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School of Music, Theatre, and Dance

New Faculty – Fall Semester, 2015

Newly appointed Assistant Professor David Mackay is a professional actor, playwright and director from Vancouver, Canada. Directing credits include; the Arts ClubTheatre One Man, Two Guvnors, Venus in Fur, Boeing Boeing and The Importance of Being Earnest; Mitch and Murray Productions Speed the Plow, Becky Shaw, Lungs and Race; as well as directing and acting with the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival for fourteen seasons. He recently adapted and co-directed Kosmic Mambo, a stage adaptation of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner at Studio 58, Langara College. For film and television, acting credits include The X-Files, Are We There Yet, Watchmen and the upcoming film The Layover directed by William H. Macy.

Mackay holds the M.F.A. Degree (Directing) from Temple University. His B.F.A. in Acting is from the University of British Columbia. Currently, he is teaching Fundamentals of Acting, Fundamentals of Improvisation, and Advanced Acting: Shakespeare.

Instructor of Music Janie Brokenicky joined the KSU faculty this year to teach music theory and applied voice. For the past three years she has been employed as Assistant Professor of Choral Music at Tabor College in Hillsboro, KS. Teaching honors include the 2009 Kansas Horizon Award for outstanding achievement as a first-year teacher and the 2010 KCDA (Kansas Choral Directors) Young Director of the Year. Also this fall, she co-founded the Flint Hills Children’s Choir, a choir for unchanged voices grades 5-9. As an active member of KCDA, Janie served five years as co-chair of women’s choirs and is the new North Central District Representative.

Instructor of Trumpet Jim Johnson grew up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Currently, he is completing his Doctorate Degree in trumpet performance from Florida State University, studying with Dr. Christopher Moore. He received a music education degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, studying with Dr. Kevin Eisensmith and his Master’s Degree in trumpet performance from Kansas State University, studying with Dr. Gary Mortenson. James has performed with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra (Tallahassee, FL), Albany Symphony Orchestra (Albany, GA), and Sinfonia Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra (Destin, FL). Jim was a semi-finalist at the National Trumpet Competition in both the Graduate Solo Division and the Trumpet Ensemble Division. He is also an accomplished arranger as well, having his music performed at the National Trumpet Competition, the Kansas Music Educators Association All-State Conference, and at the Haus Marteau Brass Chamber Workshop in Lictenburg, Germany.

The recipient of a Ph.D. in Theatre Studies from the University of London, Royal Holloway, Instructor of Theatre Melissa Poll holds a B.F.A. in Acting and an M.A. in Theatre History and Criticism from the University of British Columbia. She has worked as a professional actor, adjunct professor, theatre critic and, most recently, as a script and production dramaturge. Melissa’s research focuses on scenography as a form of dramaturgy, adaptation, interculturalism, and auteur theatre, particularly the work of Québécois devisor Robert Lepage. Her publications include articles in Body, Space & Technology Journal,Theatre Research in Canada, and Canadian Theatre Review. This year, she is teaching Introduction to Theatre.

Instructor of Theatre Libby Stratton is a native of Manhattan, Kansas and has been a life- long theatre practitioner. She has served as a lighting designer, stage manager, and director at K-State and area theatres. She has participated in Minneapolis and New York City Fringe Festivals. Interests include children’s theatre, creative movement, and experimental theatre. Stratton degrees are both from KSU, including a B.S. in Theatre and an M.A. in Directing.

Instructor of Dance Paul Zmolek, M.F.A., M.A., is an award-winning interdisciplinary dance artist/educator whose dance/theatre/opera/performance/installation works have been featured throughout the Western US as well as Latvia, Finland and Italy. As co-Artistic Director of Callous Physical Theatre, Paul collaboratively devises physical theatre based in choreographic craft. Past work includes collaborations with masters of Capoeira, Kathak, Flamenco, Taiko, Congolese and Chinese dance and music. Highlights of his performance career include creating title roles for the world premieres of three Frank Zappa ballets and performing in works by Paul Taylor and Anna Sokolow.

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