Robert Neal seen here as the Stage Manager in Our Town
Rob Koharchik, guest scene designer.
Associate Adjunct Jen Alexander
In the Department of Theatre, we believe that students should be exposed to numerous different approaches to making theatre. To that end, we hire theatre professionals from the thriving Indianapolis theatre community as guest artists to teach, design and direct. The following are several of the professionals with whom our students have had the opportunity to work:
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Professional actor John Plumpis spoke with students in the Sophomore Seminar class, and then gave an acting workshop for the department.
Mr. Plumpis was in Indianapolis portraying Timon in the national touring company of The Lion King.
(Speech for the Stage, Play Analysis, Movement for the Stage, and Acting III.) Jen received her BFA in Theatre from University of Oklahoma and Master of Fine Arts in Acting at University of Illinois. Jen is a member of Actors Equity Association, and is also a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist. Jen was recently hired as an Associate Adjunct in the Department of Theatre. In addition to teaching, she also manages the University Box Office.
Jen has been seen onstage in the Indianapolis area at the Indiana Repertory Theatre in Mother of the Movement, Edyvean Repertory Theatre playing Catherine in The Heiress, Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, and Ilona in The Play’s the Thing. She worked on the University of Indianapolis production of Learned Ladies as scenic artist and movement coach. Most recently, Jen directed Pippin at UIndy, The Crucible at Indianapolis Civic Theatre, and Medal of Honor Rag for Theatre Non Nobis at the Indianapolis Fringe Festival. She also was the dialect coach for the Dinner Theatre productions of Black Comedy and Bedroom Farce.
Outside of Indianapolis, Jen has acted with such companies as Utah Shakespearean Festival, Defiant Theatre of Chicago, The Lady Cavaliers in NYC, and Bottom’s Dream Arts in NYC. Jen received the following review in the "Off Off Broadway Review" for her role in Winter's Tale with the Bottom's Dream Arts company:
The few exceptions were the terrifically natural Paul James Bowen as an elegant, sincere Camillo, Bryan Richards as an impetuous Florizel, and the commanding Jennifer Loia Alexander as an intense, fiery Paulina. In fact, Alexander's outstanding performance actually made sense of the concept, unfortunately showing what could have been had everything else in the production been up to her level.
She also appeared as Lady Macduff in Tristan Film’s Macbeth-The Comedy, which won the Audience Award for Best Feature at the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival, and was Fest Pick for Funniest Film at Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. Jen recently lived in her home state of Oklahoma working as Assistant Professor of Theatre at Northeastern State University where she directed A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,Broken Arrow: Best Town Under the Moon! and Calendar Rhythms for the River City Players.
(Lighting Design) Laura owns international acclaim for her lighting with Dance Kaleidoscope, Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre, Daniel Catanach Ballet, Urban Artworks and Taylor 2. Locally, she has lighted productions for the Madame Walker, the Indianapolis Civic Theatre, MadDog Productions and the Indianpolis Men's Chorus. In New York City, her work was seen at Symphony Space, the Danny and Sylvia Kaye Playhouse, the Ohio Theatre, the Westbeth Theatre, and the Samuel Beckett Theatre. Laura is an adjunct faculty member at UIndy, teaching lighitng design, and is the Resident Lighting Desinger and Production Manager for Dance Kaleidosope. Laura was the Lighting Designer for the UIndy/Edyvean Repertory Theatre production of Galileo. She holds a M.F.A. in Lighting Design from SUNY Purchase.
(Speech for the Stage, Movement for the Stage, Acting III) Lynne is an actress, director, singer, and voice-over artist whose credits include work for theatres, colleges, and radio and television commercials throughout the Midwest and in Florida. A graduate of the Asolo Conservatory of Professional Actoring Training and Indiana University, Lynne also serves as Artistic Associate for Picture This..., an educational outreach of Community Hospitals Indianapolis. At UIndy, Lynne directed The Importance of Being Earnest and The Good Doctor, and was Dialect Coach for Taking Steps. She will be directing Speak Truth To Power at UIndy, which opens in April, 2006.
Robert is an Actors Equity Union performer, and he played the Stage Manager in the 2004 Dinner Theatre production of Our Town. Robert has been a regular performer at Indiana Repertory Theatre for the past three seasons; productions include Most Valuable Player, A Christmas Carol (’02, ’03), Arcadia, As You Like It, Ah Wilderness, and Abe Lincoln in Illinois. He was also recently seen in Handler at the Phoenix Theatre. Mr. Neal’s regional theatre credits include the Blackstone Theatre and the Bailiwick Repertory Theatre in Chicago, American Players’ Theatre in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania Center Stage, the Roundtable Theatre in Louisville, the Oklahoma and Kentucky Shakespeare festivals, and Brown County Playhouse, and he directed Of Mice and Men at the Edyvean Repertory Theatre. He has also toured Germany performing in the educational play All about Shakespeare and in The Tempest at the English American Theatre Festival in Düsseldorf. Mr. Neal holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting from the Pennsylvania State University and is an adjunct professor of theatre at the University of Indianapolis.
Jeff was guest director of the Dinner Theatre production of Our Town in 2004. The prior season he directed Praying for Rain at the Phoenix Theatre, and he spent the last four seasons directing at Purdue University with productions of Proof, The Diviners, The Glass Mendacity, and Slow Dance on the Killing Ground. In April 2004, he directed The Tempest at the Wheeler Arts Center with Loose Cannon. He is currently the assistant to the artistic and managing directors at the Indiana Repertory Theatre, where he has also served as the assistant director to Janet Allen and Priscilla Lindsay. Some of his favorite directing credits include The Crucible, Dancing at Lughnasa, Eleemosynary, Steel Magnolias, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (which he coproduced in Florida with his wife, Karin) and Antigone (which he directed on Steppenwolf Theatre’s Mainstage for their Educational Outreach Program). In the summer of 2003, the Arts Council of Indianapolis awarded him a Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship, which allowed him to study with Anne Bogart and the SITI Company through 2004. As a playwright, he received a Joseph Jefferson Citation for Outstanding New Work for his adaptation (with David Zak) of The Count of Monte Cristo.
(Director for Our Country's Good)
(Choreographer for Merrily We Roll Along)
(Speech for the Stage, Movement for the Stage)
(Co-Costume Designer for A Midsummer Night's Dream)
(Master Carpenter for The Learned Ladies)
(Director and Choreographer Starting Here, Starting Now.) Doug is a professional actor/dancer/choreographer/director residing in Indianapolis with his wife Jennifer and their two children. Doug's primary work can be seen on the Beef-n-Boards Dinner Theatre stage. He directed and choreographed the smash hits Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Jesus Christ Superstar. Doug has also choreographed many of the shows at Beef-n-Boards over the last several years. As an actor, Doug toured nationally and in Canada in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with Donny Osmond, which played Chicago for 17 months. He's worked extensively in Chicago and Indianapolis as an actor.
(Scenic Designer for The Three Sisters and Galileo.) Rob has worked as a freelance set designer since receiving his Master of Fine Arts from Boston University degree in 1993. In Indianapolis, his work has adorned the stage of the Indiana Repertory Theatre (The Captive Heart and Macbeth), the Civic Theatre of Indianapolis (Oklahoma! Singin' in the Rain and Member of the Wedding), the Phoenix (Angels in America), Theatre on the Square, the Lilly Thatre at the Children's Museum, ERT (The Secret Garden), and UIndy (The Three Sisters). Regionally, he worked for Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, the Wichita Center for the Arts, American Players Theatre (Wisconsin), George Street Playhouse (New Jersey) and Seaside Music Theatre (Daytona, FL). Mr. Koharchik is a founding member of Shadow Ape Theatre Company, providing an outlet for collaboration with talented artists like Constance Macy (his wife) and Ryan (his twin brother.)
(Lighting Designer for Taking Steps.) Jamie is a freelance designer originally from Lake Wallenpaupack, Pennsylvania. He was the general manager/resident designer at Northern Lights Playhouse. Jamie has worked with Dr. Wright in the past on such shows as A Lie of the Mind, Antigone, and Noises Off. Other show credits include Phantom of the Opera, The Nutcracker, and South Pacific.
(Stage Manager for A Different Journey and Hamlet.) Amber is a graduate of the UIndy Department of Theatre. Since graduation, Amber has pursued a career in Stage Management. Currently, Amber is the Assistant Stage Manager for a new play by Jane Martin called Anton in Showbusiness. This is the world premiere of the play and it will take place during the 24th annual Humana Festival at Actors Theatre of Louisville. Most recently at UIndy, Amber stage managed Hamlet and A Different Journey for UIndy/The Phoenix Theatre. In her career as a student here, Amber filled several technical roles including stage managing Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Later, and The Learned Ladies, as well as the production manager for the 1996/97 student directed One-Acts/Senior Project. Since her graduation in 1997, Amber has worked as a stage manager/assistant stage manager in theatres across the country, including Actor's Theatre of Louisville (including the world premiere of Y2K by Arthur Kopit, directed by Bob Balaban), Stage One in Louisville, the Portland Stage Company in Maine, New Girl Productions in Louisville, The Walker Theatre in Indianapolis and the Chautuaqua Conservatory Theater in Chautuaqua, New York (Including Iphagenia and Other Daughters, written and directed by Ellen McLaughlin).
(Choreographer for Man of LaMancha) Andre has worked with Dance Kaleidoscope for four years. Prior to DK he performed in New York with the May Anthony Dance Theatre, Soundence Repertory Company, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Ensemble, as well as with independent artists such as Kun Yung Lin, Mary Ford, Sean Curren, and Nixon Beltren. Andre's choreography has been produced by the Painted Lights Dance Project in Salzburg, Austria, Dance Kaleidoscope, The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and the Dzedelus Project in Ashland, Oregon. He has produced several concerts featuring his own work as well as a collaboration project with Nuvo Newsweekly Managing Editor Jim Poyser.
(Technical Director for Galileo. Lighting Designer for Pippin): Michael most recently designed lighting for the UIndy production of Pippin. Prior to that, he designed sets for Joseph and Mary and Godspell. In addition to numerous set, sound and lighting design credits, Michael has appeared in the ERT productions of Visit to a Small Planet and The Madwoman of Chaillot. Michael joined the ERT staff in 1990 after completing an internship at New York City's Equity Library Theatre and receiving a B.A. in Theatre and Dance from Ohio Wesleyan University. He has also designed lights for productions for Footlite Musicals, Theatre on the Square, American Cabaret Theatre, Civic Theatre, and Indianapolis Shakespeare Festival. Michael currently teaches at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis.
(Fight Choreographer for Hamlet) Jeff is a theatrical technician and martial artist in Indianapolis. He works as a Technical Director at the Warren Center for Performing Arts.
(Moving light consultant on Hamlet)
(Introduction to Theatre, Director of Little Shop of Horrors, Props for Galileo.) Paula has spent time as an actress, director, costumer, and set and lighting designer. Some of her favorite theatre experiences happened with the shows Barnum, Fiddler on the Roof, JB, Guys And Dolls, Shennendoah, Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Macbeth, and numerous performances of Godspell.
(Technical Director for The Nerd and Merrily We Roll Along.) Jay is a 1990 graduate of the Department of Theatre at the University of Indianapolis. He has worked locally with the Indianapolis Ballet Theatre and has done summer stock in Weston, Vermont. For two years he served on several cruise ships in the capacity of Stage Manger/Technician for all entertainment on board, including a stint on the S.S. Amerikanis touring all parts of Europe.
(Composer and Musical Director for Galileo, and Musical Director for Starting Here, Starting Now and Little Shop of Horrors.) Pete has been involved in numerous musical productions throughout his career. When not writing for the theatre, he spends his time in the recording studio working on a variety of projects ranging from scoring for film to writing for radio and television. His choral and instrumental arrangements are published through Warner Bros., which list over 75 of his works in its catalogue. Pete is an associate faculty member of the Department of Music at the University of Indianapolis. He directs the school's jazz/pop vocal ensemble, Crimson Express, teaches advanced music technology, and is director of Audio Recording & Technology.
(Lighting Designer for A Midsummer Night's Dream.) Susie is an alum of UIndy, from the days when we were Indiana Central University. She designed the lighting for A Midsummer Night's Dream with her daughter, Christie. Susie worked with Jim Ream in the Epworth Forrest Drama Troup. Susie works at General Motors, and has been active as a volunteer lighting designer and technical co-ordinator for Marion Civic Theatre since 1984.
(Costume Designer for Galileo.): Chris earned a B.A. from Ball State University and joined the ERT staff after three years with the Waterloo Community Playhouse in Iowa. Sunday in the Park with George marked his first design for ERT. His costume and design credits also include Forever Plaid at Indianapolis Civic Theatre, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood, My Fair Lady, Gypsy, Camelot, and Company in Muncie.
(Administrative Director and Education Outreach Director) Fred has been involved with ERT both on and off stage, having served as assistant director for ERT's production of On Golden Pond, A Little Night Music, Joseph and Mary, The Heiress, and Naga-Mandala. Fred has a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Hanover College.
(Make-up Designer for Galileo.): Edie has been with ERT for many years, serving as make-up designer for such shows as Narnia, Black Elk Speaks and Naga-Mandala with ERT, and Into the Woods for Civic Theatre. Additionally, Edie is an audio describer for ERT, as well as Indianapolis Opera and other area organizations. Edie has also appeared on stage, most recently in the 1999-2000 season Joseph and Mary. A second grade teacher, fall 1999 marked her twenty-third year of teaching.
(Scenic Artist for Galileo.): Christian most recently designed the set for ERT's Sunday in the Park with George. Christian holds a B.A. in Studio Fine Arts from Indiana University. She has worked on the electic and paint crews for IU School of Music Opera Co. and has done lighting design for IU Broadway Cabaret. Other credits include lighting and set designs for various shows for Imagination Productions, running crew (fly-rail) for The Secret Garden, co-lighting desinger for Tapestry, stage manager for The Madwoman of Chaillot, and assistant stage manager for Harold and Maude, all at ERT. Christian joined the Edyvean staff as Scenic Artist mid-season 1998-1999 after working on The Secret Garden and On Golden Pond.
(Hair Designer for Galileo.): Debbie appeared in the 1999 production of Joseph and Mary and choreographed ERT's 1997 production of Much Ado About Nothing. A stylist with Attitudes beauty salon, Debbie was also the hair designer for ERT's Sunday in the Park with George, as well as 1940's Radio Hour with Buck Creek Players. On stage, her credits include Connie Miller in 1940's Radio Hour, Peggy in 42nd Street, and Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes.
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