PENELOPE A. HASEKOESTER, DEPARTMENT CHAIR- Associate Professor
M.F.A., University of Texas; M.A., Western Kentucky University; B.A., Eastern Kentucky University: produced playwright, professional acting and directing credits; creative drama specialist; 2003 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival National Finalist with the SHSU production of The Laramie Project, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region VI Texas State Vice Chair.

Office: UTC-111
Phone: 936.294.1330

A Message from the Chair

DR. LAURA AVERY -Visiting Assistant Professor
Doctor of Musical Arts degree in voice science and pedagogy from the University of Houston . Certified Contemporary Commercial Music Vocal Instructor. Currently in her sixth year as an applied voice instructor at Sam Houston State University . Vocal Coordinator and Music Director for the Musical Theatre Program. Teaches Voice for the Actor, Upper Level Musical Theatre Workshop and History of the American Musical. Member of The Voice Foundation, The Voice and Speech Trainers Association, Texas Educational Theatre Association, National Association of Teachers of Singing.

Theatre Guild

Office: Smith-Kirkley G21
Phone: 936.294.3404

GREGG BUCK- Assistant Professor
M.F.A. University of Maryland; previous teaching experience at University of Memphis; professional set and projection design for Theatre Memphis, Olney Theatre Center, and Clarion University; emphasis in computer design; workshop experience with Ming Cho Lee, Constance Hoffman, and Cobalt Studios.

Office: UTC-127
Phone: 936.294.4033

Robin Cobb- Lecturer of Theatre
Applied Voice Faculty, holds a B.A. and M.M. in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from The University of Texas at Austin. A Lyric Soprono, she has performed the role of Orthlinde in Die Walkure with the Austin Lyric Opera and as soprano soloist with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra in a Mass setting by Bernstein and Handel's Messiah.  She portrayed Desiree in A Little Night Music and Marion in The Music Man with Capital City Playhouse in Austin, TX as well as sung in a series of musical theater evenings performed with the Santa  Barbara Symphony Orchestra featuring songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Jerome Kern and Harold Arlen. Ms. Cobb has been a member of The National Association of Teachers f Singing serving as Co-Vice President of Auditions for the Houston Chapter from 2002-2004 and currently serving as the College Vocal Music Fair Representative. 

Office: SMI G18
Phone: 936.294.4422

RON SONG DESTRO- Assistant Professor
M.F.A. Brooklyn College ; B.A. University of Southern California : Kennedy Center Award-winning playwright, director and actor; recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts grant; creator of an Emmy-Award winning Chinese TV series; and received critical acclaim for his play Hiroshima , a collaboration with Yoko Ono. He has trained, worked and taught with leading artists of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Shanghai Opera Theatre, and with Kristin Linklater, John Houseman and John Barton; lectures on the Shakespeare authorship question at universities such as Harvard.

Office: UTC-115
Phone: 936.294.1338

KRISTINA S. HANSSEN- Professor
M.F.A. and M.A. University of Missouri-Kansas City; B.F.A., Stephens College: professional costume and makeup design experience at Colorado State University, Auburn University,and Missouri Repertory Theatre

Office: UTC-113
Phone: 936.294.1350

Jody Haas- Lecturer of Theatre
Applied Voice Faculty, received her B.M.A. and M.M. degrees in Vocal Performance from the University of Oklahoma.  A classically trained singer, she has enjoyed a crossover career performing Contemporary Christian music, Jazz, Pop and Country Western.  While with the Cimarron Circuit Opera Company in Norman, Oklahoma she sang the roles of Mimi in La Boheme and Cho Cho San in Madame Butterfly.  With the Lyric Theater in Oklahoma City she played the role of Julie in Showboat.  She has been a soloist and member of both the Houston Chamber Choir and Cantare Houston. Recently she served as music director for a production of The Pirates of Penzance with the Houston Family Arts Center.  Ms. Haas is certified in Contemporary Commercial Music pedagogy and recently attended a workshop conducted by CCM specialist Robert Edwin.  In addition to her active voice studio responsibilities, Ms. Haas also serves on the Board of Control for the Texoma Region of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

Office: SMI G18
Phone: 936.294.4422

Sandra Johnson-Lecturer of Theatre
Applied Voice Faculty, has taught music theory, history and literature at Houston Community College and for nearly twenty years has taught voice and piano.  She performs a wide range of music from opera to Broadway to folk/rock and blues.  For many years Sandra was a dancer, her first performance was as a dancer in Kiss Me Kate.  Sandra holds a B.M. in voice performance from the University of Wisconsin- Madison, and an M.M. in voice performance from the University of Texas at Austin, and has completed her doctoral course work in voice performance and piano performance at the University of Houston.

Office: SMI G20
Phone: 936.294.4426

ERIC MARSH- Assistant Professor
He holds a MFA in Lighting Design from Western Illinois University and a BA in Theatre from California State University in Chico. Some of design credits include, "Oedipus Rox", "Medea", "Urinetown: The Musical" , "Titanic", "Eqqus", and "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Eric teaches both Lighting and Sound Courses. He has worked professional as a designer and technical director for companies all across the US, such as "Bigfork Summer Playhouse", "Shakespeare in the Park", "Court Theatre", "Summerset Theatre" and "Summer Music Theatre".

Office: UTC-126
Phone: 936.294.1331

MAUREEN V. McINTYRE-Professor
M.F.A. and B.F.A., University of Texas: advanced studies in theatre movement, LeCoq Mime, and acting for film; directed children's theatre professionally. Texas Educational Theatre Association Educator of the Year, College/University, 1993.

Office: UTC-114
Phone:936.294.1337

DR. DAVID McTIER- Associate Professor
Dr. McTier teaches theatre history, theory and criticism, and stage management; he also serves as dramaturg for the production season. Raised on a cattle farm in rural Georgia, he holds a Ph.D. in theatre history and criticism with proficiency in directing from the University of Texas, an M.A. in theatre from Indiana University, and an A.B. in drama from the University of Georgia. Dr.  McTier has been an active participant in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF), having served two years as Student Dramaturgy Coordinator and as a member of the Regional Advisory Committee for Region V. Currently, he is working on a collection of Shakespeare's plays adapted for high school and college productions as well as a series of articles on metatheatrical performance.

WEBSITE

Office: Kirkley G27
Phone: 936.294.4063

THOMAS PRIOR- Assistant Professor
M.F.A. University of Houston; B.F.A. Carnegie-Mellon University. Teaches Acting & Audition Technique. Professional actor for the past 19 years. Member Actors' Equity Association & Screen Actors Guild. Houston Press 2003 "Best Actor" award for his work in "Syncopation" at Stages Repertory Theatre. Recent productions: "110 in the Shade" at Theatre Under the Stars. :"Five Course Love," "Searching for Eden," "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" and "Spitfire Grill" at Stages Repertory Theatre and "Love's Labor's Lost," "Romeo & Juliet," "As You Like It" and "Hamlet" at the Houston Shakespeare Festival; taught at the University of Houston from 2000 to 2003.

Office: UTC-112
Phone: 936.294.1328

KEITH CALDWELL
M.F.A. University of Houston, B.A. Troy State University, Troy, Alabama, currently working on his M.A. in Voice at the University of Houston. Courses at SHSU: Basic Acting I and Theatre Appreciation. Keith appeared in New York in the musical Trixie True, Teen Detective at the Lucille Lortell Theatre DeLys. He continues to work as an actor/singer in the Houston, Galveston area.

Office: Kirkkley-G25
Phone: 936.294.4751

JONATHAN CHARLES

Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance, holds a B.A degree in dance from the University of Houston/Clearlake, and an M.F.A. in dance from Sam Houston State University.  He has performed in tours of A Chorus Line, The Pirates of Penzance, Jesus Christ Superstar, Showboat and Mame with Juliet Prowse.  He has performed regionally with Theatre Under the Stars and the Alley Theatre in Houston, The MUNY Opera of St. Louis, the Seattle Fifth Avenue Theatre, and the Papermill Playhouse in the State Theatre of New Jersey.  Jonathan serves as choreographer for the musical productions at SHSU and teaches ballet, tap, jazz and Musical Theatre Workshop for freshmen and sophomores.  In 2004, Jonathan directed Smokey Joe’s Café which was chosen for the 2005 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Regional Festival.

Office:Dance-239
Phone: 936.294.1496

SARAH EDER
Department administrative secretary. Currently attending Sam Houston State University. B.S. Sociology/History Previously employed as Senior Secretary for TDCJ 2005-2007

Office: UTC-110
Phone: 936.294.1329

KANDICE HARRIS
Theater Manager. B.F.A. Sam Houston State University in Theatre and a specialization in creative drama. Currently working on an after school program using creative drama called Kid's Reach.

Office: UTC-126
Phone: 936.294.3968

PATRICIA OSBORNE
Costume Shop Supervisor. B.F.A. University of California at Fullerton . Born in Los Angeles it was natural for Patricia to enter the entertainment industry. She began her costuming career as stitcher for Walt Disney Productions, while attending college. Since obtaining her B.F.A., she has worked in film, television, theatre and for various ballet companies throughout the United States .

Office: UTC-125
Phone: 936.294.4116

LARRY ROUTH
Technical Director, B.F.A., Sam Houston State University; Degree in Film Production, Los Angeles City College: professional set construction for film, television, and stage in California and Texas.

Office: UTC-008
Phone: 936.294.1365

Bill Thomas
Production Coordinator , B.F.A., Sam Houston State University in Theatre. Bill has worked as stage manager and dramaturge in the Houston Ensemble theatre and stage manager in the Houston Main street Theatre.

Office: KIR-G23
Phone: 936.294.4963