Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts Faculty

Phone: 314-246-6931
Email: gadguterman95@webster.edu

BA, Theatre and Economics (double major), Cornell University
MA, Educational Theatre, New York University
PhD, Theatre, The Graduate Center, City University of New York
At Webster since 2011

Gad Guterman joined the faculty of the Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University in 2011. He is the author of “Performance, Identity, and Immigration Law: A Theatre of Undocumentedness” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014). The book considers how contemporary U.S. theater has presented so-called undocumented immigrants and, more broadly, how legal labels participate in processes of identity. His essays have appeared in Theatre Survey, Theatre Journal, Contemporary Theatre Review, the Journal of American Drama and Theatre, and in the edited collections “American Multicultural Identity” (Salem Press, 2014), “Theatre and Cartographies of Power: Repositioning the Latina/o Americas” (Southern Illinois University Press, 2018), and “50 Key Figures in Queer US Theatre” (Routledge, 2023).

From 2004 to 2011, he served as the education director for the Vineyard Theatre in New York City, an Off-Broadway company dedicated to producing new plays and musicals. He is the author of a play for young actors published by Eldridge Plays, “My Uncle Shakespeare,” and has directed productions for Missoula Children's Theatre, Boston Children's Theatre and the John Harms Performing Arts Center, among others. Credits include “Angels in America” (dramaturg, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, 2019), “The Little Prince” (director, Webster University, 2019), “The Ant and the Grasshopper” and “Greek Myths: Heroes and Monsters” (director, Imaginary Theatre Company, 2019), the “Romeo and Juliet” and “Love's Labors Lost” Green Shows (director, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, 2018 and 2019), and the “Briefs” Theatre Festival (dramaturg, 2014–17).

Guterman received the 2020 William T. Kemper Award for Excellence in Teaching at Webster University.

Phone: 314-246-7754
Email: jeffreyawada43@webster.edu

BFA, Emerson College
Certificate, Professional Training Program, Delle' Arte School of Physical Theatre
MFA, Performance Pedagogy, University of Pittsburgh
Alexander Technique Teacher
At Webster since 2006

Jef Awada is an actor, director, movement coach and teacher. His interest in diverse perspectives on movement training has led him to study traditional commedia dell'arte with Giovanni Fusetti, Suzuki technique with Yukihiro Goto, clown with Philippe Gaulier and Ronlin Foreman, and Russian scenic movement with Andrei Droznin.

Prior to earning his MFA in Performance Pedagogy, Awada worked as an actor in New York and around the country. Highlights include New Works festivals at P.S. 122 and The American Livingroom Series at HERE in New York City; co-founder, performer and writer of Scary Little Town, an ensemble-based sketch comedy troupe; Mr. Tumnus in Oregon Children's Theatre Drammy award winning “The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe;” “Scrooge” for the Traveling Lantern Theatre Company; and “The Wigmaker in Rashomon” for the Pitt Repertory Theatre.

His directing credits include “Will Mr. Merriweather Return from Memphis” for the St. Louis Tennessee Williams Festival, Mary Zimmerman's “Arabian Nights” and “Romeo and Juliet” for St. Louis Shakespeare Co., “Fables” for Metro Theatre Company, and “Cloud 9,” “The Insect Play,” “A Reconsolidated Life,” “Big Love,” “Ismene,” and “ Romeo and Juliet” at Webster University. His production of “Big Love” was invited to and performed at the Havana International Theatre Festival in October 2015.

As a movement director for the Great River Shakespeare Festival, Awada coached productions of “Taming of the Shrew,” “The Tempest,” “Othello,” and “Midsummer Night's Dream.” In the classroom, he has designed and taught courses as varied as Acting for Animators at the Ringling College of Art and Design, Traditional Commedia Movement Styles for Russian students at the Shchukin Institute of the Vahktangov Theatre in Moscow, and red nose clown in New Delhi.

He is a company member in YougLiars Theatre Co. In the spring of 2022, he completed his training as an Alexander Technique teacher at Soma Studios in Minneapolis.

Phone: 314-246-7798
Email: joannabattles07@webster.edu

BFA, Acting, New York University
MFA, Acting, Brown/Trinity
Certificate, Fitzmaurice Voicework™
Certification, Yoga Buzz 200 hour, emphasis in trauma informed practice
Certification, Seven Pillars Acting Technique
At Webster since 2013

Joanna Battles is a professional actor and director, as well as a voice, speech and dialect coach for theatre and film. Prior to her position at Webster, Battles served as the co-head of the undergraduate program of Theatre at Louisiana State University where she taught voice, speech and acting classes in the MFA and undergraduate acting programs; and was the professional vocal coach on staff at Swine Palace Productions. In addition to her work at LSU, Battles was a faculty member and/or presented workshops at New York University, Playwright's Horizons Theatre School, Brooklyn College, Brown/Trinity Consortium, and Stonesoup Theatre Company. Battles is an associate teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework™, and a trained practitioner of Chuck Jones Vocal Technique.

While at Swine Palace/LSU Mainstage, Battles directed the new play, “Elephant's Graveyard,” by George Brant; collaborated with Adam Rapp on the regional premiere of “The Metal Children;” directed Carson Kreitzer's “Self Defense, Or death of some salesmen;” Laura Schellhardt's “Shapeshifter;” and “Spring Awakening” by Frank Wedekind. Favorite credits as a voice and dialect coach include: A&E Network's “Bonnie & Clyde: the miniseries;” Lionsgate film's “The Haunting in Georgia;” “King Lear” and “Macbeth” at Tulane Shakespeare Festival; “Opus” at Southern Rep; “August: Osage County,” “A Doll's House” and “A Free Man of Color,” all at Swine Palace.

Since moving to St. Louis in 2013, Battles has worked extensively as a dialect coach at the Repertory Theatre St. Louis, New Jewish Theatre, St. Louis Actor’s Studio and The Muny. In addition to serving as a text coach for St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, Battles acted in the Shakespeare in the Streets production of “Ghosts of Maplewood,” and directed the Educational Tours of “Macbeth,” “Hamlet,” “Julius Caesar,” and “Romeo and Juliet.” At the Conservatory, Battles most recently directed Alice Birch’s “Revolt. She said. Revolt again.”

As a stage actor, favorite credits include: “On the Verge” (Public Stage); “The Long Christmas Ride Home” (Trinity Repertory Company); “Sylvia” (American Heartland Theatre); “Richard II,” “Henry IV” and “Henry V” (Trinity Repertory Company); “Departure” (Irish Arts Center); “Twelfth Night” (Perishable Theatre); “Two Gentleman of Verona” (Trinity Summer Shakespeare) and “Shapeshifter, Courting Vampires” (McCormick Theatre at Brown University). Battles is a proud member of Actor's Equity Association.

Phone: 314-246-7978
Email: dennisbensie@webster.edu

BA, Costume Design, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Apprentice, Los Angeles Opera
Certificate, IATSE Train the Trainer
At Webster since 2021

Dennis Milam Bensie began his wig career in the Seattle theatre scene over thirty years ago after completing an apprenticeship in the Los Angeles Opera wig and makeup department. His work continued at over twenty-five other regional theatres across the country including Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, and the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. Bensie’s recent film and TV wig credits include HBO’s “Three Busy Debras,” Hulu’s “The Jinkx and DeLa Holiday Special,” and the indie feature film “Potato Dreams of America.” Dennis returned to opera designing wigs for The Atlanta Opera and more recently as the Executive Wig Designer for Seven Ages' production of “Mozart, l’opera rock” in Beijing, China. Bensie is also the author of five books published by Coffeetown Press. His memoir “Thirty Years a Dresser” recounts his career working backstage in theatre.

Instagram: DennisMilamBensieWigs

Phone: 314-968-6938
Email: raymecornell08@webster.edu

BA, University of Nevada
MFA, Acting and Directing, University of Missouri Kansas City
At Webster since 2018

Rayme Cornell has been a professional actor for over twenty-five years. She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and Actors Equity Association.

Cornell began her teaching career as an assistant professor in the Stage and Screen Acting program at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, where she taught Acting, Shakespeare, Modern Styles, Audition Techniques and Voice Overs, in both the MFA and undergraduate acting program. She was the host of the national award-winning PBS show “Real Moms, Real Stories, Real Savvy.” She has worked in film, television, off Broadway and with some of the nations most prestigious regional theatres.

Her favorite roles include Cassandra in “Trojan Women” at The Old Globe, directed by Seret Scott; The Greek Chorus in the world premiere of Trevor Nunn and John Barton’s seven-hour play, “The Greeks,” at the Alley Theatre directed by Gregory Boyd; Louise Marie Therese in the premiere of Lynn Nottage’s “Las Meninas” at Crossroads, directed by Daniela Veron; Elmire in “Tartuffe,” directed by Garland Wright, and Olivia in “Twelfth Night,” directed by Penny Metropulos, with the New York Acting Company; Olivia in “Twelfth Night,” directed by Marco Barricelli at Shakespeare Santa Cruz; Aunt Cora in the world premiere of John Henry Redwood's “No Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs” at the Philadelphia Theatre Company and New York’s Primary Stages, directed by Israel Hicks; Titania in “Midsummer,” directed by Michael Weller, and Queen Margaret in “Richard III,” directed by Jan Powell, at the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival; and Odessa in “Water by the Spoonful,” directed by Christopher Edwards, Lady Macbeth in “Macbeth,” directed by Darren Weller, Diane in “Little Dog Laughed,” Arkadina in “The Seagull” and Mrs. Muller in “Doubt” at the Nevada Conservatory Theatre.

Other regional theatre credits: Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, Tennessee Williams Festival, Arizona Theatre Company, Vineyard Playhouse, The O’Neill, Missouri Repertory Theatre and The Unicorn Theatre. Cornell is a private coach for professionals, and her speech and acting clients range from network news anchors and celebrity chefs to UFC champions. Cornell is also known for her extensive voice-over work. Cornell is a master teacher at the Don LaFontaine Voice Over Lab at the Screen Actors Guild Foundation in Los Angeles and New York. Cornell has represented such products as L’Oreal, Ford, Dunkin Donuts, Uber, Cingular Wireless, Station Casinos, Singulair, Lifetime, WE, Oxygen Network, USA Network, MTV, VH1, BET, ESPN, History Channel, Discovery Channel, Republican and Democratic Candidates and many more. Her greatest role to date is that of being Brick’s Mom.

Phone: 314-968-6935
Email: finlaydo@webster.edu

BA, Baldwin Wallace College
MFA, Purdue University
At Webster since 1998

Doug Finlayson has been the head of directing at Webster University since 1998. His recent work includes “The Comedy of Errors” at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, “Company” at Insight Theatre Company; “Eleemosynary” at Mustardseed Theatre Company; and “Time Stands Still” at New Jewish Theatre. Other work at NJT includes “The Sunshine Boys,” “The Whipping Man,” “Lost in Yonkers” and “Way to Heaven.”

Finlayson was nominated for the 2011 Kevin Kline Award for Best Director of a Play for his production of “Equus” at HotCity. He won the 2008 Kevin Kline Award for Best Director of a Play for “Kindertransport,” which he directed at the New Jewish Theatre. Other directing credits include “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” at Nebraska Repertory Theatre, “Maple and Vine” at HotCity Theatre, “A Gnome for Christmas” at Imaginary Theatre Company, and “Romeo and Juliet” at Illinois Shakespeare Festival.

Additional directing projects include “True West” at HotCity Theatre Company; “Dogg's Hamlet” and “Cahoot's Macbeth” (with Jef Awada) at St. Louis Shakepeare; “Leaving Iowa” and “How the Other Half Loves” at Northern Fort Theatre in Aberdeen, S.D.; “Aca Y Alla” and “Tales of the Lost Formicans,” with Jane Lynch, at the Evidence Room in Los Angeles; “Jeeves Intervenes,” “Act a Lady” and “Resident Alien” at Nebraska Repertory; “The Philadelphia Story” and “Inspecting Carol” at the Black Hills Playhouse; “'Art'” at the Ozark Actor's Theatre; “The Bremen Town Musicians” for The Imaginary Theatre Company; “Death of a Salesman” at Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre and “Pericles,” “Hamlet” and “The Merry Wives of Windsor” at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival.

Finlayson has directed around the country for Court Theatre, Chico, California; Evidence Room, Los Angeles; Wheeler Opera House, Aspen, Colorado; Belfry Theatre, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; New American Theatre, Rockford Illinois and Madison Rep, Madison, Wisconsin. Finlayson started his career in Chicago where his credits include “The Ice-Fishing Play” and “Between East and West” for the Next Theatre Company; “Pastel Refugees” and “The Butter and Egg Man” at Northlight Theatre; “Body of Water” at Chicago Dramatists; “Female Transport” at The Immediate Theatre Company and “Execution of Justice” and “Nebraska” at Bailiwick Repertory.

From 1983–88, he served as associate artistic director to Robert Falls and Richard E.T. White at Wisdom Bridge Theatre in Chicago, where he directed “Painting Churches,” “The Immigrant,” “'Night Mother,” “Hunting Cockroaches” and “Circe & Bravo.” Finlayson received the 2018 William T. Kemper Award for Excellence in Teaching at Webster University.

Finlayson website

Phone: 314-246-2315
Email: reneegarcia@webster.edu

BA, Florida State University
MFA, University of Missouri–Kansas City
At Webster since 2022

Renee Garcia is a professional costume designer (Local USA 829) who has designed for more than thirty theatre, dance and film productions. She has designed costumes for Metro Theatre Company, Moonstone Theatre Company, Arkansas University, Charleston Stage Company, Lake Dillon Theatre Company, the Riverside Theater Shakespeare Festival, Unicorn Theater, the Coterie Theater, Brick Monkey Theater Ensemble, portOPERA, and for the independent movie, “Burning Man.” Her costume designs for “As You Like It” were displayed in the USITT-USA National Exhibit in the 2015 Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space. The PQ is the world's largest performance design exhibit in the world, often compared to the Olympics or World's Fair for designers. Her designs for “As You Like It” were on display in 2022 in the Vestuario a Escena MX, AC’s international exhibit, Exposición Vestuario para la Escena 2022, at the National Center for the Arts in Mexico City. Her awards include the USITT Fellows Early Career Member Mentoring Assistance Award, and both the USITT Ezekiel Board Choice Winner and the USITT Ezekiel Award of Outstanding Achievement for her costume designs in “As You Like It.”

Garcia comes to Webster after serving as assistant professor of Costume Design at Oklahoma State University, and previously as visiting assistant professor of Costume Design at Ohio University and as lecturer in Costume Design at the University of Southern Maine.

Phone: 314-968-6934
Email: glasgoga@webster.edu

BA, Vanderbilt University
BFA, Webster University
MFA, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Gary Glasgow has been a faculty member in the Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts since 1993, where in addition to Second-Year Movement, he teaches the Second-Year Acting sequence. As an actor, he has worked extensively in St. Louis and throughout the country. St. Louis venues include The Municipal Opera of St. Louis (more than 43 productions), the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival (16 productions), The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Mustard Seed Theatre, New Jewish Theatre, and Variety Children’s Theatre. Regional credits include work at the Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival, and the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. In Chicago, he has worked with The Apple Tree Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Lifeline Theatre, the Free Shakespeare Company, and Pegasus Players. He has developed several new plays for the former St. Louis One-Act Play Festival. He is a recipient of the William T. Kemper Excellence in Teaching Award and a graduate of Webster University’s Global Leadership Academy (2016.) Gary is a current member of Actors' Equity. He obtained his certification in Pilates through Pilates Unlimited (2006), and in 2019, he completed the prestigious National Alliance of Acting Teachers–Teacher Development Program.

Phone: 314-968-6939
Email: laurenroth@webster.edu

BFA, Acting, New York University
MFA, Acting Pedagogy, California State University-Long Beach
Certificate, Knight-Thompson Speechwork
At Webster since 2024

Lauren Roth is a teaching artist, actor and voice and accent coach. As a voice, text and accent coach, Roth has worked nationally and regionally at institutions such as South Coast Repertory, A.R.T./New York Theatre, Duluth Playhouse and California Repertory Company. Select coaching credits include “Once On This Island” and “Waitress” (Broadway National Tours); “Nothing Gold Can Stay” (A.R.T./New York Theatres); “Once” and “Murder on the Orient Express” (Duluth Playhouse); and “Sweeney Todd” (South Coast Repertory). Roth appreciates collaborating on new and developing works. In 2023, she made her international coaching debut with director Oliver Butler and playwright Khawla Ibraheem in the world premiere of “A Knock on the Roof” (National Palestinian Theatre). 

Prior to arriving at Webster, Roth was an assistant professor of Voice and Speech at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where she taught voice, speech, accents and acting courses in the BFA Acting, BFA Musical Theatre and BA Theatre programs. Roth served as a director, speech and accent coach, and intimacy consultant, as well as the artistic director of the department’s Lab Series showcasing student-driven work. Her direction on a production of “Stupid F##king Bird” received two national awards through the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival: Distinguished Director of a Play and Distinguished Production and Performance Ensemble. 

As an educator, Roth has taught at the New Studio on Broadway at NYU Tisch, California State University-Long Beach, Actor’s Studio of Orange County, Future Theatre Artists Program and Revolutionary Youth Theatre, among others. Roth is a certified teacher of Knight-Thompson Speechwork and she holds an MFA in Acting Pedagogy with a concentration in Voice and Speech Studies from California State University-Long Beach. She received her BFA in Acting from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

As a researcher, Roth is interested in exploring the intersection of voice, identity and culture. Her research interests are in vocal health and vocal injury as an issue of diversity and access in the workplace, focusing specifically on the protections in place for performers and other occupational voice users.

Phone: 314-246-7729
Email: jryan@webster.edu

BA, Computer Science/Mathematics, Augustana College
At Webster since 2000

John Ryan is the Scene Shop Supervisor and Assistant Technical Director for the Conservatory at Webster University. He supervises scenery build crews, load-ins, technical rehearsals, and strikes; and tracks production budgets for the department. He has worked as an electrician for the Black Hills Playhouse, the San Jose Repertory Theatre, Opera San Jose, the Omaha Community Playhouse, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Circa 21 Dinner Theatre and the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival.

Phone: 314-968-6932
Email: kstepanek78@webster.edu

BFA, Lighting and Scenic Design, Webster University
MFA, Scenic Design, University of Tennessee
At Webster since 2024

Katherine Stepanek is a seasoned scenic designer and dedicated educator with a rich background in theater arts. Her professional portfolio spans across various theaters nationwide, showcasing her versatility and creativity in scenic design. Notably, she has designed sets for productions such as “Dracula, the Feminist Revenge Fantasy” (Robinson Theatre, Colorado), the world premiere of “The Reluctant Dragon” (Lexington Children’s Theatre, Kentucky), and “Million Dollar Quartet” (Clarence Brown Theatre, Tennessee) among many others. Her work is characterized by a unique blend of practical functionality and imaginative artistry, often incorporating playful and innovative elements that enhance the storytelling experience.

In addition to her teaching and design work, Stepanek is committed to fostering a collaborative environment that encourages student growth and learning. She brings a wealth of real-world experience into the classroom, providing her students with invaluable insights into the industry.

Phone: 314-968-6927
Email: larateeter06@webster.edu

BA, Oklahoma City University
Doctoral Equivalency, California State University, Fullerton
At Webster since 2007

Lara Teeter is Head of Musical Theatre and teaches Musical Theatre song and dance styles. He has performed, directed and choreographed for major regional theatre and opera houses nationwide. Prior to coming to the Sargent Conservatory for Theatre Arts, Teeter was an associate professor at the Shenandoah Conservatory, an associate professor in the Theatre and Dance Department at California State University at Fullerton, an assistant professor in the Music Theatre Certificate program in the School of Speech at Northwestern University, and the artistic director of Light Opera Works in Evanston, Illinois.

He was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in the 1982 revival of the Rodgers and Hart classic “On Your Toes” performing the role of Junior Dolan, originally portrayed by Ray Bolger in 1936. Other Broadway credits include “The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas,” “The Pirates of Penzance,” “Happy New Year,” and “Seven Brides For Seven Brothers.” Other roles performed in prominent theatres include Jamie Lockhart in “The Robber Bridegroom,” Steven Kodaly in “She Loves Me,” Henry Higgins in “My Fair Lady,” and the Dentist in “Little Shop of Horrors.” National Tours include the role of Don Lockwood in “Singin' In The Rain,” Will Parker in “Oklahoma!,” and the Scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz” starring Mickey Rooney and Eartha Kitt. Teeter has performed at Lincoln Center with the New York City Opera as Silas Slick in “Naughty Marietta,” and as Herman in “The Most Happy Fella.” He made his Lyric Opera of Chicago debut performing the role of Steve Sankey in “Street Scene” starring Catherine Malfitano.

Directing credits include “My Fair Lady” for Opera Pacific, “The Pirates of Penzance” for San Bernardino Civic Light Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, and Dayton Opera, “Jacques Brel is Alive and Living In Paris” for the Hollywood Cinigrill, and “The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas” for the Fullerton Civic Light Opera.

Recordings include the original Broadway cast recording of the 1982 revival of “On Your Toes,” the Gershwin Trust/Library of Congress first ever recording of Gershwin's "Lady Be Good," and the Grammy Award nominated recording of “The Wizard of Oz” starring Mickey Rooney and Eartha Kitt. In the summer of 2000, Teeter made his Carnegie Hall debut performing the role of Henry Higgins in a tribute to the work of Lerner and Loewe.

Phone: 314-968-6941
Email: tuckerca@webster.edu

BS and BA, Fontbonne University
MFA, University of Missouri-Kansas City
At Webster since 1993

Carole Tucker serves on the faculty as head of the Costume Construction program and Costume Shop Manager. She also currently serves as the associate chair of the department. She teaches the costume technology sequencce, which includes such classes as Costume Construction, Corsetry, Tailoring, and Advanced Patterning. Carole continues to work professionally as a draper, costume shop manager, firsthand, floor manager and costume coordinator. Most recently, she worked as the draper/firsthand for the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival's 2024 production of “As You Like It.” Carole also served as the Emerson costume apprentice mentor with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis for seven seasons. Her summers have been spent working in a wide variety of professional costume shops. Some of those companies include Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, STAGES St. Louis, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, Santa Fe Opera, Central City Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Utah Festival Opera, Repertory Theatre St. Louis, and The Muny.

Phone: 314-246-8778
Email: amandawerre28@webster.edu

BFA, Sound Design, Webster University 
At Webster since 2022

Amanda Werre has worked as a sound designer on theatre productions ranging from large musical theatre to new works. Her work has been heard at companies including Great Lakes Theatre, Hope Repertory Theatre, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Mountain Playhouse, COCA, Max and Louie Productions, Metro Theatre Company, Moonstone Theatre Company, New Jewish Theatre, the St. Louis Zoo, Cider Mill Playhouse, and the Tennessee Williams Festival. Her work has been recognized with a St. Louis Theatre Circle award on “A Streetcar Named Desire” (Tennessee Williams Festival) and nominations for “Into the Woods” (New Jewish Theatre), “Life Sucks” (New Jewish Theatre) and “Dear Jack, Dear Louise” (New Jewish Theatre). In addition to her design work, she has worked in the sound departments at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.

Phone: 314-246-7640
Email: ewhitlock@webster.edu

BA, Calvin University
MFA, University of California, San Diego
At Webster since 2020

Evangeline Rose Whitlock is a stage manager with experience on and off Broadway, in regional theatres across the country, on international and national tours, with ballet and contemporary dance companies, and with large-scale corporate and industrial events. Her particular interest as a stage manager centers on blending an ethics of care with professional theatre practice to facilitate the creation of original community-engaged work and theatre for social justice.

Whitlock's credits include: Broadway: “Farinelli and the King.” Off-Broadway: “the way she spoke” (Audible Theater @ Minetta Lane); “Pass Over” (LCT3/Lincoln Center); “F***ing A” and “Venus” (Signature Theatre); “Grounded;” “Father Comes Home from the Wars Parts 1, 2 and 3;” and “Antony and Cleopatra” (The Public Theater); “Nice Fish” (Co-Production A.R.T/St. Ann's Warehouse); “Lost Girls” (MCC); “Twelfth Night,” “The Odyssey,” “The Winter's Tale,” and “The Tempest” (Public Works at The Public Theater). Tours: “Flashdance.” Regional: “The Tempest” (Dallas Theater Center); “Miss You Like Hell” (La Jolla Playhouse); “Father Comes Home...” (A.R.T. and Center Theatre Group); “The Scottsboro Boys” (CTG/Old Globe/A.C.T.); “Allegiance,” “A Room With a View,” and “Odyssey” (Old Globe).

Prior to her appointment at Webster, Whitlock lived and worked in New York City and was the visiting assistant arts professor of Stage Management at New York University. She has also taught and mentored student stage managers at Adelphi University, Brooklyn College and Baylor University.

Phone: 314-968-6940
Email: wyliejc@webster.edu

BA, Augustana College
MFA, University of Missouri-Kansas City
At Webster since 1989

John Wylie heads Webster’s Technical Direction program. He is also a professional lighting designer. Locally, John has designed for the Repertory Theatre St. Louis, Variety Theatre, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, Kansas City Rep, and Metro Theatre Company. John’s work for the St. Louis Black Rep garnered three Woodie Awards for outstanding lighting design. Other designs include “Over the Tavern” for Geva Theatre in NY, “Always…Patsy Cline” for St. Michael’s Playhouse in Vermont, and “The Sound of Music” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” for Alabama Shakespeare Festival. He is a four-time Kevin Kline and four-time St. Louis Theatre Circle nominee for outstanding lighting design. John is a recipient of the William T. Kemper Excellence in Teaching Award and of the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. He is a member of USA Local 829.

Wylie website