Biliana Stoytcheva-Horissian (Chair)- 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 where she played the roles of  Joan in The Guys and Lisa Morrison in Collected Stories.

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 is an associate professor of theatre and teaches acting, movement, and theatre and culture. 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.

Christianne Knauer Roll - Prof. Roll holds an M.A. degree from Teachers College, Columbia University and a B.F.A. degree from the CAP21 musical theatre studio at New York University. She has taught on the faculty of Columbia University as an applied voice teacher and as the music director for the production shows of Norwegian Cruise Lines. She has soloed at Avery Fisher Hall, Carnegie Hall, and has sung the national anthem for the Philadelphia Eagles. Recent performance credits include productions at the Goodspeed Opera House, the Lucille Lortel Theatre, and the York Theater. She was a finalist in the BBC’s international vocal competition, “Voice of Musical Theater,” in Cardiff, Wales.

Kim Fore - Kim Fore graduated with a B.A. degree in Dance from Radford University. She is a founder and owner of Xtreme Dance Company with studios in Abingdon and Chilhowie. Kim has also performed and taught in California with R & B Dance Company, Disney World, Broadway Dance Center, and Knotts Berry Farm. At E&H, she teaches Contemporary Dance I and Contemporary Dance II.