Faculty members have been carefully chosen based on their scholarly qualifications, experience, and training in the many areas of program instruction offered by
the area of Theatre and Dance. Moreover, the faculty have diverse and well- developed research agendas, areas of specialization, and professional experience.
Theatre Program Faculty
(in alphabetical order starting with Coordinator)
Leni A. Dyer, M.F.A.,
Associate Professor, Administrative Coordinator/
Costume Designer
TR 240
(931) 221-6390 dyerl@apsu.edu
Leni is an Associate Professor and Costume Designer in the area of Theatre. She received her BA from Kennesaw State University and her MFA from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. Her professional career has taken her all over the United States. She has worked for such theatres as the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, GA, The Omaha Playhouse in Omaha, NE and Williamstown Theatre Festival in Williamstown, MA just to name a few. She also spent time working in the area of costumes on Cruise ships which offered her the opportunity to travel to places such as Japan, China, all of the Virgin Islands and Hawaii. Costume history and research is Leni's strongest interest. She is very active with the American College Theatre Festival, Southeastern Theatre Conference (she is the Tennessee State Representative) and Tennessee Theatre Association where she is the
current President. In the Recent past Leni had the opportunity to tour mainland China as an Education Delegate with People to People Ambassador Programs.
David Brandon, M.F.A.,
Assistant Professor Scenic Designer/Technical Director TR 229
(931) 221-7385 brandond@apsu.edu
David Brandon has worked
professionally in theatre as a Set Designer, Scenic Artist,
Properties Master and Technical Director for nearly two decades
at venues including the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Cleveland
Play House, Seaside Music Theater and Cumberland County
Playhouse. In 1990 he received a BA in Theatre from Rhodes
College (Memphis, TN) and in 1995 he received an MFA. in Scenic
Design from Indiana University (Bloomington, IN). Professor
Brandon has taught art and design at Middle Tennessee State
University and O'Moore College of Design (Franklin, TN), as well
as teaching scenic painting at the prestigious Cobalt Studios
(White Lake, NY).
Favorite set designs include Cosi Fan Tutti, Hot Mikado, Romeo
and Juliet, As I Lay Dying and The Royal Family. Other design
credits include Assistant Set Designer for Smoke on the Mountain
at the Ryman Auditorium and initial set design for A Stoop On
Orchard Street, which opened Off Broadway.
Professional painting credits include: the feature films The
Last Castle and Roadtrip; a backdrop for Twyla Tharp's Dance
Company; and shows designed by James Joy, Jaroslav Malina, Santo
Loquasto and Jane Musky.
Sara Gotcher, Ph.D.,
Associate Professor Theatre Historian TR 231
(931) 221-6259 gotchers@apsu.edu
A native Clarksvillian and alumna of Austin Peay State University, Dr. Sara Gotcher received her MFA from the University of Florida in acting/directing. She earned her Equity card and worked in the Southeast before returning to school to pursue her Ph. D. in theatre history at Louisiana State University. She enjoys teaching, directing, and especially acting. Gotcher hopes to instill in her students the joy of research whether they are exploring a character in a play or conducting scholarly research in theatre theory or history. She is particularly proud of her two daughters, Jessie (stage debut: the baby Jesus in The Second Shepherd's Play and Samantha, (stage debut: an angel in Everyman).
Chris Hardin, M.F.A.,
Assistant Professor Voice and Movement TR 420C
(931) 221-6439 hardinb@apsu.edu
Chris Hardin is an assistant professor of
voice and movement. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, he
received a Bachelor of Arts from Birmingham-Southern College, a
Master of Arts from Oklahoma State University, and a Master of
Fine Arts in Acting Pedagogy from the University of Alabama.
Chris starred as Edward Alleyn & Ben Jonson in the New York
production of Dammit, Shakespeare! by Seth Panitch, and
later took over the role of William Shakespeare. His
theatrical interests and specialties include stage dialects,
absurdist and existentialist theatre, as well as the works of
Edward Albee, Tennessee Williams, Harold Pinter, and Stephen
Sondheim.
Marcus Hayes, M.F.A.,
Assistant Professor Dance TR 420D
(931) 221-6371 hayesma@apsu.edu
Marcus Hayes is an assistant professor in
the area of dance, focusing on dance techniques, dance history
and choreography. He received a dual Bachelor of Arts in
history and theatre arts: dance from Beloit College and a Master
of Fine Arts in dance with a concentration in Choreography from
Mills College in California. He danced and choreographed
professionally with the Without Shoes Modern Dance Company and
has taught dance technique for the University of
Wisconsin-Extension, Rockford College, and the School for the
Rockford Dance Company. He has worked with many noted dance
artists including Molissa Fenley, June Watanabe, Anne Westwick,
Chris Johnson, Margaret Rennerfeldt, Kathleen McCormick, and Maria Castello.
Marcus joined the faculty of APSU in fall 2006.
Darren Michael, M.F.A.,
Assistant Professor Acting/Directing TR 233
(931) 221-6297
Darren Michael has a B.A. in
Theatre from Ouachita Baptist University and an M. F. A. in
Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi. He has
training in commedia dell’arte and Shakespeare at Bretton Hall
College (the University of Leeds) in England, stage combat from
the Society of American Fight Directors, and has been a
professional actor/director/playwright in commercial, film and
stage around the Southeast for nearly two decades now. He is a
constant writer, board game fanatic and huge St. Louis Cardinals
fan. top
Staff
Jon Penney, B.I.S. Scene Shop Coordinator Trahern 218
(931)221-6767 penneyj@apsu.edu
