Animal Masks and Commedia dell’Arte Masks, Oddfellows Playhouse, Connecticut, 1984- 1985, 1986-1994

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Presentations

“Afghanistan: What Is Happening and Why?” Ithaca High School, Global Studies, 2004


“Education Theory, Empowerment, and Clowning,” Communications 405, Professor Jethro Hayman, Cornell University, 2003


“Clowns as Part of a Wellness Team in Hospitals and Nursing Homes,” BARTELS fellows and graduate students, Action Learning Network, students and faculty, Cornell University, 2002, 2003


“Art and Mental Health” for nurses, doctors, and aides, Juvenile Psychiatric Unit, Cayuga Medical Center, 2002, 2003


“Commedia dell’Arte,” “Melodrama Lives!” “The Gentle Art of Clowning,” “Bali: An Arts-Integrated Multicultural Classroom Module for Grades 4 through 7,” “Group Playwrighting,” “Masks: Making, Movement, and Taksu,” New York State Theatre and Education Association annual Theatre Educators’ Conferences, 1999-Present


“Afghanistan: What Is Happening and Why?” each of the eighth grade classes, Dewitt Middle School, 2002


“Clowning as a Modality for Making Curricular Content and Context More Accessible to Struggling Students,” Community College Professors, International Community College Coalition, Cornell University, 2002


“Clowning in Afghanistan,” Sertoma Club, Binghamton, 2002


“Afghanistan: What is Happening and Why?” Maine-Endwell High School, 2002


“Clowning in Afghanistan,” for civic leaders, Monday Afternoon Club, Binghamton, 2002


“In Russia with Patch,” Center for Religion, Ethics, and Social Policy, Cornell University, 2001


“Group Playwrighting,” Balanced Mind Curriculum Conference, 2001; invited but unable to present due to scheduling conflict


“Communication and Performance,” Empire State College MALS students, 2000

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Other

Stage Combat Trainer, Trumansburg High School, Ithaca High School, Community School of Music and Arts (1994-present)


Selection Committee, Next Stage Winning Plays, 1998-present


Board Member, Underground Railroad Commission, 2001, 2002


Stage Combat choreographer for Wit’s End, Ithaca College, 1997


Stage Combat Trainer for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Hangar Theatre, 1997


Selected Panelist, Connecticut Commission on the Arts, Arts in Education Grants, 1994


Appointed Board Member, Juvenile Diversion Board, Connecticut 1992-1994


Recreation Assistant, Rensselaer County Day Treatment Program for Developmentally Disabled Adults, summers of 1982, 1984