This is a very special and important year for the University of Kentucky, Department of Theatre and Dance, as we focus on the Season of Sustainability.  Each of our productions this season tells stories and brings awareness to environmental issues, concerns, possible solutions, and the preservation of our planet. Expanding beyond these stories, we are committed to reducing waste, pollution, and energy. From the costumes to scenery and set pieces, many of the materials scene on the stage, have been and will be re-purposed in multiple shows. Our new Energy-efficient LED lights reduce greenhouse gas emissions and use less energy. Here are a few specifics from As You Like It:   

• 67 of the 107 (62.6%) Lighting fixtures for As You Like It are LED fixtures that use less than 30% of the energy required to power their incandescent counterparts. 
• The use of moving lights drastically reduced the number of fixtures required for this show, as these fixtures can serve multiple functions throughout the show, saving hours of labor for students during the hang and focus process.
• Approximately 40% of clothing worn was pulled from stock of previous shows and repurposed. This helped reduce the need for fast fashion alternatives.
• 100% of newly made/built clothing for the production was made with donated fabric from stock.

The performing arts have the creative ability to address the substantial challenges of our time. I am gratified that our department’s focus is to reflect, discover, explain, and envision the state of the world. As the chair, I am excited to lead the Department of Theatre and Dance community of students, scholars, educators, and staff, to address the immense challenges of our time! 

Susie Thiel 
Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance 

Rosalind
Joslyn Baumgardner 

Orlando
Roman Tate 

Celia
Faith Sammons 

Oliver/Corin
Michael Daniels 

Touchstone
Eli Brown 

Charles/Duke Senior
Ren Powers 

Jaques
Xander Majovsky 

Silvius/Duke Fredrick
Thomas Pinkston 

Phoebe
Rebekah New 

Audrey
Caroline Beyer 

Amiens
Jenna Johnson 

Adam/Jaques de Boys/Forest Lord Singer
Ty Shelton 

Court Lord/Forest Lord/William
Jackson Alexander 

Forest Lord/Le Belle
Sidney Allen 

Court Lord/Forest Lord/Oliver Martext
Elizabeth Watson 

Director: Christina Ritter

Technical Director: Zak Stribling

Production Manager: Zak Stribling

Stage Manager: Zander Chojnacki 

Scenic Designer: Kate Field

Scenic Artist: Melissa Gilbert 

Costume Designer: Lisa Wilson 

Lighting Designer: Jeremiah Kearns  

Lighting Programmer: Jeremiah Kearns 

Assistant Lighting Designer: Eli Vann 

Sound Designer: Jeremiah Kearns 

Assistant Sound Designer: Ren Whitsitt 

Scenic Charge Artist: Makenna Hampton 

Scene Shop Supervisor: Michael Daniels 

Master Electrician: Jeremiah Kearns 

Lead Cutter/ Draper: Natalie Maynard 

Prop Director: Autrey Brown 

Assistant Props Director: Daryn Russell 

Choreographer: Susie Thiel 

Fight Choreographer: Andrew Ray 

Special Effects Coordinator: Zachary Stribling 

Assistant Stage Managers: Madeline Butler, Kennedy Furqua, Grace Hoffmann 

Assistant Scenic Designer: Maze Wetzel 

Photography: Mark Cornelison, UK Photo 

Graphic Designer: Shaan Azeem 

Program Designer: Jennifer Sciantarelli  

Costume Director: Lisa Wilson 

Costume Production Assistants:  Caroline Norsworthy 

Costume Inventory Specialist: Andrea Richardson  

Media Coordinator: Mark Mozingo  

Social Media Creator: Sarah Smith  

Producer: Susie Thiel

Run Crew: Chance Sherman, Eric Payne II 

Light Board Operator: Amanda Duvall 

Sound Board Operator: Cameron Mitchell 

Wardrobe Crew: Zoie Albrecht, Mya Barber, Ivory Besse, Stevie Collins, Megan Reece Payton 

House Manager: Sarah Smith

Dean, College of Fine Arts: MARK SHANDA 

Chair, Department of Theatre & Dance: SUSIE THIEL 

FULL-TIME FACULTY

Tracy Barber, Senior Lecturer

Herman Farrell III, Professor, Playwriting, Co-Director Certificate in Filmmaking: Production & Dramatic Writing
 
Kate Field, Assistant Professor, Scenic Design  

Jeremy Gillett, Assistant Professor, Acting, Studio Season Director

Nancy Jones, Professor, History, Practice & Performance/Director of Musical Theatre Certificate/Director of Undergraduate Studies

Jeremiah Kearns, Assistant Professor, Lighting & Sound

Laura Neese, Lecturer, Dance 

Christina Ritter, Senior Lecturer, Theatre 

Peter Allen Stone, Associate Professor, Theatre 

Zak Stribling, Senior Lecturer, Theatre/Technical Director/Production Manager

Susie Thiel, Chair/Associate Professor, Dance

ADJUNCT FACULTY

Theresa Bautista, Dance

Danielle Dunmire, Dance

Jeremy Kisling, Theatre

Kristany Setser Malone, Dance

Janie Morgan, Dance

Ron Wilbur, Musical Theatre

Anna Wilson, Dance

Lisa Woods, Theatre

STAFF

Natalie Maynard, Costume Cutter/Draper 

Andrea Richardson, Costume Inventory Specialist 

Sarah Smith, Administrative Assistant

Lisa Wilson, Costume Shop Manager

EMERITUS FACULTY

Nelson Fields
Robert Haven
John Holloway
Geraldine Maschio
Rhoda-Gale Pollock
James W. Rodgers