Partners
Featured Faculty
Carolyn Gillespie, Professor Theatre
M.F.A., Acting, Stanford University-
B.A.., Speech Education, Marquette University
Carolyn M. Gillespie has been a theatre educator for over thirty years. She worked as an actor at the Oregon Shakespearean Festival and at various venues in the Dallas area. After teaching for twelve years at the University of Texas at Dallas, Gillespie moved to Michigan and has been teaching acting, directing and theatre literature at UM-Flint since 1987. She has twice chaired the Department of Theatre and Dance, and has been honored by her university colleagues with a Faculty Achievement Award for Excellence in Teaching; the Dorothea Wyatt Award for service to women; the Lucinda Hinsdale Stone Senior Research Award to enhance her creative endeavors; and by the Kennedy Center for her leadership in Region III of the American College Theatre Festival. She was a member of the KCACTF National Selection Team in 2006.
Currently, Gillespie is part of the Green Arts Project, a collaboration of Arts faculty and the University Outreach Center for Applied Environmental Research working to raise awareness about local environmental issues. She is the playwright for the upcoming If The River Could Talk production that will be featured at several local venues. Gillespie also serves on the College of Arts and Sciences Executive Committe and is co-chairing the current General Education Design Team for the University.
Featured Student
Andrew Fifield
Graduating with Honors in April with a BA in Theatre, performance emphasis.
While at UM-Flint, Drew has performed in many productions including Howl, A Man of No Importance, Henry V, Enemy of the People and Seven Ages of Man, a solo concert that he developed, produced, and performed in. He was in the 2007 season of the Michigan Shakespeare Festival and is currently writing a play called The Copa in collaboration with Kristi Starnes for Out n' About Flint funded by a grant from the Office of Research. Directing credits include Park Angel at UM-Flint, and Asst. Director for The Winter's Tale at UM-Flint.
Drew’s Involvement in the Green Arts Project began while performing in the kick-off event Enemy of the People. He will be moving to Washington D.C. after the completion of the production If the River Could Talk to continue his work with Urban Outfitters. He would like to collect practical directing experience while there with the hopes of applying for an MFA Directing program in a few years. Drew has always believed in using theatre to initiate change. He is extremely grateful to be a part of the Green Arts Project, it's staff, and to his professor, mentor, and friend Carolyn Gillespie without whom he would not be involved in the exciting venture.
Featured Community Member
Kay Kelly, Kearsley Park Project Director
Known for her optimistic, can-do attitude, Kay Kelly works to improve the community through a variety of service projects. Kelly is the director for the Kearsley Park Project, working to improve the park and provide cultural entertainment for local residents. If that wasn't enough, Kelly also serves on several committees including the Flint Planning Commission, Downtown Improvement Committee, and the University of Michigan Flint's Dean of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board. She is currently chair of Keep Genesee County Beautiful. Kelly is also a member of the Community Cultural Planning Facilitation Tema of the Greater Flint Area Community Cultural Plan.
An actress at heart, Kelly worked in New York where she appeared in Off Broadway plays, did numerous national radio commercials and even had a reoccuring role on the soap opera "Guiding Light". Kelly is a very accomplished actress with credits such as "Born Yesterday", "You Can't Take it With You", "Love Letters" and the one woman show "Shirley Valentine".
Kelly has brought her acting and production skills back to Flint, and she works with local theater groups. As part of her transformation of Kearsley Park, Kelly created the annual "Shakespeare in the Park" event at Kearsley Park. She is hard at work with her company of actors on "The Taming of the Shrew", "Sleeping Beauty", "My Fair Lady" and "Arcadia" for Summer 2008.
Combining her love of theatre along with her willingness to help others, Kay recently created the Kay Sampson Kelly Merit Scholarship for Theatre students at the University of Michigan - Flint.
Through her dedication to time, talent and service to the community, Kay Kelly has truly enhanced this community through her hard work, dedication and spirit.
The Green Arts production If the River Could Talk will be featured at the Kearsley Park Pavilion on May 18th at 4:30pm, free of charge.
Featured Supporter
The Ruth Mott Foundation's mission is to advocate, stimulate, and support community vitality. Their commitment is to base the Foundation in its home community of Flint, Michigan. The Foundation envisions communities of hope and pride, whose neighborhood environments and urban core are safe, attractive and healthy, enriched by cultural diversity and an engaged citizenry. The Foundation's founder, Ruth Rawlings Mott (1901-1999) established the Ruth Mott Foundation as a means of extending the reach of her philanthropy beyond her lifetime with a continued presence in Flint. Ruth Mott's values and conduct inspire the Foundation to be inclusive, welcoming, and egalitarian, to act with kindness and good humor, treat all people with respect and dignity, and encourage personal responsibility, practice prevention, and maintain "the long view".
CAER thanks the Ruth Mott Foundation for all their support of our programs including the Green Arts Project.
