Theatre

Theatre Arts Faculty and Staff

 

Tom Woldt

tomsfaceTheatre Department Chair
Professor
Theatre Literature, History, Performance
M.F.A., Minnesota State University, Mankato (1984)
Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1996)

Office: Blank Performing Arts Center, (515) 961-1653
e-mail: tom.woldt@simpson.edu

Tom Woldt received his undergraduate training at South Dakota State University, his M.F.A. in Directing from Minnesota State University,Mankato, his Ph.D. in Theatre History/Literature/Criticism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and served an internship in Stage Management and Directing at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. Tom is the Immediate-Past Chair of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Region V (“Great Plains.”) Concurrent with his term as Regional Chair, he also served on the KCACTF National Committee, including terms as National Vice-Chair of Chairs and National Chair of Chairs. Tom directed the 1995 Region V Festival Production of Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said, as well as The Woman In Black which appeared at the 2000 Region V Festival and was chosen as the Honorable Mention production to the national festival in Washington.  In 2000, Tom received Simpson College’s Outstanding Junior Faculty Award. Recent directing projects have included: Henry 5, Push Up: 1-3, The Seven-Year Itch (Highland Summer Theatre), Into the Woods, Nora and Julie (adaptations of A Doll House and Miss Julie), The Trojan Women: Stories of Love and War, On the Razzle (MN State Univ., Mankato), Expecting Isabel (Yellow Tree Theatre, Minneapolis), Five Course Love (Williamston Theatre, MI--"Subscribers' Choice-Outstanding Production of the Season"), The Learned Ladies.

jenniferJennifer Ross Nostrala

Professor Head, Division of Visual & Performing Arts
Acting and Directing Director, Women's Studies Program M.F.A., The University of Texas, Austin (1988)

Office: Blank Performing Arts Center, (515) 961-1649
e-mail: jennifer.nostrala@simpson.edu

Jennifer Ross Nostrala has been directing and teaching theatre for over twenty years. She recently produced and directed Neil LaBute's Fat Pig at the Des Moines Social Club. Recent directing credits at Theatre Simpson include Back Story, The Servant of Two Masters and A Year with Frog and Toad. She adapted Sophocle’s Antigone for a performance with eight actors called Antigone, Speaking Truth. In 2007 she traveled to Austin, Texas to direct her adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet at the Vortex Theatre. She has also directed at the Old Creamery Theatre and the Texas Shakespeare Festival. She received an Iowa Arts Council mine-grant in 2010. She has received meritorius achievement certificates in directing from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Region V for her productions of Back Story and One Flea Spare. In 2001, with the help of an Iowa Arts Council mini-grant she had the opportunity to travel to Italy to LaMama Umbria to study with Anne Bogart, Theodora Skipitares, Jean-Guy LeCat among others. Spring of 2011 she will direct Eurydice for Theatre Simpson and then The Shape of Things for StageWest in Des Moines. Jennifer holds an MFA in directing from the University of Texas at Austin and a B.A. from Simpson College. She resides in Indianola with her husband, artist and teacher Justin Nostrala, and their two young boys.

SteveSteven J. McLean

Professor
Design and Technical Direction
M.F.A., The Pennsylvania State University (1986)

Office: Blank Performing Arts Center, (515) 961-1662
e-mail: steve.mclean@simpson.edu

 

AnnAnn Woldt

Assistant Professor Educational Outreach Coordinator
Acting, Voice, and Movement
M.F.A., University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1993)

Office: Blank Performing Arts Center, (515) 961-1327
e-mail: ann.woldt@simpson.edu

Ann Woldt is an Assistant Professor in the Theatre department at Simpson College where she has taught classes in Acting, Oral Interpretation and Discovering Theatre for 13 years. Recent directing credits include, Pride and Prejudice, Necessary Targets and Spring Awakening. She has received a meritorious achievement certificate in directing from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival for her production of Standing on My Knees. Ann also serves as an ACTF Irene Ryan respondent and production respondent. In addition to teaching and directing, Ann has worked as a professional voiceover artist for the past 14 years where she has been featured in numerous national, regional, and local radio and television commercials as well as documentaries and books on tape. Recent voiceovers include commercials for Dupont, GMAC, Nissan, Mediacom, Whirlpool and Verizon Wireless. Ann holds an MFA in Acting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a BA in Theatre from Olivet College.

Robin Robin Vanderhoef

Adjunct Instructor
Theatre/Speech Education
BA, Simpson College (1975)

Office: Wallace 403C, (515-961-1214)
e-mail: robin.vanderhoef@simpson.edu

Robin has been teaching Discovering Theatre for 1½ years. Her background includes 31 years teaching speech and theatre; intense involvement with Iowa High School Speech Association; as well as extensive experience in acting, directing, design, and choreography.

rickRick Goetz

Staff
Scene Shop Supervisor/ Assistant Technical Director
B.A., Dickinson State, ND (1986)

Graduate Study in Theatrical Design, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Office: Blank Performing Arts Center, (515)961-1676
e-mail: rick.goetz@simpson.edu

StacyStacy Lindsley

Staff
Department Secretary

Office: Blank Performing Arts Center, (515) 961-1647
e-mail:  stacy.lindsley@simpson.edu

Stacy holds an AA degree in computer programming from Indian Hills Community College at Ottumwa, Iowa. She has been working at Simpson for 2 years and also has a bakery business. She resides in Indianola with her husband, Jim, a computer programmer, and their two children.

 

Last Updated: 11/18/11