Instructor Bios and Classes

Bruce Cromer is a proud eighteen-year company member of The Human Race Theatre whose favorite roles include Macbeth, Prior Walter in Angels in America, Morgan in The Drawer Boy, Charles Dickens in A Christmas Carol, and the Ghost of John Barrymore in I Hate Hamlet. He is an Associate Professor of Acting and Movement in the Wright State University Actor Training Program where he teaches Shakespeare.  
Classes: Understanding Shakespeare, Speaking Shakespeare

Rocco Dal Vera is a professor at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Co-author, with Robert Barton, of the book Voice: Onstage and Off, Rocco is also the founding editor of The Voice and Speech Review for the Voice and Speech Trainers Association. With an MFA in voice coaching and training and a BFA in Musical Theatre, Mr. Dal Vera has worked on over 500 films and television programs including L.A. Law, Hill Street Blues, Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Gods Must Be Crazy, and his voice can be heard on countless commercials throughout the country.
Classes: Understanding Shakespeare, Speaking Shakespeare

Tony Dallas is a founding member of The Human Race Theatre Company. He received a MA degree in Playwriting from Brandeis University. He has been twice awarded with an Individual Artist Fellowship in playwriting from the Ohio Arts Council. Plays Tony has written have been performed by The Human Race Theatre Company, The Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, the University of Dayton, Wright State University, Antioch University and in Chile. Tony has taught playwriting at a number of colleges and universities throughout Southwestern Ohio.
Class: Playwriting

Dr. Mary Donahoe is a director, actress, and teacher of theater arts at Wright State University.  She first discovered the joy of acting with masks while a student of ancient theatre in Greece and has performed with a mask theatre company in the Pacific Northwest.
Class: The Art of Mask

Jennifer Joplin is a graduate of the Professional Actor Training Program at Wright University in Dayton Ohio. She made Chicago her home base for 6 years, working with such theatres as Chicago Theatre Company, The Hypocrites, Pegasus Players, Empire Theatre Company, Tulsa Rep and The Human Race. Off stage she served as producer for The Living Theatre, Baum House and Mookie Jam.  She also co-founded Mookie Jam, which is a NFP organization created to raise money for artists living with MS. In 2002 she moved to the Cleveland area and has been working in print, radio and on stage across Ohio. Although she plans to relocate to New York City this fall she’ll return to Ohio in January to play Cleopatra in Cincinnati Shakespeare’s production of Antony and Cleopatra.
Class: Speaking Shakespeare

Marilyn Klaben is the Education Director at The Human Race Theatre Company as well as one of its theatre artists. She has an extensive background in theatre arts and education. With degrees from Miami University in Theatre and New York University in Educational Theatre, Marilyn has taught college, high school and elementary theatre classes, as well as teacher training sessions, integrating theatre into the curriculum. She has been the Youth Summer Stock Director for the past eight years. Marilyn was involved in the Dayton Stories project in which she facilitated a senior adult story circle group for five years.  
Class: Reader’s Theatre for Seniors

Tim Lile is a professional auctioneer and president of Innovative Auctions, Inc., as well as a Human Race Theatre Resident Artist and Trustee. His performances in previous Race productions include: The Odd Couple, Resident Alien, On Golden Pond, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Art, Picasso at the Lapin Agile and last season’s hit comedy The Underpants.
Classes: Acting for the Camera, Going, Going…Gone!

Patricia Linhart is proud to say she is a resident company member with The Human Race Theatre Company and a member of the Voice faculty at the College-Conservatory of Music University of Cincinnati. Last season, she starred in The Human Race Theatre/Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra production of Every Good Boy Deserves Favour at the Schuster Center. She was nominated for a Cincinnati Entertainment Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her role as Marilla Cuthbert in Green Gables at the Victoria Theatre. Pat was heard with the Dayton Philharmonic as part of the Chamber Orchestra Series in the Andriessen film soundtrack: M Is for Man, Music, Mozart, and with the Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati in a reading of Mary Murfitt’s new piece Prairie Spring. At home in both opera and musical theatre, she has sung in productions ranging from Nunsense to La Rondine! In addition, she has appeared on stage in oratorio, recital and straight plays. Favorite roles include Chelsea in On Golden Pond, Laura in Goblin Market, Desiree in A Little Night Music, Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd, Cordelia in Falsettoland along with such shows as Closer Than Ever, Zombies from the Beyond, Quilters, Prelude to a Kiss, numerous musical theatre workshops of new works including a reading of Green Gables at the York Theatre in NYC and at the John Drew Theatre in East Hampton in July of 2004. Pat has also appeared at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park in A Little Night Music with Donna McKechnie, The Wizard of Oz and Candide. Other theatres include Lyric Opera Cleveland, Sorg Opera, Whitewater Opera Company, National Opera Company, Duke Opera Festival, Carnegie Opera Theatre, the Birmingham Theatre, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, Downtown Theatre Classics and as guest artist and Master Class teacher at the University of Mississippi in their production of Follies. Pat has had the pleasure of singing Adelaide in Guys and Dolls with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra as well as being heard as the off stage voice in West Side Story at the Victoria Theatre in Dayton, Ohio. She has also appeared with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Cincinnati POPS Orchestra with whom she performed at Cincinnati’s Music Hall, The Blossom Festival in Cleveland, Carnegie Hall and a PBS broadcast with Doc Severinsen and Patti Page. Pat continues to teach master classes and adjudicate vocal competitions as well as maintaining her studio at CCM since 1997, where she just received the Ernest N. Glover Outstanding Teacher Award.
Class: Teaching Voice

Michael Kenwood Lippert is a founding member and Resident Artist with The Human Race Theatre Company. He most recently appeared in The Drawer Boy at the Loft Theatre and Every Good Boy Deserves Favour at the Schuster Center with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. Other credits include the Midwest premieres of Spinning Into Butter, Stonewall Jackson’s House, and Robert Johnson: Trick the Devil as well as leading roles in Picasso at the Lapin Agile, True West, All in The Timing, Cloud 9, Speed the Plow, The Elephant Man, The Boys Next Door, Orphans, Speed of Darkness and Nova Town with Rhythm in Shoes. Michael is also a seasoned arts integration consultant who works with educators and students across the country in ways to reform education by integrating the arts across the curriculum.
Class: Every Classroom Is a Stage!

Brian McKnight graduated with his BFA from Wright State University (receiving an Excellence in Acting award from the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival for his work there) and his MFA from the Theatre School at DePaul University, Chicago where he graduated with distinction in 2001. Past roles include the totle role in Shakespeare’s Richard III, De Guiche in Cyrano de Bergerac, Burgoyne in The Devil’s Disciple, Oberon/Theseus in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Dodge in Buried Child and The Player Queen in the Court Theatre’s Chicago production of Hamlet. At The Human Race Theatre Brian has appeared in The Dazzle, Crimes of the Heart and most recently, The Underpants. Past directing credits include Othello, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The Merry Wives of Windsor, Company and The Glass Menagerie.  His poem/biography of John Lennon appears in the book Writing with Passion and his debut CD Hanging on for Dear Life, by his one-man band The Baker Street Irregulars, is available now at www.atomicmouserecordings.com. Brian is a recognized actor/combatant by the Society of American Fight Directors. In addition to teaching and directing at Sinclair he is currently a guest artist/lecturer of Acting and Voice & Speech in the BFA Acting program at Wright State University.
Class: Speaking Shakespeare

Katie Pees, fresh from New York, is back in her hometown of Dayton, Ohio. Katie grew up in Dayton and went to Oakwood High School. While at Oakwood Katie was a state champion in Duet Acting and a National Qualifier in Humorous Interpretation with her Speech and Debate Team. At the age of 13 she was Little Red Riding Hood in Wright State’s production of Into the Woods. Katie was a featured performer for three years with the Muse Machine. Shows with the Muse Machine include Oliver, Peter Pan and The Music Man. After graduation Katie attended Otterbein College where she received her BFA in Musical Theatre. Soon after graduation she headed to the Big Apple. Her first professional job was as Amelia Bedelia, a national tour for children. Since being in New York Katie as worked regionally, Off-Broadway, summer stock and national tours. In 2003, she performed her own one-woman show called Katie Pees All Over You, which was named one of the funniest titles of the year by Playbill.com. When she is not on stage she has been working at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. At the museum she has been working with young children on improvisation, mask work, character work, acting skills and basic fun in the theatre world. She has written two shows that the children have put on for their families and has helped direct both of these shows. She is proud to be back in Dayton and working for The Human Race. Some credits with the Human Race include, Moby Dick the Musical, The Spitfire Grill, for which she won a DayTony, and Was. Other credits include: Off-Broadway: Boobs The Musical, Beauty and the Beast, Crazy for You, Guys and Dolls, Children of Eden, How to Succeed, Annie, Get Your Gun, Cabaret and The Miser.
Classes: Family Class series, Conservatory program, Acting I series, Improvisation 1, Improvisation 2, Getting the Job: Audition Techniques

Jené Rebbin Shaw is thrilled to return as AIT instructor this year! Jené has been teaching and directing youth theatre in the Dayton area for eight years. This summer she taught Summer AIT, as well as summer theatre camps for Clark State Community College’s College for Kids and Miami University’s Kids in College programs. She has also taught outreach workshops for the Race and for the Victoria Theatre. Jené has a Bachelor’s degree in theatre from Miami University. As an actor she has performed with Madcap Puppet Theatre, Murder & Co., Mayhem & Mystery, and at Bonnybrook Farms fall festival. Jené will complete her Master’s degree in theatre at Miami University this year, where she will be directing a production in the spring.
Classes: Adventures in Theatre I series, Adventures in Theatre II series

Scott Stoney, while arguably known more for his stage work, is no stranger to the educational side of theatre. Interestingly enough, though Scott has been a professional actor for over 30 years, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Bowling Green State University. In 1981 Scott was asked to direct a new musical for the Sinclair Theatre Department then chaired by Dr. Robert MacClennan. One thing led to another and soon Scott was in the classroom teaching a variety of theatre courses. So started a second career for Scott as instructor of theatre arts. Soon after, “Mac” entrusted him with the acting program where he developed a six-quarter series of sequential acting classes which Scott taught as well as Oral Interpretation, Theatre Make-up, Musical Theatre, Shakespeare and other related topics. In 1993 Scott became the first Artist-in-Residence in the Sinclair Theatre Department. This newly created position allowed Scott to teach, direct and act as part of his yearly contract. He continued in this capacity until 2003 and now continues his association with Sinclair as an adjunct teacher. Scott also continues to coach privately, helping students of all ages to get the part, get the show, get the job, or get the school. He has assisted over 30 students in getting into the college program of their choice. An accomplished pianist, Scott enjoys working with musical students the most.
Classes: Understanding Shakespeare, Getting the Job: Audition Techniques, Music Reading for Actors, Lessac Training

Deb Colvin-Tener has appeared in numerous plays for The Human Race, as well as CATCO in Columbus, OH. She and her husband John have performed and taught Shakespeare camps and workshops for theatres, schools and festivals in OH, KY, NC, and PA. Deb is a North Carolina School of the Arts alum and associate director of Shakespeare-in-a-Box, a GCAC Artist-in-Schools program. John Tener has worked with various theatres around the midwest including The Human Race, The Milwaukee Rep, CATCO and The Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival. Favorite Shakespeare roles include Leontes in The Winter’s Tale, Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the title role in Macbeth. He is co-founder and producing-director of The Arden Shakespeare Company and is the Artistic Director of Shakespeare-in-a-Box. He is currently directing Romeo and Juliet for Clark State Community College.
Class: Understanding Shakespeare

Alex Tuss is Associate Professor of English at the University of Dayton. He has taught Shakespeare courses on Drama and courses on History and Criticism of the Theatre since 1991. A Phi Beta Kappa from Fordham University, Brother Tuss has worked closely with the student - run Black Box Theatre at UD, and has appeared as a guest presenter for both the Muse Machine and The Human Race Theatre.  
Class: Understanding Shakespeare

Aaron Vega has had a busy year with three musicals, Green Gables (Moody), and the world premieres of Was (Max) and Christian Duhamel’s Reinventing Romance (Isaiah); and two tours, Animal Farm (Snowball) and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s Twelfth Night (Feste). Aaron has his BFA in Acting/Musical Theatre from Wright State University and performed in many shows there including States of Independence (Directed by Tina Landau and Ricky Ian Gordon) and Parade (Coached by Jason Robert Brown). Other professional credits include: You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Charlie), West Side Story (Riff), Joseph... (Joseph & Ruben), The Wizard of Oz (Lion), Noises Off (Tim), Beauty and the Beast, (Beast) and A Little Night Music (Mr. Erlenson).
Classes: Acting II series

Carrie-Ellen Zappa is an actor, director and acting coach, currently teaching acting for Playhouse in the Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has performed, directed and taught in Los Angeles, New Hampshire and the Tri State area, most recently teaching acting at the College Conservatory of Music. Her study with Uta Hagen at the American Ballet Theater Company, as well as Stanislavski and Strasberg training with the American Conservatory Theater has inspired her coaching techniques and love for teaching.
Classes: The Craft of Character, The Art of Performing, Comedy and Drama – the Actor’s Point of View