Education

 

M.F.A., Acting, University of South Carolina (2013).

 

M.A., Theatre Arts, California State University, Northridge (2009).

Concentrations: Performance Studies, Eastern Theatre Aesthetics.

Thesis: Performing Americana: Charles Phoenix as a Cultural Archive, exploring the concepts of archiving mid-century American culture through live performance.

 

Membership

 

Actors’ Equity Association (AEA)

Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA)

Cooperative Performance  (Board of Directors: Chair)

P3 Studio

 

 

Teaching Experience

 

Carthage College

Kenosha, WI February 2014 – Present

 

Suzuki Method (GNR 675-E Ensemble & Experimental Acting) Instructor.  Responsibilities include: Developing and implementing curriculum designed to introduce artists to Suzuki Method, as well as, sequences developed in the P3 Studio methodology. This course offers opportunities for students to explore physical approaches to actor training, while continuing to engage the imaginative/psychological elements of performance. Class size: 15 students.

 

Introduction to Acting (THR 1110) Instructor. Responsibilities include: guiding an exploration of western acting theory and developing and implementing curriculum in the instruction of Stanislavski based acting techniques. Administering and evaluating written and performance work. Course description: This course offers an examination of the basic concepts, vocabulary, and techniques of acting. The class includes improvisation, monologue preparation, scene study, character development, and textual analysis. Class size: 15 students.

 

Asian Theatre (THR 400A) Instructor. Responsibilities include: Developing and implementing curriculum consisting of Theatre History throughout the Asian continent. Course description: A seminar course exploring the rich heritage of theatrical traditions from their ritual and traditional origins to contemporary movements in India, China, Korea and Japan. Class size: 18 students.

 

Introduction to Theatre (THR 1150) Instructor. Responsibilities include: guiding an exploration of theatre history and developing and implementing curriculum in the instruction of the course, as well as, administering and evaluating written work and exams. Course description: This course offers an introduction to texts, practice, and production in the theatre in order to understand it as a social and aesthetic experience and as a reflection of culture. Various aspects of theatre, a broad view of theatre history, and a study of representative plays of the past and present will constitute the content of the course. Class size: 22 students.

 

Western Heritage I (COR 1100) Instructor. Responsibilities include: Developing and implementing curriculum covering religious, political and philosophical writings of Western writers and theoreticians. Course description: A seminar course developing a semester-long conversation centered on the ideas of the ancient world and their influence on western history and culture. As the range and treatment of ideas from different time periods proceed, the course draws together the divergent strands that compose the complex history of Western thought in the ancient world. Class size: 20 students.

 

Western Heritage II (COR 1110) Instructor. Responsibilities include: Developing and implementing curriculum covering religious, political and philosophical writings of Western writers and theoreticians. Course description: A seminar course developing a semester-long conversation where the ideas of the ancient world come to be read against the emerging intellectual worlds of the Renaissance, Enlightenment, and our modern era. As the range and treatment of ideas from different time periods proceed, the course draws together the divergent strands that compose the complex history of Western thought. Class size: 20 students.

 

The University of South Carolina

Columbia, SC August 2010 – December 2012

 

Beginning Acting (THEA 270) Instructor. Responsibilities include: guiding an exploration of western acting theory and developing and implementing curriculum in the instruction of Stanislavski based acting techniques. Administering and evaluating written and performance work. Class size: 20 students.

 

Fundamentals of Acting (THEA 170) Instructor/Teaching Assistant. Responsibilities include: conducting lectures exploring western acting theory to classes ranging in size from 30 – 60 students and developing and implementing curriculum in the instruction of Stanislavski based acting techniques for classes ranging in size from 12 – 15 students, administering and evaluating written and performance work.

 

Cooperative Performance

Milwaukee, WI September 2015 – July 2016, September 2017 - Present

 

Physical Theatre Training. Responsibilities include: Developing and implementing curriculum designed to introduce artists to Suzuki Method, as well as, sequences developed in the P3 Studio methodology. The P3/East methodology encourages performers to enliven the whole organism in order to experience the mind and the body as one instrument. The training fosters greater power, expansiveness, ease and a grounded sensibility, and offers practices that increase freedom on stage while avoiding “pushing” or “artifice.”

 

Milwaukee Repertory Theatre

Milwaukee, WI March 2013 – May 2013

 

Teen Program: Goldin Center COA. Responsibilities include: Introducing students to the theatre arts and guiding them in an exploration of their community through performance. The program concludes with a performance presented by the students centered on their community. Class sizes ranging from 10 – 25 students.

 

Theatre Experience

 

Directing:           *writer    **co-writer    ***adaptation

Ellis - Cooperative Performance, Pitman Theatre, Milwaukee, WI

Fruition of a Delusion ** - Cooperative Performance, Marquette Visualization Lab, Milwaukee, WI 

           - Milwaukee Fringe Festival (2017), Milwaukee, WI

A Woman's Place - Cooperative Performance, DanceLab Series, Danceworks, Milwaukee, WI

iTopia* - Cooperative Performance, Theatre Gigante Studio, Milwaukee, WI

            - Milwaukee Fringe Festival (2016), Milwaukee, WI

            - Chicago Fringe Festival (2016), Chicago, IL

Bent - The World's Stage, Tenth Street Theatre, Milwaukee, WI

Nightmares and Lullabies: the darker side of peter pan - Cooperative Performance, Theatre Gigante Studio, Milwaukee, WI

Poe's Ghosts*** - Cooperative Performance, Shakers, Milwaukee, WI

The Seagull*** - Cooperative Performance, The Grand Ave., Milwaukee, WI

Hamlet - Cooperative Performance, Villa Terrace, Milwaukee, WI

Woyzeck*** - Steelworks Productions, Benson Theatre, SC

 

Performance:   ^Movement-based    *writer

Title - Role - Director - Location

Tarzan (March 2018) - Mike - Wes Savick - Theatre Gigante, Milwaukee, WI

Animolecules ^ - Performer - Jenni Reinke & Brian Rott - Quasimondo Physical Theatre - Danceworks, Milwaukee, WI

Cambrian ^ - Performer - Brennen Steines - Cooperative Performance, Cooperativa Gallery, Milwaukee, WI

Cloud of Gnats ^ - Performer - Collaboration - Underground Collaborative, Milwaukee, WI

Real-Time 12 ^ - Performer - Collaboration - Danceworks, Milwaukee, WI

How I learned to Drive - Uncle Peck - Eric Bultman - Lab Theatre, SC

Ziggy the Clown ^ * - Ziggy - Self - Center for Performance Experiment, SC

Macbeth - Macbeth - Robert Richmond - Theatre South Carolina, SC

Present Laughter - Fred - Rob Clare - Theatre South Carolina, SC

Polaroid Stories - G - Steve Pearson - Theatre South Carolina, SC

The Pretty Trap - Jim - Amy Holtcamp - Theatre South Carolina, SC

27 Wagons Full of Cotton - Jake - Amy Holtcamp - Theatre South Carolina, SC

The God of Hell - Welch - Neal Tucker - Benson Theatre, SC

The Comedy of Errors - Egeon - Robert Richmond - Theatre South Carolina, SC

The Suicide - Semyon Podsekalnikov - Steve Pearson - Theatre South Carolina, SC

Earth and Sky - Kersnowski/Eisenstadt - Steve Pearson - Lab Theatre, SC

1942 ^ - Ensemble - Robyn Hunt - Center for Performance Experiment, SC

Big Love - Giuliano - Chris Clavelli - Theatre South Carolina, SC

Macbeth - Lennox/Doctor - Chris Berube - The Next Stage, CA

Dracula - Dracula - Hassan Medina - Raven Playhouse, CA

Antony and Cleopatra - Varrius/First Guard - Bill Brown - American Players Theatre, WI

A Penny for a Song - Rufus Piggott - David Frank - American Players Theatre, WI

Shibiri - Taro Kaja - Akira Shigeyama - Portland InternationalPerformance Festival, OR

Waiting for Godot - Lucky - Chuck Beikert - Butler Little Theatre, PA

Ma Frere A Vec Moi - Dad - Vanessa Gross - Sheehy Studio Theatre, PA

How I learned to Drive - Uncle Peck - Kenneth Harris - Slippery Rock University Theatre, PA

What the Butler Saw - Dr. Prentice - Kenneth Harris - Slippery Rock University Theatre, PA

You Can’t Take it With You Wilbur Henderson Gay Johnson Saxonburg Summer Theatre, PA

Immodest Proposal - Justin - Stephanie Peters - Sheehy Studio Theatre, PA

Othello - Iago - David Skeele - Slippery Rock University Theatre, PA

Waiting for Godot - Vladimir - Rick Kemp - Slippery Rock University Theatre, PA

SHREW! - Petruchio/Don - Rick Kemp - Slippery Rock University Theatre, PA

Hay Fever - Richard Greatham - Laura Smiley - Slippery Rock University Theatre, PA

Our Town - Multiple Roles - Kenneth Harris - Slippery Rock University Theatre, PA

Mankind - Mischief - David Skeele - Slippery Rock University Theatre, PA

Three Women Embracing - Juddy O’Dea - Kenneth Harris - Slippery Rock University Theatre, PA

Noises Off - Gary Lejeune - Gay Johnson - Saxonburg Summer Theatre, PA

Our Country’s Good - Gov. Arthur Phillip - David Skeele - Slippery Rock University Theatre, PA

Goodnight Desdemona /Good Morning Juliet - Tybalt/Iago - Laura Smiley - Slippery Rock University Theatre, PA

Arcadia - Bernard Nightingale - Kenneth Harris - Slippery Rock University Theatre, PA

The Foreigner - Ellard Simms - Gay Johnson - Saxonburg Summer Theatre, PA

Arsenic and Old Lace - Dr. Einstein - Gay Johnson - Saxonburg Summer Theatre, PA

 

Film & Television

 

Film:

Caviar Dreams - Don - Cobaltmoon Productions, Los Angeles, CA

Woyzeck - Woyzeck - Steelworks Pictures, Chicago, IL

The Coat - Homeless Man - A.T.M. Productions, Chicago, IL

Interrupted - Waiter - BSB Films, Chicago, IL

 

Television:

Days of Our Lives - Under 5/Atmosphere - NBC

CSI: New York - Atmosphere - CBS

General Hospital - Atmosphere - ABC

The Bold and the Beautiful - Atmosphere - CBS

Passions - Atmosphere - NBC

 

Commercials & Industrials:

Colonial Life Insurance - Benefits Guy - Industrial/Commercial - Columbia, SC

Allgood Pest Solutions - Pestimonial Customer - Commercial - Columbia, SC

ERI Safety (Cell Phones in the Work Place) - Eye Injury Worker - Industrial - Columbia, SC

ERI Safety (Take Time for Safety) - Leg Injury Worker - Industrial - Columbia, SC

McDonald’s Corporation - Businessman - Industrial - Chicago, IL

Aronson Furniture Customer Commercial Chicago, IL

Ask Dr. Tech - Office Worker - Commercial - Chicago, IL

Gary Lang Auto - The First Customer - Commercial - Chicago, IL

 

Special Training

 

Suzuki Method - Robyn Hunt - Columbia, SC (2010 - 2013)

Slow Tempo (Shogo Ohta) - Robyn Hunt - Columbia, SC (2010 - 2013)

Physical Approaches to Performance (Suzuki Method, Slow Tempo, P3 Studio) - Steve Pearson/Robyn Hunt

                                                             - P3 East New York Intensive, New York, NY (2015)

                                                             - P3 East Chicago Intensive, Chicago, IL (2014, 2015, 2016)

                                                             - P3 East Seattle Intensive, Seattle, WA (2012)

Stage Combat - Dan Speaker/Jan Bryant - Academy of Theatrical Combat, Los Angeles, CA (2009 - 2010)

Acting Internship - David Frank - American Players Theatre, WI (2002)

Kyogen Comedy Workshop - Akira Shigeyama - Portland, OR (2000)

Noh Training Project - Akira Matsui/Richard Emmert - Bloomsburg, PA (1999)

Soap Intensive - Mark Teschner - TVI Actors Studio, Los Angeles, CA (2005)

Acting for the Camera - Ray Vanagas - Chicago, IL (2003)

 

Stage Combat

 

Nightmares and Lullabies: the darker side of peter pan - Fight Choreographer - Cooperative Performance, WI

Hamlet - Fight Choreographer - Cooperative Performance, Villa Terrace, WI

Anthropomorphic Oscillations in C Minor - Fight Captain - Cooperative Performance, WI

The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other - Fight Captain - Center for Performance Experiment, SC

Polaroid Stories - Fight Captain - Theatre South Carolina, SC

 

Technical Experience

 

A Piece of My Heart - Movement Coach - Cooperative Performance, Milwaukee, WI

The Hiding Place - Movement Coach - Acacia Theatre, Milwaukee, WI

Dali's Liquid Ladies - Lighting Designer - Truepenny Theater, The Fortress, Milwaukee, WI

iTopia - Sound Designer - Cooperative Performance, Milwaukee, WI

Hamlet - Sound Designer - Cooperative Performance, Villa Terrace, Milwaukee, WI

Everything But… - Stage Manager - Secret Rose, Los Angeles, CA

As You Like It - Assistant Master Electrician - American Players Theatre, WI (tour)

Hay Fever - Lighting Designer - Slippery Rock University, PA

Burn This - Lighting Designer - Sheehy Studio Theatre, PA

Waiting for Godot - Scene Designer - Slippery Rock University, PA

Jesus Christ Superstar - Construction Crew Chief - Slippery Rock University, PA

Woyzeck - Sound Designer - Benson Theatre, SC

Lysistrata - Sound Designer - Slippery Rock University, PA

 

Related Activities

 

Cooperative Performance, Board of Directors (Secretary 3/13 - 6/15, Chair 6/15 - Present )

Cooperative Performance, Founding Artist Member (2013-Present)

Milwaukee Fringe Festival Planning Committee (2017)

Los Angeles United Film Festival (2008) - Programmer

New York United Film Festival (2007) - Program Coordinator/Programmer

Tulsa United Film Festival (2007) - Program Coordinator/Programmer

Los Angeles Uncensored Film Festival (2007) - Programmer

 

Awards, Honors, and Affiliations

 

Actors’ Equity Association (AEA)

Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA)

Dean's Outstanding Graduate Student Award, California State University, Northridge, 2009

Golden Key International Honors Society

One of five students selected from California State University, Northridge to travel to Korea to research a traditional shaman festival, 2007

Dionysus Award for Overall Achievement in Theatre, Slippery Rock University, 2001

Irene Ryan Nominee KC/ACTF Region II for performances in; How I learned to Drive, Our Town and Othello, 1998 - 2001

Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, 2001

Nominee for Student Trustee, Slippery Rock University, 2000

Board member for the Presidents Award for Excellence in Teaching, Slippery RockUniversity, 2000 - 2001

 

Papers, Lectures and, Presentations

 

Russell, Don (2017). Hamlet’s Troy: The Fall of Denmark. Paper presented at the Comparative Drama Conference hosted by Rollins College in Orlando, FL in April 2017. This paper explores the idea that Shakespeare used Ovidian allusions in the 1st Player’s speech in Hamlet to give insight into the character’s emotional and mental state, as well as, the state of Denmark’s impending collapse.

 

Russell, Don (2017). Ovidian Shakespeare. Lecture presented at Carthage College as part of the Hannibal Lecture Series in February of 2017. This lecture examines the evolution of Shakespeare's use of Ovid's Metamorphoses over the course of his career by analyzing his use of the poems in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, and The Tempest.

 

Russell, Don (2010). Alienation or Cultural Misconception: Brecht versus the Chinese Theatre. Paper presented at the Comparative Drama Conference hosted by Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA in March 2010. This paper explores the idea that Brecht mistakenly applied his theories of Alienation Effect to Chinese Theatre.

 

Russell, Don (2009). Hijikata’s Butoh: Mourning Mud and Wind. Paper presented at the Comparative Drama Conference hosted by Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA in March 2009. This paper explores the idea of Hijikata Tatsumi embodying a living archive of his youth in rural Japan through his early work in Butoh.