Faculty & Staff
Acting/Directing/Theatre History & Criticism
Amy Seham, Associate Professor of Theatre, Department Chair
She came to Gustavus in 1997 with a PhD in Theatre from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an MFA from Northwestern University and years of experience as Artistic Director of Performance Studio and Free Shakespeare on the Green in New Haven, Connecticut. Amy has directed a wide variety of shows in the Anderson Theatre from musicals to Shakespeare to original works. In the last six summers, Amy's work as a playwright has also been presented at the Minnesota Fringe Festival in products featuring Gustavus students and alumni. Amy's research and teaching specialties include improvisation and theatre for social justice. Her book, Whose Improv Is It Any? Beyond Second City, exploring power and process in Chicago improv-comedy was published in 2001. She has created and conducted workshops on race, gender and resisting stereotypes in improv at universities, theatres and conferences across the United States, as well as in Ireland and India. At Gustavus Amy has intensified her commitment to theatre for social justice, developing a new course in Creative Social Justice Theatre and mentoring the student social justice theatre troupe I Am, We Are. She lives in Saint Peter with her wonderful 5-year-old daughter, Miranda
Education
- B.A. Wesleyan University
- M.F.A. in Directing, Northwestern University
- Ph.D. University of Wisconsin at Madison
Experience
- Teacher/Director at Gustavus Adolphus College: 1997-present
- Artistic Director of theatres in Michigan and Connecticut
- Author: Whose Improv Is It Anyway?, published 2001
Teaching Areas
- Acting
- Theatre history
- Dramatic theory
- Theatre and society
- FTS
Special Interests
- Social Justice Theatre
- Improvisation
- Comedy
- Women's studies
- Shakespeare
Henry W. MacCarthy, Assistant Professor of Theatre
Henry joined the Department of Theatre and Dance at Gustavus Adolphus College in 2007. He completed undergraduate studies in performance at the National School for the Performing Arts in Caracas, Venezuela. After working several years as an actor he returned to the U.S. to attend Indiana University’s graduate program in opera directing. He has been part of the directing staff of several companies including Houston Grand Opera, Baltimore Opera, Indianapolis Opera, and Opera North among others. Other professional engagements include the Latin American premiere of Sweeney Todd in Caracas, Venezuela. At the college level he has directed productions at Johns Hopkins University and Ohio University, where he obtained a Ph.D. in theatre and music.
Education
- Escuela Nacional de Artes Escénicas César Rengifo. Caracas, Venezuela
- M.S. Indiana University
- Ph.D. Ohio University
Teaching Areas
- Acting
- Performance History
- Musical Theatre
- Physical Theatre
Special Interests
- Performance in the Americas
- Directing
- Musical Theatre genres
- Actor training
Design and Technology
Terena Wilkens, Technical Director, Adjunct Instructor in Theatre
Terena joined the Gustavus Theatre & Dance Department in 1993 as the first full-time technical director and also designs lights and sound. She has a B.A. in Theatre design from St. Cloud State University and an M.F.A. from West Virginia University-Morgantown in Theatre Design with an emphasis in lights and sound. She currently teaches Lights and Sound: Craft & Design as well as Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) and Advanced CADD and many practicum classes. Her thoughts are teaching can be summed up; "Get dirty! Hands on projects not only help you learn the skill you are after, but also the all-important creative-problem-solving skills we will need in life." She also serves as a Head Resident in Arbor View Apartments, which she has done for the past 10 years. Terena's hobbies outside of theatre include photography, gardening, and stained glass arts.
Education
- B.A. St. Cloud State University
- M.F.A. West Virginia University
Experience
- Technical Director at Gustavus Adolphus College: 1993-present
- Designer
- Technical Director
- Manager at theatres in Minnesota and New York
Teaching Area
- Lights and Sounds: Craft and Design
- Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD)
- Advanced CADD
Special interests
- Light and sound design
- Props
Dance
Michele Rusinko, Professor of Dance
Michele is a teacher, choreographer, dancer and writer. She has taught at Gustavus Adolphus College for 21 years. She received her B.A. from St. Olaf College and M.F.A. from Arizona State University. Prior to coming to Gustavus, Michele spent four years as the Director of Dance at Weber State University in Odgen, utah. In recent years her work as a guest artist and teacher has taken her from Mora, Sweden, to Dublin, Ireland. Rusinko's essays and commentaries on dance have been featured on Minnesota Public Radio. She is particularly excited about next fall when we will produce our second Choreographer's Gallery in Anderson Theatre. This is a showcase for our more experienced student choreographers. This spring ten student choreographers have applied to have their work presented in the Choreographer's Gallery. While the department has grown and many of the faces have changed, Kresge dance studio continues to be a magical corner on the campus where exciting dances are made.
Education
- B.A. St. Olaf College
- M.F.A. Arizona State University
- additional studies at School for Body-Mind Centering
Experience
- Head, dance program at Gustavus Adolphus College: 1988-present
- Director of Dance Weber State University
- Dancer/Choreographer for concerts in Twin Cities
- Commentator on dance
- Minnesota Public Radio
Teaching Areas
- Modern
- Ballet
- Dance history
- Dance composition
- FTS
Special interests
- Dance pedagogy
Melissa C. Rolnick , Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance
Melissa Rolnick began her training in NY with Andre Eglevsky, Valentina Pereyaslavic and Maggie Black in Ballet. After receiving a B.F.A. from SUNY Purchase College she studied on scholarship at the Merce Cunningham Studio. After moving to the San Francisco Bay Area she danced with the San Francisco Moving Company, Cliff Keuter's New Dance Company and the Margaret Jenkins Dance Company touring nationally and internationally. She has also performed with many other notable choreographers including Joe Goode, Emily Keeler, Elina Mooney,and Mel Wong. She has an M.F.A. from Mills College and has taught at Sonoma State Univerity, Western Washington University, Arizona State University (receiving the Distinguished Teaching Award from the Herberger College), and California State University Fresno. Her choreography has been produced at all of the above institutions including Dancer's Group San Francisco, On the Boards Seattle (12 Minutes Max), Kaleidoscope Dance, Firehouse Performing Arts, Cornish College for the Arts, University of Texas Pan American, Scottsdale Center for the Arts, Glendale Community College,and Contemporary Dance Wyoming. She has been a Visiting Assistant Professor at Gustavus since 2007.
Education
- B.F.A., SUNY Purchase College
- M.F.A., Mills College
- Additional Studies at The Iyengar Yoga Institute in San Francisco
Experience
- Former dance company member with Margaret Jenkins Dance Company, Cliff Keuter's New Dance Company, San Francisco Moving Company
- Performed professionally with many other notable choreographers
- Has taught and choreographed at Sonoma State University, Western Washington University, Arizona State University, Cal State Fresno, Cornish College
Teaching Areas
- Fundamental Modern
- Beginning Ballet
- Intermediate Ballet
- Composition
Special interests
- Yoga
- Authentic Movement
- Choreography
Jeffrey Peterson, Adjunct Instructor in Dance
Education
Experience
Teaching Areas
Sue Gunness, Adjunct Instructor in Dance
Education
- B.S. Moorhead State University
- additional training at International Ballet Conference, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Kansas State University, St Paul City Ballet
Experience
- Teacher/Choreographer at Gustavus Adolphus College: 1999-present
- Teacher/Choreographer Minnesota State University, Mankato, Minnesota Dance Theatre, Mankato Ballet, Salt Creek Ballet, Moorhead State University
Teaching Areas
- Ballet
Technology and Design
Andrea M. Gross, Costume Designer, Adjunct Instructor in Theatre
Andrea has been the faculty costume designer and costume shop manager since 2006. She holds a B.A. in Theatre & German from Santa Clara University and an M.F.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She brings a passion for storytelling and costume history to the job, and relishes the opportunities to help young designers and performers find their voice and join in the magic of live theatrical performance. As well as mentoring students through a range of design and technology positions in the costume shop, she teaches Costume: Craft & Design, and Undressed: Costume and Culture, which is a course on the social history of fashion. Whenever possible she continues to design freelance in the Twin Cities. She keeps her perspective with yoga, gardening, and exploring the greater wilds of Minnesota
Education
- B.A., Santa Clara University (Theatre & German)
- M.F.A., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Costume Design)
Experience
- Costume Shop Manager & Resident Costume Designer, Gustavus Adolphus: 2006-present
- Free-lance Costume Designer, Minneapolis/St. Paul
- Resident Costume Designer, Theatre L'Homme Dieu, 2005
- Costume Studio Supervisor, Theatre L'Homme Dieu, 2004
Teaching areas
- Costume Craft & Design
- Costume History
Special Interests
- Costume History
Micah J. Maatman, Assistant Professor of Theatre
Micah has been on the Gustavus Theatre and dance Faculty since 2007 as the Assistant Professor of Design and technology. Micah received his B.A. in Theatre from Hope College in Holland, Michigan and holds an M.F.A. in Theatrical Design with emphasis in Scenic Design from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. he loves exploring how we express ourselves visually and enjoys talking about and exploring the thoughts and implications behind visual expression with students. Micah teaches a wide range of course work including Beginning Experiments in Design, Scenery: Craft and Design, Theatrical Media and Design Technology, and Arts Management among many others. He loves Gustavus students and takes great satisfaction from helping young artists connect to, explore, and think creatively about the spaces that surround us. When not in Anderson Theatre, Micah enjoys woodworking and woodcarving, spending time with his dogs, and watching the Bears on Sundays despite his newfound residency in Viking country.
Education
- B.A. Hope College
- M.F.A., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Experience
- Assistant Professor and Designer of Theatre and Dance at Gustavus Adolphus College; 2007-present
- Five years with the Utah Shapespearean Festival
- Hope Summer Repertory Theatre
Teaching areas
- Beginning Design
- Scenery Design and Technology
- Theatrical Media Design and Technology
- Advanced Design
- Arts Management
Interests
- Design Theory
- Theatrical Media Implementation
- Computer Aided Design
- American Scenic Design History
- Properties Management and Construction
