Faculty and Staff
 Lauren Friesen | Professor, Theatre Lauren Friesen is Professor of Theatre and Chair of the Theatre and Dance Department at the University of Michigan-Flint. He is a recipient of the Kennedy Center Gold Medallion for "Excellence in Theatre" and the Indiana Theatre Association's award for his "Outstanding Contribution to University Theatre." His recent publications include a translation of Hermann Sudermann's The Storm Komrade Sokrates (University Press of America) and the essay "Ritual, Race and Reconciliation in Anna Deavere Smith's Play Fires in the Mirror," (Munster: LIT Verlag). His monologue "Still Waiting for Rachel" was published in Monologues for Men by Heinneman Press. He just completed the translation of a novel...But Stones Can't Speak by the holocaust survivor Carlo Ross. In April 2007, Vertigo Productions in Flint produced his latest 2-act play Rothko. |
 Carolyn M. Gillespie | Professor, Theatre 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. 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. |
 Seunghye Cho | Assistant Professor, Theatre Seunghye Cho has extensive design and technical production experience in both educational and professional theatre. Notably, she served Dance Theatre of Harlem as an Assistant Designer for "Saint Louis Woman" in New York (2003) with two-time Tony award winner Willa Kim and three-time tony award winner Tony Walton. Before joining us, Seunghye spent two years as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech and Theatre, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee. |
Costume Shop Supervisor Please check UM-Flint's Human Resource site for additional information
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 Beth Wielinski | Lecturer, Director of Dance |
 Douglas Mueller | Technical Director/Lighting Design |
 Daniel Gerics | Lecturer, Theatre Education Dan Gerics is currently a lecturer in theatre at UM-Flint and Mott Community College. Dan spent a few years in New York acting, directing and studying stage combat with Joe Daly at H.B. Studios. New York acting credits include Nat in I'm Not Rappaport at the Rockaway Theater Company, Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet for the Paperlace Theater Company and Mobley in There is No Waiter In This Play at the New York Comedy Club. In Michigan, Dan played Autolycus in The Winter's Tale and Egeus in A Midsummer Night's Dream at EMU, Fyedke in Fiddler On the Roof and Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls at Flint Community Players. Dan has many more local directing and acting credits. |
 Janet Haley | Assistant Professor, Theatre Janet Haley is a member of Actor’s Equity Association. Professional acting credits include: Rebecca in Rebecca at Book-It Repertory, Seattle; Ophelia in Hamlet at Harlequin Productions, Olympia, WA; Beatrice in Servant of Two Masters at Idaho Repertory Theatre; Delphina in Valparaiso at Boise Contemporary Theater; and numerous iconic roles at Michigan Shakespeare Festival, including Beatrice, Portia and Gertrude. Janet has extensive experience as a teaching and performing artist in the realm of Theatre for Young Audiences. She toured nationally for several years with Idaho Theatre for Youth, including their production of Moby Dick, which represented North America at ASSITEJ festivals in Russia and Germany. Janet worked for several years as Resident Artist and Education Director for the acclaimed Flint Youth Theatre. Directing credits include Master Harold…and the Boys at UM-Flint, which was selected to perform as a Region III finalist in the American College Theatre Festival in 2002.
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 William Irwin | Lecturer, Theatre Bill Irwin joins us as a full-time Lecturer this season to teach our Music Theatre Workshop, Voice and Movement and some foundation courses. Bill's academic dgrees are accompanied by additional study with master teachers/artists from all over the world. Most recently Bill has worked with Daniel Stein of the Dell Arte International School of Physical Theatre, Kari Margolis of the Margolis Brown Performance Company, Michael Kahn (Artistic Director of the Shakpeseare Theatre in Washington D.C.) and Erik Fredrickson (founding member of the Society of American Fight Directors). As a member of the Actor's Equity Association, Bill has also acted with numerous theatre companies - most recently, the Hippodrome State Theatre, the 14th Street Playhouse, and the Riverside Theatre. Bill is also a member of the Association of Theatre Movement Educators, Voice and Speech Trainers Association Inc., and the Society of American Fight Directors. Bill has extensive credits in acting/directing/teaching both locally and out-of-state. His teaching focus at UM-Flint is Acting, Voice & Movement, and Musical Theatre. |
 Nicole Broughton | Lecturer, Theatre |
 Stephen D. Landon | Assistant Professor, Theatre Stephen Landon graduated from Charlevoix Public High School. He teaches introductory and advanced Theatre Design courses as well as Scenic Painting, Modernism, AutoCAD, stage combat and is our resident Scene Designer. He has numerous design credits with regional theatres in Michigan and Wisconsin. His personal interests include sailing, yoga, architectural history and modern art. |