(318) 257-2711 - mguinn@latech.edu
Mark is Director of the School of Theatre at Louisiana Tech University. He is a director, designer, and fight director. Mark received his B.A. from Centre College of Kentucky and his M.F.A. from Memphis State University. He is a Fight Master of Stage Combat with the Society of American Fight Directors and a Certified Teacher with the British Academy of Stage and Screen Combat and the Society of American Fight Directors.
He is the founder of the Stage Combat Workshop at Louisiana Tech University, currently celebrating its’ 32nd season. He has served as Coordinator of the National Stage Combat Workshops in Las Vegas, and was on the faculty of the First International Stage Combat Workshop, the 1994 Paddy Crean Workshop, the Summer Sling in New York, the Texas Intensive, the Lonestar Smash and the British National Stage Combat Workshops.
Mark has over thirty-two years experience in the outdoor dramas of the US. He has collaborated on original productions with Rusty Mundell, William Joyce, Mikel Rouse, and the Flaming Idiots. All this in search of Einstein’s, "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science".
Some of his recent directorial credits include: River Pirates and the Treasure at Pointe Coupee, Begets: Fall of a High School Ronin, Living Dead in Denmark, She Kills Monsters, The Leafmen and the Brave Good Bugs, a play based on the book by William Joyce. He is currently directing his way through Qui Nguyen’s canon.
His scenic design credits include the stage premiere of KAB Man, Shane, and The Leaf Men and The Brave Good Bugs. His lighting design credits include The Flaming Idiots at the New Victory Theatre, A Christmas Carol at New American Theatre, A Knight at the Fights for University of Nevada Las Vegas, and telescan operator/designer for Madonna’s Blond Ambition Tour, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and the Gypsy Kings.
318-257-2930 - lulu@latech.edu
Cherrie Sciro is the Coordinator of Theatre and Professor at Louisiana Tech. Her most treasured directing experience here at Tech was the 1999 production of Six Women with Brain Death…, which was awarded 21 awards throughout the region and state, including the Richard A. Weaver Best Production Award, a first for the University Theatre. She directed the 2006 fall production of W;t, a play close to her heart because of its promotion of cancer awareness.
Ms. Sciro is also known nationally for her Broadway credits which include Production Coordinator of the Tony Award-winning productions Cats, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, and Miss Saigon. As well as Broadway Stage Manager for Song and Dance, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, and Doin’ What Comes Natur’lly, an All-Star Tribute to Ethel Merman, featuring Lainie Kazan, Patti LuPone, Andrea Martin, Elaine Stritch and Bette Midler. Stepping out of the theatre, Ms. Sciro served as the Production Manager for the 1999 Hard Rock Rockfest in Atlanta, GA, and the Stage Manager for the 2001 New Year’s Eve in Times Square in New York City. She was also Road Manager for Patti LuPone and Dixie Carter.
Her International credits include the London, England productions of Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Follies, and Sunset Boulevard. She also served as the Production Manager for the Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain and Atlanta, GA.
318-257-5270 - Reynolds@latech.edu
Jeremy is an Associate Professor of Theatre at Louisiana Tech University. In addition to teaching theatre design and technology courses, Jeremy also regularly attends and presents his research at Association of Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE), American Society for Theatre Research (ASTR), the Mid-American Theatre Conference (MATC) and other national theatre conferences. Jeremy recently attended the ATHE Leadership Institute where he collaborated with Deans, Associate Deans and Department Chairs from around the country on leadership issues facing theatre education. In August of 2017, he was one of three scholars selected to present his research at the ATHE Conference Plenary session ‘Spectacular Technology’. His paper, “Spectacular Electricity: Technology and Visual Culture in the Late Victorian Theatre”, examines the use of electricity in special effects during the late 19th century and the context of that technology within the visual culture of Victorian London.
Dr. Reynolds has worked professionally all over the country as a Director, Actor and Designer. Some regional credits include directing the world premiere of Person or Persons Unknown in Chicago at the Wing & Groove Theatre Company, resident Sound Designer for the Texas Shakespeare Festival, and as Technical Director for the Washington Ensemble Theatre’s west coast premiere of God’s Ear in Seattle. Jeremy is active in Children’s’ theatre and spent two summers in Anchorage, Alaska working with the renowned Alaska Theatre for Young People. He also recently collaborated on creating a national drama curriculum for 3-6 year olds combining theatre games and activities geared toward aiding developmental benchmarks. Jeremy previously held positions at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, The Evergreen State College and with the Zachary Community Schools. Jeremy holds a Ph.D. in Theatre History and Criticism from Louisiana State University.
(318)257-4693 - Dormaier@latech.edu
Michele L. Dormaier is the resident Costume Designer for the School of
Theatre. She holds an MFA from the University of Idaho in Costume
Design, an MA from Louisiana Tech University with a focus in Costume
Design and Technology, and a BGS from the University of South Dakota
in Fine Arts and Humanities. Her expertise and research revolves
around costume history, costume design, costume technology, couture
and fine sewing and tailoring techniques, costuming for dance, hair
and wig design, and the intersection of costume and clothing in the
lives and experiences of people. Some of her presentations at national
conferences have been: “Costume Character Creation, Simplified”,
“Costuming and CosPlay”, “Inclusive Costume and Wardrobe Practices”.
Additionally, her research “The Influence of the East on Western
Ballet Costume in the Early Twentieth Century” was presented at the
Southeastern Theatre Conference's Research Symposium in Atlanta in
April of 2016. Michele continues to bring new technology and methods
to the classroom and costume studio focusing on inclusive practices in
costuming, wardrobe, hair and makeup, and the use of computers for
costume design, database and costume studio storage and organization.
She has formerly served as the Company Manager for The Huron Playhouse
in Huron, Ohio, the Assistant Costume Shop Manager for the Des Moines
Metropolitan Opera, and has designed and built costumes for theatres
around the country. Michele has trained as a dancer at American Ballet
Theatre in New York, and was in the Professional Programme of The
Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Additionally, she has taught dance and
choreographed, and is an avid ballroom and swing dancer.
Andrew Ray is an actor, fight director and educator who works from coast to coast. He is a Certified Fight Director and Stage Combat Instructor with the Society of American Fight Directors that holds a BA in Theatre from The University of Kentucky and an MA in Theatre from Louisiana Tech University where he studied performance and stage movement. Andrew currently resides in Shreveport, Louisiana but spends a portion of the year in his hometown of Lexington, Kentucky where he serves as stage combat instructor at the University of Kentucky. On top of that he teaches stage combat and directs fights in New York, Illinois, Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, Ohio, North Carolina Missouri and Florida. He also spends time in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and New York working as a motion capture performer and fight coordinator. He is one of the lead motion capture performers for the Agents of Mayhem, We Happy Few, Saint’s Row and Borderlands video game franchises. He also works as a motion capture actor for Penn and Teller.
Ali was born and raised in Charleston, West Virginia. She graduated from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia in Spring of 2021, where she studied and received her BFA in Theatre Performance. Ali is now a second-year graduate student at Louisiana Tech University where she intends to pursue her Masters in Theatre Performance with a second emphasis in Arts Management.
Ali’s career started at the ripe age of 13 performing in many productions with The Children’s Theatre of Charleston, Limelight Theatre Company, and later with Capital High School. During her undergraduate years, she performed in productions at Marshall University such as: A Christmas Carol, As You Like It, Peter and The Starcatcher, The Curious Incident of The Dog in The Night-Time, The Laramie Project, Sense and Sensibility, The Odyssey, and The Red Badge of Courage. During the summer of 2019, Ali worked professionally as an intern under The Highlands Playhouse in Highlands, North Carolina as their house manager and box office associate. Ali also served as two term president for the Marshall Universities Beta Chapter of Alpha Psi Omega.
Throughout her first year at Tech Ali had the opportunity to perform in The 2021 Fall Theatre Festival, Church and State, and River Pirates and the Treasure At Point Coupee. She is now serving as the president of Tech Theatre Players, the oldest student organization on Tech’s campus!
As Ali continues on this journey of her theatre career, she knows no matter how far she goes, the country roads will always lead her home.
Kaitlin has had a passion for performing since she was a child but began performing when she was in middle school. Her undergraduate program gave her opportunities to perform in shows such as Macbeth, She Kills Monsters, Sea Voyage, Heracles and Deianira, Deemocracy and a few others.
While Kaitlin is mainly a performer, she has dabbled in some technical aspects such as stage management. She also sound designed for Alice in Wonderland whilst performing in the show.
Kaitlin is excited to continue her study and can’t wait to grow in the Louisiana Tech theatre program!
Emily Norris is a first year grad student in the school of Theatre with an emphasis in acting and stage combat. She graduated in 2020 from the University of Kentucky with a degree in theatre where her passion for stage combat started. Emily is a proud member of the Society of American Fight Directors and holds certifications in all eight weapons that they offer training in. On stage some of Emily's favorite roles have been: Lieutenant (By A Thread), Emily Webb (Our Town), Penny (Bike America), Telephone Girl (Machinal), The Maid (The Lesson), #14 (The Wolves), Penelope/Calliope (Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play), Bianca (Othello), and Briana (Good Kids). Emily aspires to be a certified teacher in stage combat one day and she is so excited to see what new opportunities being a grad student brings.
Set the stage for a star!