Biliana Stoytcheva-Horissian - Biliana Stoytcheva-Horissian (Dr. B.) - After receiving a MFA from one of the most renowned theatre schools in Europe, The National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts in Bulgaria in 1989, Dr. B. pursued an acting career with Atelier 313 Company an experimental theatre company found after the fall of the “iron curtain.” In 1990, Dr. B. became a member of the Magic Voices Company and performed at numerous venues in Europe, North America, and Africa. Some of her other acting credits include Blood Wedding, The School for Wives, Period of Adjustment, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

As a director, Dr. B. has staged Kipling Tales, School for Wives, Uncle Vanya, You Can’t Take it with You, Tartuffe, Servant of Two Masters, Company, Rumors and served as a musical director for the U.S. premiere of At Last. She is a co-founder of the Paradocs Ensemble Theatre.

Dr B. earned her Ph.D. in Actor training at the University of Oregon. Dr. B has been a member of the Emory & Henry theatre department since 2002. Dr. B teaches acting and movement. Her research and artistic interests include Comedy, Moliere, Acting Pedagogy, and Eastern European Absurdism. She has presented numerous workshops and papers at  national and international conferences. She has also conducted master classes at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts in Bulgaria. Directing portfolio

Don LaPlant - Dr. LaPlant holds an MA in Theatre from the University of Nebraska and a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon. In addition to teaching at California State University in Bakersfield, Dr. LaPlant has served previously as the Coordinator of Children’s Theatre for the Arts & Science Center in Pine Bluff, AR, an actor and Assistant to the Artistic Director with the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival, a Director and Stage Manager for the Kitchen Theatre in Ithaca, NY, and a freelance theatre critic for the Register-Guard newspaper in Eugene, OR. His scholarly writing has been published in the Northwest Drama Review and the Theatre History Studies journal, and he has presented workshops and papers at theatre conferences in Chicago, St. Louis, and New York City. Additionally, two of Dr. LaPlant’s plays, Resolutions and All Aboard, have been professionally produced in statewide tours. Dr. LaPlant is teaching Directing, Script Analysis, Theatre History, Studies in Drama, and Introduction to Theatre.

Richard Wolf-Spencer - Professor Wolf-Spencer joins us from the faculty at the University of Idaho, where he has been teaching for the past eight years. He holds an MA in Theatre from Washington State University along with an MFA in Theatrical Design from the University of Idaho. Richard has designed scenery for a number of productions, including Elixir of Love and A Raisin in the Sun for the School of Music and Theatre Arts at Washington State University, Cabaret at the University of Idaho and The Music Man and Lost In Yonkers for the Lewiston Civic Theatre. He is also a lighting designer, having designed for productions such as Picasso at the Lapin Agile at Columbia Basin College and FRONT! at the University of Idaho, as well as numerous dance recitals. Richard’s lighting design for the UI production of FRONT! was recognized with the regional Barbizon Lighting Design award for the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival in 2003. In addition, he received the Meritorious Achievement Award for from KC/ACTF for his Cabaret scenic design in 2004. Most recently, Richard had the honor of being the technical director responsible for mounting the University of Idaho’s production of Boy Gets Girl at the national KC/ACTF festival Washington D.C. this past April. Richard has worked as a professional technical director for the University of Idaho, Pullman’s Summer Palace Theatre, and Idaho Repertory Theatre, as well as acting as lighting technician and uprigger for the Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum in his spare time.

John Hardy - Dr. Hardy received his MFA from the University of Alabama and his Ph.D. in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in playwriting from Texas Tech University.  Dr. Hardy is also an associate artistic director of the Barter Theatre and has most recently directed Proposals, The Grapes of Wrath, The Second Mrs. Wilson, and WMKS:  Christmas 1942.  As an actor, Dr. Hardy has appeared in The Hound of the Baskervilles, Falsettos, Picasso at Lapin Agile, and Hamlet.  As a playwright, his adaptation of Huckleberry Finn was produced by the Barter in 1998 and his award winning play, American Tall Tales, has been produced over twenty five times.  Dr. Hardy has also worked with Cincinnati Playhouse, Stage South, and at the American Southwest Theatre Company.

Rick Rose -  Mr. Rose received his MFA in theatre from the University of California at Davis and has done postgraduate work at New York University in musical theatre.  He is currently in his eleventh year as producing artistic director and chief executive officer of the Barter Theatre.  Mr. Rose has led the historic Barter Theatre on a course of phenomenal growth and expansion.  He has distinguished himself at Barter as director, playwright, and innovator with such productions of The Hound of the Baskervilles, Wuthering Heights, and Frankenstein for which he served as adapter and director.  Mr. Rose previously worked in New England where he directed many productions including Shirley Valentine, Malice Afterthought, The Importance of Being Earnest, named Best Regional Theatre Production of the Year by Boston Magazine, and A Little Night Music, winner of the Boston Critic's Circle Award for Best Musical.  In New York Mr. Rose received critical acclaim for the 1997 off-Broadway production of Doctor!  Doctor!.

Karen Sabo - Ms. Sabo has 15 years as a professional actress. She is teaching Voice for the Stage and Musical Theatre.

Amanda Aldridge – Ms. Aldridge is a resident Barter Theatre choreographer and costume designer. She has choreographed Barter’s productions of Girl of My Dreams, Oklahoma!, Eleanor, She loves Me, My Fair Lady, Brigadoon, Cabaret, Guys and Dolls, and Gypsy. Previously, Ms Aldridge worked as resident choreographer and costume designer at the American Stage Festival in New Hampshire and Merrimack Repertory Theatre in Massachusetts.