Announcing Changes in Drama Option Leadership
June 22, 2022
As the 2022/2023 tutorial yr approaches, management adjustments have been introduced for a number of program choices within the School of Drama. Each of the six program choices (Acting/Music Theater, Design, Directing, Dramaturgy, Dramatic Writing, and Production Technology & Management) is led by an Option Coordinator, who’s accountable for shepherding the shared curricular targets of every self-discipline. Option Coordinators liaise with college students, school, management, college sources, alumni, and professionals of their space to make sure the absolute best instructional expertise for the CMU Drama group.
With a number of Option Coordinators stepping down, and new management stepping in, the School of Drama gratefully acknowledges the devoted work of those school members.
Acting/Music Theater
Outgoing Option Coordinator
Catherine Moore
Professor Catherine Moore is stepping down as Option Coordinator for Acting/MT; nonetheless, she can be actively engaged with incoming management to assist guarantee a clean transition by means of the summer time and into the autumn and can proceed together with her work within the classroom and on stage on the School.
“Professor Moore has led the Acting/MT Option through the most challenging time in the history of the School of Drama,” stated Anne Mundell, interim head of faculty. “Her leadership was instrumental in Acting/MT’s successful pivot to teaching and learning across a spectrum of modalities, and provided an unshakable foundation for the extraordinary Acting/MT faculty’s efforts to do what no one would have thought possible two and a half years ago. Professor Moore has been a source of stability, continuity and brilliant problem-solving during a period of rapid leadership turnover. I am immensely grateful for her partnership this year. Professor Moore has also been instrumental in supporting the important work of our long overdue cultural evolution toward becoming a community that celebrates, supports and nurtures the full spectrum of lived experiences and learning journeys. There is no institutional roadmap for achieving deep and meaningful cultural transformation, but Professor Moore has faced the pressures with unwavering courage, generosity, humility, creativity and dedication. During her time as OC, Professor Moore also maintained a full teaching load and continued her work as one of the founders/producers of Playground. She produced the option showcases, and continued to strengthen relationships with alumni and the profession and she led three pandemic showcase process reinventions. She’s clarified policy and procedure, become a central participant in the audition process, provided support for faculty and has been a brilliant liaison and representative for the option. Professor Moore’s dedication to students can’t be overstated; she knows each student’s strengths and challenges and is committed to their success. Her impact is immeasurable, extending far beyond what I’ve mentioned here. Our community is deeply indebted to Professor Moore. I know I speak for all of us when I say thank you, Catherine.”
Rick Edinger
Incoming Option Coordinator
Professor Rick Edinger will undertake the function of Option Coordinator. He has already begun working and collaborating with management, Professor Moore, and incoming Associate Option Coordinators.
“I am excited to see where Professor Edinger’s energy, natural leadership qualities, administrative and communication skills, creativity, and unselfish dedication to the School will take the Option,” stated Professor Mundell.
Associate Option Coordinators
The work of administering the Acting/MT choice is advanced and the workload is important. As such, the Option Coordinator has been supported by two Assistant Option Coordinators. Moving ahead, this mannequin will change barely, and in an effort to extra precisely replicate the work undertaken, the title will now be Associate Option Coordinators.
Gary Kline
Professor Gary Kline has stepped down from his function as Assistant Option Coordinator for Music Theater, a job which he’s held throughout the OC phrases of each Professor Moore and Professor Wadsworth. Professor Kline will proceed his work on the School of Drama within the studio, lecture rooms and as an advocate for this system.
“Professor Kline’s passion for and dedication to Music Theater education can not be overstated,” stated Professor Mundell. “He has been one of the primary architects of the Musical Theater Program in the School of Drama and is one of the major reasons it is now considered one of the best programs in the world. He has forged and nurtured numerous industry relationships and has been responsible for ongoing engagement and program support from some of the artists who shaped the industry into which our students graduate. He’s been part of the School Music Theater Audition process for many years. Professor Kline has worked tirelessly to create professional caliber opportunities and interactions with industry leaders. Examples include the School of Drama Junior Music Theater Ensemble’s Annual Cabaret which is an opportunity for students to work with some of the industry’s most talented composers and to perform in a professional venue and his role in helping to initiate the CMU/CLO New Works Partnership and a National Partnership with CLO, ASCAP and Stephen Schwartz’ New Writer’s Workshops, Professor Kline has our immense gratitude.”
Kaf Warman
Professor Kaf Warman will proceed her work with the title of Associate Option Coordinator.
“Professor Warman manages the casting process, working tirelessly to align student goals, learning objectives, and individual student needs with season selection and nearly infinite number of other variables. Professor Warman liaises with the Lab Review Committee on casting needs and limitations during season selection and calendaring. She also has contributes to many other organizational efforts including Study Abroad (in collaboration with Barbara Mackenzie Wood), and assigning students to course sections. We are very grateful for Kaf’s willingness to continue her generous service,” stated Professor Mundell.
Judy Conte
Professor Judy Conte joins the workforce of Associate Option Coordinators formally this yr.
“Many in the School may not be aware that for many years, Professor Conte has been responsible for developing the class schedule for the Acting/MT Option. It’s a complex matrix and as with many things in the School, if one piece gets moved everything else has to be rethought. Professor Conte’s work also ensures that training sequences are unbroken. She collaborates with Amy Nichols to coordinate classroom and studio spaces. She also coordinates the scheduling of accompanists and of the dance faculty. We are grateful that Judy has agreed to continue this work and delighted that she will do so with under the title of Associate Option Coordinator,” stated Professor Mundell.
Lisa Velten Smith
Professor Lisa Velten Smith joins the workforce of Associate Option Coordinators.
“Professor Velten Smith’s job description is still in process, however there are plans to bring to bear the same skillsets she’s so successfully applied to Co-Chairing the Lab Review Committee, Directing the Acting/MT Showcase, her work with the DEI Committee on resources for decolonizing syllabi, and her collaboration with Dick Block on liaising with the Student Representatives. Enormous thanks go to Lisa for agreeing to serve,” stated Professor Mundell.