Theatre and Dance Faculty & Staff
Our faculty bring an array of expertise to the program ranging from design skills in costume, set construction, lighting, and sound to acting acumen in performance, auditioning, and career management; and in directing, devised theatre, and theatrical history.
Faculty
Jenny Nutting Kelchen
Costume Shop Supervisor and Lecturer in Theatre
Teaches costume design, stage makeup, and costume construction. She has performed costume work for The University of Iowa, Old Creamery Theatre, Coe College, Grinnell College, and Riverside Theatre. M.F.A., costume design, University of Iowa.
Scott Olinger
Professor of Theatre
Teaches courses in scenic, lighting, and projection design. His work has been seen at Burning Coal Theatre, Riverside Theatre, Pennsylvania Center Stage, Penn State Altoona, Theatre Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Juniata College, and on DirecTV’s Nick and Artie Show/The Dan Patrick Show. M.F.A., design, Penn State University.
Caroline Price
Assistant Professor of Theatre
Teaches courses in basic and advanced acting such as Shakespeare in Performance, Auditioning, and Career Management. She has extensive professional experience as an actor and joined the faculty in 2016 after serving as assistant professor of performance at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. M.F.A., acting, Wayne State University.
Don Schneider
Technical Director and Lecturer in Theatre
Teaches courses in stagecraft and sound design. M.F.A., theatre technology, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Janeve West
Associate Professor of Theatre
Teaches courses in theatre history, devised theatre, and directing. She spent three years as a director and actor for the Omaha Theatre Company, and has directed a variety of world premieres, devised pieces, and fully scripted productions for The Llano Estacado Institute for the Performing Arts, Theatre Cedar Rapids, and at multiple other venues. M.F.A., theatre with a dual emphasis in directing and acting, Texas Tech University.