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kwheeler@eou.edu
Kenn, unbelievably in his twentieth year, is an Associate Professor of Theatre Arts who considers himself a theatre generalist. His areas of concentration would include musical theatre, stage management and directing, but he also designs scenery, and teaches acting, theatre history, stage makeup and stage combat. He received his BA from Southern Utah University and his MFA from Michigan State University. Before coming to EOU, Kenn taught at Lansing Community College and Albion College, in Michigan, and Treasure Valley Community College, in Ontario, OR. His most recent project was directing All Together Now with the EOU Chamber Choir which ran last November. Rehearsing during Winter quarter and opening in March, Kenn will be directing the first fully realized production in the newly renovated Schwarz theater. A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder will utilize the only revolving stage in any university in the entire Pacific Northwest. In the fall of 2010, Kenn was privileged to direct the first amateur university production of The Phantom of the Opera to be produced in the United States. While some of his favorite projects have included Urinetown the Musical, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Les Miserables, and Much Ado About Nothing, he considers his greatest productions to be his three daughters, Jennifer, Jessica and Jillian. He and his wife, Denise are now working on spoiling their seven grandchildren: Valin, Boston, Nathaniel, Oren, Tobin, Hazel and Abigaille. Plenty of pictures available upon request.
mheather@eou.edu
Mike Heather is an Associate Professor of Theatre and department chair at Eastern Oregon University. He teaches Scenic and Lighting design, Stagecraft, Irish drama, Banned Plays, Theatre History, Introduction to Theatre and advanced studies in Theatre. He has also directed such shows as Titanic the Musical, The Crucible, Life is a Dream, Monty Python’s Spamalot, and We Will Rock You at EOU.
Mike earned his MFA from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University in Design. He holds a Bachelor of Science in both Theatre and Social Studies/History from Southern Utah University. His goal is to “Tell part of the story” when it comes to design for theatre productions.
Mike holds memberships in the United States Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT). Mike’s continuing long term goal is to work for the success of EOU students and the institution and see in the 100th anniversary in 2029.
htomlins@eou.edu
Heather is a Professor at Eastern Oregon University with her focus being in costume design, construction and stage makeup. She has been teaching at Eastern for over 15 years and has designed numerous plays during that time. A couple of her favorites being Pippin, Dracula, and Endgame. Heather also designed costumes for the debut of A Grave for Sister Agatha Off-Off Broadway in conjunction with Ken Bush. She also directs from time to time. Shows directed at EOU include Next to Normal, Devil Boys From Beyond and Medea. Heather received a BS in Clothing, Textiles and Design and an MFA in Theatre: Costume Design from the University of Idaho. She has worked at the Idaho Repertory Theatre, Utah Shakespearean Festival and the Chautauqua Opera in Chautauqua, NY and taught at the Universidad de Monterrey (Udem) in Monterrey, México. Heather also spends much of her time creating fiber artwork. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally.
hwatson@eou.edu
Heather has been a choreographer and dance teacher since 2000. She has been teaching at Beckie’s Studio of Dance, with a focus on Ballet, but also teaches Tap, Jazz, Acrobatics, Pointe, Modern and Lyrical. Some musicals that she has choreographed have been Addams Family, Little Princess, Hairspray, and Mary Poppins. While she was at EOU, she was in Children of Eden, Guys and Dolls and Cabaret. She has a love for dance and a greater love for teaching dance to all. She has brought dance to some of EOU‘s choir members who had very little tap exposure; however, these amazing members were able to perform a rather intermediate piece. She has also recently become the Head Coach for EOU Cheer and Dance team. Every year she continues her dance education by attending teacher dance courses and achieving new licensure‘s. Her greatest achievement, however, is her family. With three beautiful daughters, Alaina, Tèa and Keily, who are also dancers and dance scholarship winters, their house is always filled daily with music and dance.nners, their house is always filled daily with music and dance.
heathertomlinsonshine.com
Liberty O’Dell is an adjunct professor at EOU focusing on the art of Acting. Liberty originally trained at Eastern Oregon University, earning his B.A. in both Theatrical Performance and Business Administration. He continued his education in New York City, by attending the professional acting institute of Stella Adler Studio, where he was awarded a Certificate of Mastery as well as an Award of Excellence.
Liberty’s varied training has lent him a unique perspective on the Art of Acting. He is a student of the Stella Adler Technique, which focuses on imagination as a key skill to the creative process, but has also been trained in Meisner Technique by Ken Bush as well as Strasburg Technique by Sam Schact. The principle mentality of the Adler Studio “Growth as a Human Being and growth as an Actor are synonymous” has become a guiding philosophy as Liberty continues to learn and grow as a performer.
Liberty has performed in over 100 productions, trending heavily towards classical works. He is excited to bring his focus on creative choices and technique to the students of Eastern Oregon University.