EDUCATION

M.F.A.

Goddard College
     Plainfield, Vermont

Dramatic Writing

2009

EMPLOYMENT

Primary responsibilities entail teaching courses at both the graduate and undergraduate level, to include but not limited to: Acting, Playwriting, Directing, Dramatic Literature, Theatre Careers, Creativity, and Storytelling. Additional responsibilities include the continued development of the MFA in TYA as it evolves, serving as Internship Coordinator to all BFA students, directing productions, serving as faculty mentor on student devised, directed, and written projects, and serving on thesis and curriculum committees, With a student population of 46,000, 40 theatre faculty and over 350 declared theatre majors, the University of Central Florida Conservatory Theatre is in partnership with three equity houses – The Orlando Repertory Theatre, Seaside Music Theatre in Daytona Beach, and The Orlando Shakespeare Festival. Additional partnerships also exisit with Walt Disney World Entertainment, Universal Studios, Seaworld, and Busch Gardens. University of Central Florida.

*Chair, Curriculum Development - Responsible for development and implementation of a unique and innovativeMFA In Theatre for Young Audiences. One of only a six in the nation, this MFA program places equal emphasis on devolping the artist, the teacher, and the scholar..

*Creator/Director: Writes of Spring – a writing in the schools program designed to showcase the writing of area youth through staged readings and fully mounted productons of their original work.

Responsible for all phases of artistic programming for this 1.4 million dollar professional theatre. Duties included season selection, directing mainstage productions, working with equity and non-equity actors, hiring and supervision of all artistic and technical personnel and oversight of the education department. Additional duties included cultivating partnerships with the Orlando Fringe Festival and Universal Studios, and serving as liaison to the board, the community and the media.

*Responsible for oversight of a 2 million dollar renovation and the launching of an inaugural season.

Dedicated to developing life skills in young people through the performing arts, ACT was founded in 1984 with 8 children rehearsing on a basketball court. Upon my retirement 17 years later, ACT employed a staff of 15 artists, technicians, and educators who worked directly with over 300 young actors ages 5 - 18. Duties included season selection, casting, hiring and supervision of all employees, marketing, grant-writing, fundraising, and serving as liaison to the community, the Board of Directors, and the media.

*Award winner: Wednesday's Hero, for positive impact on the youth of North Central Florida.

Playwright * LYRICIST * ScreenWriter
Freelance

Nationally and internationally produced and published playwright/lyricist. Over 100 fully mounted productions in Europe , Canada , South America , and the U.S. Currently under contract to write the the screenplay for, Beneficial Flowers, a feature length motion picture.

*Over 100 productions in 33 different states.

*Recently Produced at the South London Theatre, London, England.

*Featured Playwright in Audition Monologues for Young Actors, Volume II. Meriwether Publishing,

Founded by John Graham-Pole, M.D., this internationally recognized program brings the arts, in all their forms, into the healthcare setting. Responsibilities included planning and implementation of symposia and arts programming, grant-writing, public relations and marketing, staff supervision, and reporting to the Board of Directors. Also served as an Artist in Residence.
Creator of "Prescription: Kids," a program that paired young actors from All Children's Theatre with terminally ill pediatric patients in an artistic setting. Based at the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Shands Hospital/University of Florida.

*Creator, Prescription:Kids

Professor of Theatre at one of the top ten community colleges in the nation. 23,000 students, 843 faculty. Duties include teaching four theatre classes per semester, including but not limited to, Fundamentals of Acting, Acting I, Acting II, and Introduction to Theatre, incorporating Stanislavski, Meisner, Spolin, and Linklater techniques. Additional duties encompass directing mainstage productions, overseeing internship programs and student directed shows, and serving on committees.

*Voted Teacher of the Year 1999-2000.

The Guardian ad Litem Program represents children caught up in the judicial system due to abuse, abandonment, and neglect. Guardians are court appointed volunteers who advocate for the best interest of dependent children in court. Duties include planning and implementation of marketing and public relations designed to raise community consciousness, recruitment and training of new guardians, and grant writing.

*Creator, Light of Hope Candlelight Vigil featuring keynote speaker Senator Rod Smith.

PUBLICATIONS

Stage of the Arts . “The Gatekeepers of Tomorrow’s Plays.” {Winter 2004}. 29 – 33.

Connecticut Family Today Magazine . “A Lesson From Art That Carries Over Into Life,” Hartford, Connecticut, March, 2003

International Center of Women Playwrights . “One Theatre World,” {Summer 2004} 2-3.

Audition Monologues for Young Actors, Volume II , Colorado Springs , Colorado : Meriwether Publishing, Summer, 2001. Over 5000 copies sold

Woolfie, Venice, Florida : Eldridge Publishing, 2000.

Incantation, Venice, Florida : Eldridge Publishing, 1999.

North Florida School Days, “Using the Arts to Teach Non-Arts Subjects,” {January, 1996} 15.

Arts in Medicine Manual, Gainesville, Florida : University of Florida Press, 1993.

Theatre Magic: A Teacher's Guide to Play Production by and for Children, Yellow Springs, Ohio : Antioch Publishing, 1991.

FILM

Instructor
The New York Film Academy . Taught acting and creativity to adult students attending the New York Film Academy ’s summer session. Orlando, Florida 2005 - 2006.

Screenwriter
Beneficial Flowers, a screenplay based on my novel of the same name. Dirty Martini Production, Orlando, Florida 2005.

Producer
Orlando Repertory Theatre promotional film. Universal Orlando. Orlando, Florida 2004.

Director
The Surreal World, a one-hour, feature documentary focusing on teens in America. Funded in part by the All Children's Theatre, 1999 - 2000.

Casting Director
Mattel Toys Polly Pocket Promotional, under the direction of marketing representative, Shannon Lukin, 1996.

Casting Director
Learning Resources and Communication, University of Florida. This educational film, entitled Opening Pandora's Box, was commissioned by the University of Miami. The film, directed and written by Marilyn Maple, Ph.D., Coordinator of Educational Media at the University of Florida, explored child abuse, 1995.

Casting Director
Department of Film, Santa Fe Community College. Student directed film, Calvin and Hobbes. Winner, "Best New Video" at the University of Florida's Harn Museum, 1995.

Casting Director
Learning Resources and Communications, University of Florida. Under a grant from the Florida Dental Association, this educational video, entitled Smile, is currently being used as learning tool in every school district in the state of Florida, 1994.

Narrator/Interpreter
Children's Theatre for the Deaf, promotional film. Produced by Florida Films and directed by Academy Award nominee Bill Suchy, this film documented the inception and growth of the Children's Theatre for the Deaf, 1987.

Casting Director
Magnets. This series of educational films, produced by Florida Films and directed by Academy Award nominee Bill Suchy, is currently being used as a teaching tool throughout the Florida public school system, 1987.

Casting Director
The Water Cycle. This series of educational films, produced by Florida Films and directed by Academy Award nominee Bill Suchy, is currently being used as a teaching tool throughout the Florida public school system, 1986.

THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS

Director/Script Consultant
Writes of Spring, co-produced by The University of Central Florida and The Orlando Repertory Theatre, 2005 – 2006.

Actor
The UCF Storybox. University of Central Florida , 2005.

Actor
{Martha}, The Children’s Hour, University of Central Florida , 2005.

Director
The Bridge to Terabithia, Orlando Repertory Theatre, Orlando, FL 2003 {TYA}

Artistic Director
Bunnicula, Orlando Repertory Theatre, Orlando, FL 2003 {TYA}

Artistic Director
A Christmas Story, Orlando Repertory Theatre, Orlando , FL 2003.

Artistic Director
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, Orlando Repertory Theatre, Orlando, FL 2003 {TYA}

Director
Opal, Orlando Repertory Theatre, Orlando , FL , 2003 {TYA}

Director
Saint Hugo of Central Park, Santa Fe Community College, Gainesville, FL, 2001. {TYA}

Producer
The Journey to Friday, All Children's Theatre, Gainesville, FL, 2000. {TYA}

Producer
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, All Children's Theatre, Gainesville, FL, 2000. {TYA}

Director
Schoolhouse Rock Live!, touring production, North Central Florida, 1999. {TYA}

Director
The Diviners, Santa Fe Community College, Gainesville, FL, 1999.

Director
The Yellow Boat, Santa Fe Community College, Gainesville, FL, 1998. Florida Theatre Conference, Lakeland, FL, 1998. {TYA}

Director
Lone Star, Santa Fe Community College, Gainesville, FL, 1998.

Director
Xylon Bay, Santa Fe Community College, Gainesville, FL, 1997.

Director
Cinderella, the Rock Musical, Santa Fe Community College, Gainesville, FL, 1997.

Director
Magic Theatre, toured North Central Florida, 1997.

Director
The Foreigner, Santa Fe Community College, Gainesville, FL, 1996.

Director
The Invisible People, Santa Fe Community College, Gainesville, FL, 1996.

Director
Fairy Tale Festival, Santa Fe Community College, Gainesville, FL, 1995.

Actor
I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby (medley of Shakespeare's love scenes), toured North Central Florida, 1994.

Director
Playground, Oak Hall Center for the Performing Arts, Gainesville, FL, 1994.

Director
Student One Acts, Santa Fe Community College, Gainesville, FL, 1994.

Director
Sweet Polly's Lament, Santa Fe Community College, Gainesville, FL, 1994.

Director/Sign Language Instructor
AIM for the Holidays, Shands Hospital/University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 1993.

Director
Robin Hood, Tour of Florida Public School Sysytem, 1992. Santa Fe Community College, Gainesville, FL, 1993.

Director/Sign Language Instructor
Sleeping Beauty, Oak Hall Performing Arts Center, Gainesville, FL; tour of Florida Public School System, 1993.

Director
An Evening of Theatrical Potpourri, Santa Fe Community College, Starke, FL, 1992.

Sign Language Interpreter
An Evening of William Shakespeare, The Thomas Center, Gainesville, FL, 1992.

Director
Woolfie, tour of Florida Public School System, 1991. {TYA}

Director/Sign Language Instructor
Incantation, tour of Florida Public School System, 1991. {TYA}

Actor {Anita Hoffman}
The Life and Times of Abby Hoffman, Acrosstown Repertory Theatre and the Thomas Center, Gainesville, FL, 1990.

Director/Sign Language Instructor
Beauty and the Beast, Hippodrome State Theatre; tour of Florida Public School System; Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, 1990. {TYA*}

Actor {various roles}
The Halloween Show, Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, Gainesville, FL, 1989.

Actor {various roles}
A Home Companion #2: An Evening of Live Comedy and Music, The Thomas Center, Gainesville, FL, 1989.

Actor {various roles}
A Home Companion #4: An Evening of Live Comedy and Music, The Thomas Center, Gainesville, FL, 1989.

Director
Pirates!, tour of Florida Public School System, 1989.

Director
Invisible Rainbow, Hippodrom State Theatre; tour of Florida Public Schools, 1988. {TYA}

Director
The Lion in Winter, University of Florida, Gainesville, 1988.

Actor {Arlie},
Getting Out, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 1987.

Director
Pirates!, tour of Florida Public School System, 1989.

Director
As Is, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 1987.

Director
Queen Waiting, Hippodrom State Theatre, Gainesville, FL, 1986.

Assistant Director
Cinderella, Gainesville Community Playhouse, Gainesville, FL, 1986.

Director/Sign Language Instructor
Shine, Hippodrom State Theatre, Gainesville, FL, 1985. {TYA}

Director/Sign Language Instructor
Moving Pictres, Hippodrome State Theatre, Gainesville, FL, 1985. {TYA}

Director/Sign Language Instructor
Images, Hippodrome State Theatre, Gainesville, FL, 1984.

Director
Amber Dreams, Hippodrome State Theatre, Gainesville, FL, 1984.

Actor {Susie}
The Hot L Baltimore, Studio 94, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 1980.

*TYA - Theatre for Young Audiences.

HONORS AND APPOINTMENTS

Featured Spotlight Artist
International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People, April, 2007

Outstanding Research and Creativity Activity Award
“ Theatre for Today’s Young Audiences: Re-imagining the Fairy Tale.” University of Central Florida , November, 2006.

Featured Artist
Selected by ArtsWeb as featured Artist of the Month for March 2006. This online magazine promotes the arts and artists throughout the state of Florida offering information on cultural events, auditions, classes, camps, and workshops, teaching resources, etc. March, 2006.

Who’s Who in Fine Arts Higher Education [WWFAHE}
AcademicKEYS is the most comprehensive and authoritative online source of information available on leading and influential experts in the field of Fine Arts Education in the institutes of higher education. 2005.

BFA Internship Coordinator
Responsible for guiding all BFA theatre majors through the internship process. The primary goal of an internship is to provide students with professional work experience that goes beyond the learning experiences at UCF. Internships serve as a bridge from theatre training to the world of commercial theatre and range from summerstock opportunties with professional theatres in the United States to touring Europe and Asia with Off Broadway productions. University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida, 2005 – present.

Teacher of the Year
Santa Fe Community College, 1999-2000. {23,000 students, 843 faculty}.

Award Winner, Excellent ranking
Direction of The Diviners, Florida Community College Association, 1998-1999.

Adjudicator
Camping with Henry and Tom, Daytona Beach Community College, Daytona, Florida, 1997.

Adjudicator
Fools, Ocala Community College, Ocala, Florida, 1997.

Adjudicator
Lonely Planet, The Wilson Center, Jacksonville Community College, Jacksonville, Florida, 1997.

Playwright-in-Residence
Harbor Playhouse, Corpus Christi, Texas, 1996 - 1997.

Award Winner, Superior ranking
Direction of The Foreigner, Florida Community College Association, 1996-1997.

Guest of Honor
Tenth Year Awards Banquet and Anniversary Celebration, All Children's Theatre, Gainesville, FL, 1995.

Roundtable Panelist
Statewide Theatre Summit, hosted by Santa Fe Community College, Gainesville, FL, 1995.

Scholarship Committee
Santa Fe Community College, Gainesville, FL, 1994 - present.

Play Selection Committee
Santa Fe Community College, Gainesville, FL, 1994 - present.

Guest of Honor
at a command performance of I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby. This Shakespearean review, directed by internationally recognized Shakespearean scholar Sidney Homan, Ph.D., was presented in my honor by the faculty of the University of Florida's Department of Theatre. Gainesville, FL, 1992.

Presenter,
The Young Author's Conference. Along with John Cech, author of My Grandmother's Journey and The Southernmost Cat, and Kathy Darling, author of Manatee, I presented excerpts from my book Theatre Magic and facilitated literature oriented, hands-on activities for young people and educators. Designed to cultivate an interest in writing among our young people, The Young Author's Conference is an on-going event sponsored by the State of Florida and the National Endowment for the Arts. Cedar Key, Florida. 1991.

Keynote Speaker
Take Back the Night, Rape Awareness Week, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 1990.

Lecturer
Rape Awareness Panel. Toured Florida as part of an all-female panel that spoke to incoming freshmen at colleges, universities and high schools. Funded by the Rape/Crime Victim Advocate Center of Alachua County, 1989 - 1991.

Featured as "Wednesday's Hero"
by North Central Florida television station TV 20 {viewing audience 200,000}. This show is designed to recognize and honor individual efforts to impact the community in positive and creative ways, 1989.

Proclamation Recipient
for my efforts to bring theatre to the children of North Central Florida. This honor, awarded by Alachua County {population 180,000}, proclaimed the week of May 15th - 21st as "Children's Theatre for the Deaf Week." Alachua County, FL, 1988.

Touring Artist,
The Artist in the Schools Series. As an instructor/artist in this program, I traveled to various schools in North Central Florida as an individual artist and with All Children's Theatre. These productions and presentations touched over 50,000 children. Funded by the State of Florida, the Florida Arts Celebration, and the National Endowment for the Arts, North Central Florida, 1987 - 1990.

MEMBERSHIPS

Society for Stage Directors and Choreographers (SSDC)

Women in Film

The International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People (ASSITEJ)

The Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE)

The American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE)

The International Center for Women Playwrights (ICWP)

The Dramatists Guild

USA Plays for Kids

Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC)

The American Association of University Women

SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND EXPERIMENTS

Actor Training Consultant, Walt Disney World Entertainment

In cooperation with the Department of Character Training developed training materials for Walt Disney actor and aided in the development of a character training manual and films. Orlando, Florida, 2005 – 2006.

Faculty Mentor, ArtsBridge

ArtsBridge is a network of 22 universities in 13 states and Northern Ireland , and their surrounding schools that confronts the problem of the elimination of the arts from K-12 schools. Through ArtsBridge projects in urban and low-income areas, using dramatic and visual arts and digital technology, students have developed their creativity and imagination, improved their language skills, increased their motivation to succeed in academic learning, and reinforced their values of peace, community and diversity. ArtsBridge is also a means for university students to provide creative service to their communities while learning the value of social activism and developing long term commitments to help the disadvantaged. Orlando, Florida, 2005.

Faculty Mentor , LEAD Scholar Program

Seventeen Lead Scholars were paired University wide with faculty to serve as undergraduate researchers. The program also provides an integrated development program that emphasizes leadership, academic excellence, and community service.  Lead Scholars are selected from the best of the entering freshman classes. Student conducted research on the psychology of creativity, psychodrama and multi-cultural creativity. Will result in articles for publication as well as material for future workshops. University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 2005.

Faculty Advisor, The Mammary Plays

University of Central Florida Women ’s Studies Program. University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 2005.

Consultant, Exit Exam – BFA and MFA

University of Central Florida Conservatory Theatre, Orlando, Florida, 2005.

Co-Facilitator, PACE Center for Girls

Honoring Identity , on on-going digital storytelling program serving at risk teens girls at the PACE Center. Orlando, Florida, 2005.

Faculty Judge, The Graduate Research Forum
University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 2005.

Creator, Faculty Mentor, Writes of Spring

Writing in the schools program enabling young writers to become playwrights. Orlando Repertory Theatre, 2004 - present.

Chair, Curriculum Development, MFA in Youth Theatre

Writing Sabbatical in Cortona, Italy, 2000.

Creator
Performing Arts Camp, an alliance between Santa Fe Community College and All Children's Theatre, placing young artists in the college setting for a summer theatre intensive. Gainesville, FL, 1998.

Creator
Internship Program, Santa Fe Community College. In cooperation with the Department of Creative Arts and Humanities and All Children's Theatre, this program was created to offer college students hands-on experience working in children's theatre. Gainesville, FL, 1996 - present.

Actor
in reprise of I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby. In this showcase of love scenes culled from Shakespeare's plays, I portrayed a variety of Shakespearean leading ladies. Directed by internationally recognized Shakespearean, Sidney Homan, Ph.D. this show toured colleges, Florida public schools and retirement homes. North Central Florida, 1994.

Presenter
Aging, Healing and the Creative Arts. This national conference, presented by the University of Florida's Department of Geriatric Education, afforded clinical accreditation for healthcare professionals and featured such presentations as Creativity and Aging: Making Choices, Implementing Back Home, Technology and Therapy, Creativity and Health, and my own, Theatre as a Therapeutic Modality. Gainesville, FL, 1994.

Co-Curator
Artist as Healer/Healer as Artist Exhibition. Co-curated with the University of Florida's Fine Arts Collection and Exhibition Program and co-sponsored by the University of Florida's College of Medicine, this exhibit displayed the works of local, national and international artists. Thomas Center Gallery, Gainesville, Florida, September - October 1993.

Co-Creator
Arts in Medicine Symposium. This full-day symposium brought together healthcare professionals interested in bringing the arts into the mainstream of achieving and maintaining health. Funded by Glaxo Pharmaceuticals. Thomas Center, Gainesville, FL, October, 1993.

Creator
Prescription: Kids. With funds from Burger King, and John Graham-Pole, M.D., I created and directed this hospital-based performing arts group which paired healthy children with hospitalized children in interactive, creative settings. Activities included: sign language, playwriting, puppetry, singing, face painting, play production, Christmas caroling, dress-up, and pen-pal programs. Shands Hospital/University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 1992-1993.

Actor/Scriptwriter
Gary Gordon Comedy Hour. Along with Gary Gordon, former mayor of Gainesville, and several other talented local artists, I co-wrote and performed in this critically acclaimed radio show. This program also taped live performances at national Greenpeace, Earth Day, and Veterans for Peace events. In addition, this troupe performed original plays such as The Life and Times of Abby Hoffman. WUFT-FM, Gainesville, FL, 1989-1991.

GRANTS

The Comparative World Studies Minor $1,000

Principal Investigator

This week long symposium offered paid training to select UCF faculty in such areas as Internationalizing the Campus, Diversity Initiatives, Service Learning, Internships, Cultural Competency in the New America, Developing Effective Interdisciplinary Courses, Learning Outcomes for Internationalized Courses, and Curriculum Development for UCF’s New World Comparative Studies Minor. UCF Faculty Development Summer Conference, The Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning. Orlando, Florida, 2006.

The International Summer Institute $1,000

Principal Investigator

This week long symposium offered paid training in, Global Issues Across Disciplines, Extreme Course Makeover I and II, Issues of Diaspora, Culture, Communication and Conflict, Global Gender Issues, Developing a Study Abroad Itinerary, Fulbright Programs, International Protocols, The Language of Rhythm and the Rhythm of Culture, Developing International Partnerships. UCF Faculty Development Summer Conference, Office of International Studies. May, 2005. Orlando, Florida, 2005.

Curriculum Development $500.00

Co-Investigator

This week long seminar offered paid training in Classroom Assessment, The Effective Use of Problem Based Learning {PBL}, Service Learning: Structured Reflections, Engaging Students in Active Learning, and Spiritual Practice and Pedagogy. UCF Faculty Development Winter Conference, The Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning. Orlando, Florida, 2004.

United Arts Grant, $120,000

Co-Investigator

Designed to support programming and performances at the Orlando Repertory Theatre, Orlando, Florida, 2003-2004.

The Bush Foundation, $70,000

Co-Investigator

Grant for cosmetic renovation of the Bush Theatre and lobby at the Orlando Repertory Theatre, Orlando, Florida, 2003-2004.

National Endowment for the Arts, $30,000

Principal Investigator and Grant Manager

Stabilization Grant used to hire a Management Consultant for All Children’s Theatre. Gainesville, Florida, 1997-98.

Cultural and Nature Operations, $50,000

Principal Investigator and Grants Manager

Grant to fund a program that allowed "at risk" elementary school children to attend live performances by All Children's Theatre. Gainesville, Florida, 1995 – 2000.

Shands Hospital/UF, $50,000

Co-Investigator and Grant Manager

Grant to fund Arts in Medicine, a program that brought the arts in all their forms into the healthcare setting. Gainesville, Florida, 1993.

Glaxo Pharmaceuticals, $20,000

Principal Investigator and Grant Manager

Grant to fund Artist as Healer/Healer as Artist SymposiumandArt Exhibition. This exhibition featured local, national and international visual artists. Gainesville, Florida, 1993.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield, $15,000

Principal Investigator

Grant to fund Prescription Kids, a hospital-based program that paired healthy children with hospitalized children in a theatrical environment. Gainesville, Florida, 1993.