Avila University


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Theatre Faculty
	Charlene Gould Dean of the College of Humanities and Performing Arts 816- 501-2411 Dr. Gould is dean of the College of Humanities and Performing Arts and professor of Theatre. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in theatre and film. While at KU she studied with all-women professional theatres in Boston, Minneapolis, and New York for her doctoral research. She was a recipient of a post-doctoral fellowship at Chicago’s Northwestern University where she participated in historical and interdisciplinary representation of the Holocaust. Along with historian Dr. Jeffrey Myers, Dr. Gould co-authored “The Performance of Memory: Diane Samuels’ Kindertransport, Tim Blake Nelson’s The Grey Zone, and Holocaust Representation” in Trajectories of Memory: Intergenerational Representation of the Holocaust in History and the Arts (Cambridge Scholars Press, 2008) Drs. Gould and Myers have been selected to lead a workshop at the Lessons and Legacies Holocaust Conference at Northwestern University in November, 2008. Other Holocaust scholarship by Professors Gould and Myers include an article review for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, which is published by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and paper presentations at Bowling Green State University and at the Midwest Popular Culture Association. At Avila, they team teach the interdisciplinary class The Holocaust in History and on Stage. She also teaches directing and theatre history classes. In addition, Dr. Gould was selected to present her article,”Re-Imagining Gender and Religion: Women Religious as Social Activists and The Dead Man Walking School Theatre Project” at the 2007 Association for Theatre in Higher Education conference in New Orleans. This was a culmination of year-long activity surrounding Avila University’s presentation of the Dead Man Walking Theatre Project. Dr. Gould directed the play, Dead Man Walking, as well as coordinated the wide array of university events. Dr. Gould is producing artistic director for Goppert Theatre at Avila University, where she also directs.
	Robert Foulk Director of Performance Studies; Assistant Professor of Theatre 816- 501-2405 Mr. Foulk earned his M.F.A. from Florida State University. He has directed locally for Theatre for Young America, New Directions Theatre, Theatre in the Park, Full Circle Theatre Company, and Kansas City Community College and stage managed for the Unicorn Theatre, the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, and the American Heartland Theatre. He also has worked regionally at Dodger Productions at the Goldenrod Showboat Theatre in St. Louis and the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago. Mr. Foulk has attended the internationally renowned Shakespeare and Company in Lennox, Mass. He also has directed Equity showcase scenes the past two summers at the UMKC Performing Arts Center. Professor Foulk teaches beginning and advanced acting, Stage Management, Theatre Management, Shakespeare and the interdisciplinary course, The Mask. His students have gone on to prestigious graduate programs or work professionally. He also directs for Goppert Theatre at Avila University. His most recent production was Grapes of Wrath this past November. This summer, Mr. Foulk will serve as director for the summer production at Theatre for Young America’s summer camp.
	Jason Harris Director of Design and Technical Theatre;Assistant Professor of Theatre 816- 501-3733 Mr. Harris has the distinction of winning Professor of the Year in 2007. He holds an M.F.A. from the University of Missouri at Kansas City and a B.S. in Secondary Education from Kansas State University. Before joining the Avila faculty, Jason made stops around Kansas City at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Theatre in the Park, Quality Hill Playhouse, and the Coterie Theatre. Since coming to Avila, Professor Harris has worked during the summer, along side his students, as Technical Director for Starlight Theatre and Theatre in the Park. He continues to design for many local theatres. This summer, Mr. Harris will serve as Theatre: Design and Technology professor for Theatre for Young America summer camp at Avila University. Professor Harris designs, builds, and/or supervises all design and technical aspects for the main stage shows. He teaches all the Theatre: Design and Technology courses offered at Avila University. While at Avila, his students win awards for their work at the American College Theatre Festival and have internship opportunities. After graduation, they are prepared to work professionally advance to highly-selective graduate programs.
	Dr. Amity Bryson Music Chair 816- 501-3651 Dr. Bryson holds a D.M.A. in vocal performance from UMKC. She has performed with the local opera company, Opera Kadopera. She is past-President for the K.C. Metro National Association of Teachers of Singing and Repertoire Standards Chair for Women’s Choirs for the American Choral Directors Association. In January 2005, the auditioned choir, University Singers, performed in Carnegie Hall. She serves as the music department chair, the musical theatre advisor, instructor of music, vocal director for the musical theatre scenes in the 2005-2006 First Lady Suite, and Aida, and is active in both the music and musical theatre programs at Avila. In 2006-2007, she was the musical director for Gypsy.