The Department's Guest Artist Committee works within a budget to attract a wide range of guest artists to work with students in all our program areas. During the 06-07 academic year, two guest artist's visits were supplemented by the School of Humanities & Sciences Ithaca Fund. Whether they are actors, makeup artists, marketing experts or dancers, guest artists provide an important link for students to the diverse and complex world of professional theatre.
MARK REDANTY ‘78
On April 3rd, 2009, Mark Redanty, an agent for Bauman-Redanty & Shawl, came and spoke to the Musical Theatre Workshop class, the Introduction to Professional Aspects class, the Theatre Arts Management majors, had an open session for all students, and held a workshop on audition techniques.
MARGOT LEITMAN ’00 & BEN FELDMAN
On April 10th, 2009, Margot Leitman and Ben Feldman, actors, held an open session, a storytelling workshop, spoke to the Introduction to Professional Aspects class, and gave an LA orientation to the seniors.
BOB CLENDENIN
On April 23rd, 2009, Bob Clendenin, an actor, held an open session.
JAMIE BETH MARGOLIS & EILEEN MCCABE
On April 24th, 2009, Jaime Beth Margolis and Eileen McCabe, casting agents, spoke to the Professional Aspects class, the Theatre Arts Management majors, held an open session, an audition workshop, and a showcase workshop.
SETH GOLDSTEIN
On May 1st, 2009, Seth Goldstein, a producer for the Splinter Group, spoke to the Introduction to Professional Aspects class, the Theatre Arts Management majors, and held an open session.
RACHEL ZACH ‘03
On October 6th, 2008, Rachel Zach, a stage manager, spoke to the upperclassmen.
MATT CAVENAUGH ‘01
On October 10th, 2008, Matt Cavenaugh, an actor (Broadway credits include A Catered Affair, Grey Gardens,and Urban Cowboy) spoke to the Musical Theatre Workshop class, and held an open session.
DURGA BOR
On September 26th, 2008, Durga Bor, a dancer, came and spoke to the Introduction to Dance class, and the Modern I and II classes.
SULLY IMORO
On December 12th, 2008, Sully Imoro, a dancer, spoke to the Introduction to Dance class, and the Modern I and II classes.
STEPHEN M. HENDERSON
On November 13th, 2008, Stephen M. Henderson, an actor, spoke to the sophomore scene study class, a TV acting class, and the Theatre History class.
KERRY MAX COOK
On October 10th, 2008, Kerry Max Cook, who’s story was the inspiration for the show The Exonerated, performed at IC Theatre in November, spoke about his experience in a lecture hall, and during talk backs after performances.
MJ HERSON
On February 3rd, 2009, MJ Herson, Principal and Creative Director for The Herson Group, spoke to the Promotion and Publicity class about event planning and management. On February 25th, 2009, he spoke to the advanced lighting class.
JOE LAMARRE & JASON OTERO
On March 26th, 2009, Joe Lamarre and Jason Otero, Art and Anthropology, INC., spoke to the Promotion and Publicity class about designing posters.
PETER FLYNN
On April 7th, 2009, Peter Flynn, the Artistic Director of the Hangar Theatre, spoke to the Promotion and Publicity class about directing Dirty Blonde.
SHERYL SINKOW
On April 14th, 2009, Sheryl Sinkow, a photographer, spoke to the Promotion and Publicity class about publicity photos.
LEE PRINCE
On November 10th, 2009, Lee Prince, a Booking Representative from Colbert Artists Management of NYC, spoke to the Theatre Arts Management majors.
MARTHA BOWERS
In February, Martha Bowers, a choreographer, spoke to the Modern class.
STEFANI BLAND
On December 12th, 2009, Stafani Bland, a dancer, spoke to the Ballet I and II classes.
MICHAEL BALDERRAMA
On March 23rd, 2009, Michael Balderama, the dance captain for In The Heights, spoke to the Jazz I and Dance for Musical Stage classes, and held an open session.
MERRI SUGARMAN
On November 8th, 2009, Merri Sugarman, a casting agent, held a casting discussion and a mock casting workshop.
GARETH CONNOR
On April 25th, 2009, Gareth Connor held a workshop and Q&A session with the tech/design students.
STUART COTTS
On October 14th, 2008, Stuart Cotts held a Q&A session with the tech/design students.
JASON WHICKER
In February, Jason Whicker, a flying technician, held several flying workshops.
ADAM MATTA
On March 25th, 2009, Adam Matta, a vocal artist, spoke to the advanced sound design class.
NICHOLAS CARBONARO
On October 26th, 2009, Nicholas Carbonaro, a hair and make up stylist, gave an instructional workshop in how to set and style hair.
TOM DEMENKOFF
CAROLEEN FENNY
NEIL MATARAZZO
ED & MELODY LIBONATTI
EMILY ACKERMAN
On November 2nd, 2006, Emily Ackerman of the innovative theatre troupe, The Civilians, lead a workshop in which she introduced students to what is known as the Joint-Stock method. The Joint-Stock methodology of developing productions is based largely off of interviews of the public and then transforming them into profound pieces of theatre. The Tectonic Theater Project and their production of “The Laramie Project” is one of the best-known examples of this methodology.
BIBOTI OUIKAHILO
On November 7th, 2006, Biboti Ouikahilo, professional dancer, drummer, and choreographer, taught a high-energy African Dance class to students. Born on the Ivory Coast, West Africa, he started his career in the prominent Ivory Coast National Ballet and in 1994, became the founder, producer, choreographer and dancer for the Wacheva Dance Company. In 2003, he moved to Syracuse, New York where he has been teaching sessions all over Central New York. The session at IC was filled with the sound of drums as the enthusiastic Ouikahilo demonstrated the style and then gave the floor to the students where they danced to the rhythm of a different culture.
BOB MOSS
On November 16th, 2006, Artistic Director of Syracuse Stage, Bob Moss spoke to students about his career and gave advice about the world of theatre. Bob has been the current Artistic Director of Syracuse Stage for 11 years and has directed over 20 productions with the company. In 1971, he founded Playwrights Horizons theatre in New York City and served as its Producing Director for 10 years. During that period, the theatre produced plays by more than 150 writers including James Lapine, Wendy Wasserstein, and Albert Innaurato. He also served as the Artistic Director of Ithaca’s Hangar Theatre for fifteen years. On April 17th, 2009, he spoke to the advanced lighting class, Introduction to Professional Aspects class, and Voice and Movement class
KEN BRUNS
JOHN KROUT - Director of the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute
MARK PETROSINO
DAVID BOVA
BRIAN FALCK - Director of Individual Giving, Office of Institutional Advancement
KEITH DAVIS
CAROLYN GOELZER
On March 7th, 2007, Resident Professional Teaching Associate and Actor for Cornell’s Department of Theatre, Film, & Dance Carolyn Goelzer visited to teach a Freshman scene study class. Originally based in Minneapolis, she has appeared in most Twin Cities theaters and on stages in Kansas City, Milwaukee, Chicago, New York and L.A. In 2005, she was a recipient of an ITAward for Outstanding Actress in a Lead Role for her work as Clytemnestra in Theodora Skipitares' Iphigenia at LaMama ETC. She has written many performance works, which have gone on to be commissioned and presented at the Walker Art Center, Intermedia Arts, and numerous other venues. Carolyn is a three-time recipient of the McKnight Fellowship, a Core Alumnus of the Playwrights Center, and a graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts.
DONNA WALKER-KUHNE
On April 19th, 2007, Audience Diversification expert Donna Walker-Kuhne spoke to 3 classes of IC students about the importance of marketing to diverse audiences. President of Walker International Communications Group since 1984, she conducts seminars and workshops while providing marketing consultation services to arts organizations, performing and visual artists, dance companies, Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. IC students found her visit valuable as it provided a real-world application to what they had been learning in their studies. Carly DiFulvio ’07 commented that “suddenly what I had read so much about arts marketing clicked as she delved through her own experiences and offered advice and wisdom into the heavily mined field of marketing the arts to a diverse audience.” She goes on to say that her visit “was worthwhile because it exposed many students who got the opportunity to meet her or attend her speech to a topic not often addressed.” Whitney Kaiser ’08 found inspiration in what Walker-Kuhne had to offer, saying “She also gave us some great ideas to implement for [American Marketing Association] next year including how we can reach out to a variety of different groups in our marketing efforts.”
LESLIE CARRERE - President, LunaMedia
BRETT BOSSARD - Marketing Manager, The Hangar Theatre (Ithaca, NY)
ROBERT SCINTO & RICK MANFREDI
TONY MEOLA
On April 23rd, 2007, Broadway Sound Designer (and Ithaca College graduate) Tony Meola gave a lecture and demonstration to IC students. His Broadway credits include original sound design for “Les Misérables”, “Chess”, “Five Guys Named Moe”, “The Lion King”, “The Last Night of Ballyhoo”, “Footloose”, and “Wicked” as well as sound design for the revivals of “Anything Goes”, “Guys and Dolls”, “Company”, “The King and I”, “The Sound of Music”, and “Kiss Me, Kate”. Students were given a “behind the scenes” look at what goes into developing a sound design for a major production of a play or musical.
