Faculty and Staff

MFA, Wayne State University; BS, Western Michigan University | Brent Menchinger is a scenic and lighting designer. Currently, he is the Chair of the Department of Global Languages and Theatre Arts. His research interests include world theatre, multi-media and art history.

MFA, Brandeis University; BFA, University of Florida | Matthew Crider is a movement and acting teacher. His research interests include Stage Combat, Clown and Suzuki Actor Training. He is an Advanced Actor/Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors.

Murray State University in 2016 with a B.A. in Theatre. M.F.A. in Choreography from Jacksonville University, Summa Cum Laude. She has trained and studied with the Nashville Ballet Company and is an official alumna of both the Rockettes Summer Intensive Program and the Broadway Dance Center Training Program in New York City, having been mentored by Lizz Picini, Lane Napper of Victorious!, Jill Kenney, and many others. Through the BDC program she is certified as a specialist in Theatre style dance, Jazz, and Tap. She is also a 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher through the Yoga Alliance.

MFA, Virginia Commonwealth University; BA, Christopher Newport University | Lissa L. Graham-Schneider is a full professor. She received her MFA in Directing from Virginia Commonwealth University. Lissa works across the country as a professional director, stage manager and actor. She teaches play analysis, and all levels of directing courses. In addition, she teaches children's theatre and puppetry. Lissa also teaches film history and pop culture classes on zombies and sci-fi films.

MFA, University of North Carolina - Greensboro; BA, University of North Carolina - Asheville | Debra is trained as a scenographer but focuses on lighting, scenery, and props. Her research interests include all manner puppets and she is a member of Alpha Psi Omega, Lambda Zeta cast.

MFA, Virginia Commonwealth University; MA, Humbolt University; BA, Westminster College

MFA, University of Southern Mississippi; BS, Middle Tennessee State University | Daryl W. Phillipy is an Associate Professor of Theatre Arts. Daryl specializes in teaching the Sanford Meisner approach to actor training. Daryl teaches Acting II, Acting III and Acting Shakespeare. He also teaches Voice and Diction and Stage Dialects. Daryl has studied with some of the top acting teachers in the world. This includes Ron Van Lieu, Christopher Bayes, Larry Silverberg and William Esper. Daryl has worked as professional actor and director for over 20 years on stages throughout the United States.

R. Wayne Hogue, Jr. received his Bachelors of Science in Theatre with a minor in Theatre Tech and Design at Murray State University, Spring 2021. Wayne directed and assistant directed many of our mainstage shows as well as acted in several throughout his time here.

MFA, West Virginia University; BFA, Miami University