Melissa Shafer Curriculum Vitae

Melissa Lynn Shafer

Work Phone 423-439-5837                               E-mail shaferm@etsu.edu

 EDUCATION

 1983-1985    MFA in Theater Design and Production, Southern Illinois University

                         Teaching Assistant for Stagecraft and Stage Lighting Courses; Served as Department Production Electrician and Technical Director

 1979-1983    BA in Technical Theater, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville

Excellence in Technical Theatre Award, Technical Theatre Scholarship Recipient

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

 2005 – present    Associate Professor, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee

 1999-2005    Set and Lighting Designer / Technical Director, Assistant Professor

                         East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee                    

Teach production and design courses and Introduction to Theatre; supervise construction and implementation of all departmental scenery, properties, lighting, and audio needs.  Train students in operation of equipment; maintain equipment and facilities.

Courses Taught:         THEA 1520          Stagecraft

                                        THEA 1530          Stagecraft II

THEA 1030          Introduction to Theatre

                                        THEA 1800-4800               Theatre Lab

                                        THEA 2530          Dramatic Structure

THEA 2420          Theatre Design Basics

THEA 3330          Scenic Design

                                        THEA 3335          Stage Lighting                                     

                                        THEA 4527          Advanced Sceneography: Stage Lighting

                                        THEA 4637          Theatre Management

                                        THEA 4900          Independent Study - Student Design

                                        THEA 4957          Fundamentals of Theatrical Design

                                        THEA 5527          Advanced Sceneography: Stage Lighting

1995-1999                    Technical Director, Professional Staff

                                        Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana

Taught stagecraft labs; supervised construction and implementation of all departmental scenery, properties, lighting, and audio needs.  Trained students in operation of equipment;  maintained equipment and facilities.

Courses Taught:    Dram 103 Stagecraft

                                                                            Dram 103L Stagecraft Lab

                                                                            Dram 104L Stagecraft II Lab

                                                                            Dram A325L Stage Lighting Lab

1995                               Adjunct Faculty, Valencia Community College, Orlando, Florida

                                        Courses Taught:         TPA 220 Stage Lighting

1994-1995                    Lighting Designer / Technical Director, Professional Staff, Rollins College

1991-1994                    Lighting Designer / Technical Director, Visiting Asst. Professor, Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida

Taught theatre production courses; supervised construction and implementation of all departmental scenery, properties, lighting, and audio needs.  Served as production manager for a second season of music and dance performances that toured into the theater. Trained students in operation of equipment;  maintained equipment and facilities.

Courses Taught:         THE 499  Independent Study in Design

                                                                                THE 419-422  Theatre Production

                                                                                THE 112  Stagecraft II

                                                                                THE 111  Stagecraft

1994                               Adjunct Faculty, Lambuth University, Jackson, Tennessee

Designed scenery and lighting for two productions and supervised construction and implementation of scenery, properties, lighting and sound.

1986-1991                    Set and Lighting Designer / Technical Director, Assistant Professor

1985-1986                    Lighting Designer / Technical Director, Instructor

                                        The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama

Taught theatre design and production courses, Introduction to the Humanities and Introduction to the Theatre courses.  Designed scenery and lighting for departmental productions; supervised construction and implementation of all departmental scenery, properties, lighting, and audio needs.  Trained students in operation of equipment;  maintained equipment and facilities.

Courses Taught:    THR 450  Seminar in Production Concepts

                                                                           THR 425  Advanced Technical Projects

                                                                           THR 410  Scenic Design

                                                                           THR 221  Drafting for the Stage                                                                                                     

         THR 121  Intro to Theatre Technology II

                                                                            THR 121  Intro to Theatre Technology                                                                                                 

         THR 101  Practicum in Technical Theatre

                                                                            THR 100  Understanding Theatre and Dance

                                                                            HUM 103  Understanding the Arts                                    

1983-1985                    Graduate Assistant, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Served as production electrician, technical director and teaching assistant for the stagecraft and lighting courses.

1982                               Guest Artist, St. Louis Community College at Forest Park

                                        St. Louis, Missouri

                                        Designed scenery and lighting for The Woolgatherer and The Elephant Man.  Supervised technical production course.

BOOK PUBLICATION

UNDER CONTRACT:    Brewster, Karen, and Melissa Shafer. Theatrical Genre and Style: A Guide for Designers, Directors, and  Performers.  New York: Allworth Press, 2014.

RELEASED:    Brewster, Karen, and Melissa Shafer. The Fundamentals of Theatrical Design: A Guide to Scenic, Costume and Lighting Design.  New York: Allworth Press, July 2011.

ARTICLES

Originality of Hear That Whistle Blow…Earns Show Place on Kennedy Center Stage.  Southern Theatre Magazine, Volume XLII Number 3, Summer 2001.

ACADEMIC COMMITTEES

University Committees

2002-2011    ETSU                Faculty Senate

2009-2011    ETSU                Senate sub-committee on Teaching, Creative & Scholarly Activities

 2008-2009   ETSU                Senate sub-committee on Faculty Grievance

2006-2007    ETSU                Senate sub-committee on Faculty Development and Evaluation

2005            APSU                External Program Reviewer – Department of Communication

2002-2005    ETSU                Senate sub-committee on Teaching, Creative & Scholarly Activities

2001            ETSU                Technology Leadership in Higher Education Cohort

1991-1995    Rollins College   Campus Safety Committee

College Committees

2011            ETSU    College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Awards

2007            ETSU     Internal Consultant - Department of English Program Review

2006            ETSU     Honors College Arts Scholars Selection Committee

2005            ETSU     Honors College Arts Scholars Selection Committee

2003            ETSU     College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s task force on Visual, Performance and Production Arts

1991            UAB      School of Arts and Humanities Promotion and Tenure Committee

1991            UAB      School of Arts and Humanities Cultural Activities Committee

1989            UAB      School of Arts and Humanities Promotion and Tenure Committee

1988            UAB      School of Arts and Humanities Curriculum & Educational Policies Committee

1987            UAB      School of Arts and Humanities Cultural Activities Committee

Department Committees

2001-present    ETSU Division of Theatre Faculty Co-sponsor of Alpha Psi Omega

1999-2001        ETSU Division of Theatre Faculty Sponsor of Alpha Psi Omega

1999-present    ETSU Division of Theatre Season Selection Committee

1991-1995        Rollins College Department of Theatre Faculty Sponsor of Rollins Players

1990-1991        UAB Department of Theatre and Dance Chair of Student Recruitment

Faculty Search Committees

2007                ETSU College of Arts and Sciences                Music Department Chair Search Committee

2007                ETSU Communication Department                  Dance Faculty Search Committee

2005                ETSU Division of Theatre                               Acting Faculty Search Committee

2001                ETSU Division of Theatre                               Artist in Residence Search Committee

2000                ETSU Division of Theatre                               Costume Design Faculty Search Committee

1995                Rollins College Department of Theatre            Set Design Faculty Search Committee

1991                UAB Department of Theatre and Dance         Costume Designer Search Committee

1990                UAB Department of Theatre and Dance         Department Chair Search Committee

1989                UAB Department of Theatre and Dance         Costume Designer Search Committee

Graduate and Honors Student Committees

2007    ETSU Graduate Committee, chair                Graduate Student Chad Fraley

2007    ETSU Graduate Committee                         Graduate Student Pamela Adolphi

2007    ETSU Honors Committee, chair                   Alex Curry’s Undergraduate Honors Thesis

2007    ETSU Honors Committee, chair                   Angela Gross’ Undergraduate Honors Thesis

2005    ETSU Graduate Committee                         Graduate Student Scott Koenig

2005    ETSU Honors Committee, chair                   Corey Zachary’s Undergraduate Honors Thesis

2003    ETSU English Department Committee          Jonathon Taylor’s Honors in Discipline

2001    ETSU Graduate Committee, chair                Graduate Student Sonia Weeks

2002    ETSU Graduate Committee                         Graduate Student Thomas Townsend 

Architectural Planning Committees

2006    ETSU College of Arts and Sciences         Fine Arts Building Planning Committee

2005    Milligan College                                       Performing Arts Building Planning Committee

1999    Loyola University                                    Arts Center Architectural Planning Committee

1990    UAB                                                      Performing Arts Architectural Planning Committee

OFFICES HELD IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

 2010-2012       President                                                                                      Tennessee Theatre Association

2010-2011       Nominations Committee member                                                     Southeastern Theatre Conference

2008-2010       President-elect                                                                               Tennessee Theatre Association

2005-2010       Tennessee State Representative                                                      Southeastern Theatre Conference 

2005-2009       SETC Representative                                                                     Tennessee Theatre Association

2002-2008       Editorial Board Member                                                                 Southern Theatre Magazine

2006               Conference Site Coordinator                                                           Tennessee Theatre Association

2002-2005       State Chair of Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival   Tennessee Theatre Association

2004               Leadership Cohort                                                                          Southeastern Theatre Conference

2000-2002       Chair of College and University Division                                          Tennessee Theatre Association

1989               Co-chair of Women’s Caucus                                                         Tennessee Theatre Association

1991               State Chair of Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival   Alabama Theatre League

1990               Coordinator of State High School Scholarship Auditions                    Alabama Theatre League

1990               Chair of College and University Division                                          Alabama Theatre League

1989               Vice-chair of College and University Division                                   Alabama Theatre League

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS

 TENNESSEE THEATRE ASSOCIATION

SOUTHEASTERN THEATRE CONFERENCE 

UNITED STATES INSTITUTE FOR THEATRE TECHNOLOGY 

KENNEDY CENTER AMERICAN COLLEGE THEATRE FESTIVAL

ALABAMA THEATRE LEAGUE  member 1985-1991

SPECIAL AWARDS AND HONORS

2010    East Tennessee State University Distinguished Faculty Award for Distinguished Achievement in Service

2010    East Tennessee State University College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Service Award

2007    John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Meritorious Achievement Award for Lighting Design – The Gospel According to Jazz

2007    John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Meritorious Achievement Award for Scenic Design – The Gospel According to Jazz

2006    John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Meritorious Achievement Award for Lighting Design – Little Shop of Horrors

2002    Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Faculty Design Fellowship Finalist

2001    East Tennessee State University Unsung Hero Award        

1998    Louisiana State American College Theatre Festival Excellence in Lighting Design

1988    USITT Southeastern Design Exhibition Set for The Hairy Ape Selected to Participate

1983    Southern Illinois University Excellence in Technical Theatre Award

1981    Southern Illinois University Technical Theatre Scholarship Recipient

SELECTED EXTERNAL SET DESIGN EXPERIENCE

 2010       Barter Theatre                                                                     Charlotte’s Web

2010       Barter Theatre                                                                      Billy, Goat, and Gruff: The Musical

2009       Barter Theatre                                                                      Jack and the Beanstalk

2009       Barter Theatre                                                                      Rapunzel

2009       Barter Theatre                                                                      A Year with Frog and Toad

2009       Barter Theatre                                                                      The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

2008       Barter Theatre                                                                      Sleeping Beauty

2008       Barter Theatre                                                                      The Frog Prince

2008       Barter Theatre                                                                      The Bremen Town Musicians

2008       Barter Theatre                                                                      Tuck Everlasting

2008       Barter Theatre                                                                      The Elves and the Shoemaker

2007       Barter Theatre                                                                      Cry Wolf

2007       Barter Theatre                                                                      Cinderella

2007       Barter Theatre                                                                      Billy, Goat, and Gruff: The Musical

2007       Barter Theatre                                                                      Where the Red Fern Grows

2006       Barter Theatre                                                                      Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business

2006       Barter Theatre                                                                      The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

2006       Barter Theatre                                                                      Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

2006       Barter Theatre                                                                      Robin Hood

2006       Barter Theatre                                                                      Charlotte’s Web

2006       Milligan College                                                                  Proof

2005       Milligan College                                                                  Oklahoma

2005       Barter Theatre                                                                      Ramona Quimby

2005       Barter Theatre                                                                      The Pied Piper

2005       Milligan College                                                                  A Midsummer Night’s Dream

2004       Milligan College                                                                  Footloose

2004       Mountain States Health Alliance                                     Spirit Gala – Peter Pan

2003       Northeast State Technical College                                  The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940

2003       Mountain States Health Alliance                                    Growing Healthy

2000       American Heart Association Gala                                   A Night in Venice

1994       Civic Theatre of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida        Working

1993       Civic Theatre of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida         Sleeping Beauty

1992       Civic Theatre of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida         Into the Woods

1990       The Theatre at St. Peters, New York, New York            Holmes and Watson

SELECTED EXTERNAL LIGHTING DESIGN EXPERIENCE

 2005     Asheville Lyric Opera                                                          Carmen

2002     Smokey Mountain Shakespeare Company, Knoxville, TN         The Compleat Wrks of Wllm.Shakespeare (abridged)

2000     Virginia Intermont College, Bristol, Virginia                      The Sound of Music

2000     Callani/Youngblood Productions, JC, TN                         Molly Sweeney

1995     Kennesaw State University, Marietta, Georgia                The Oresteia

1994     Civic Theatre of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida           El Grande de Coca-Cola

1989     Southern Danceworks, Birmingham, Alabama                 “Dance Gallery”

1989     Southern Danceworks, Birmingham, Alabama                 “25th Anniversary Concert”

1987     Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Birmingham, AL           A Christmas Carol

1985     Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Birmingham, AL           A Christmas Carol

SELECTED EXTERNAL LIGHTING & SET DESIGN EXPERIENCE

2008       Milligan College                                                                  The Comedy of Errors

2007       Milligan College                                                                  The Gospel According to Jazz - Regional KCACTF

2006       Milligan College                                                                  The Gospel According to Jazz

1999       Theatre West, Scottsbluff, Nebraska                              1940’s Radio Hour

1999       Theatre West, Scottsbluff, Nebraska                              Steel Magnolias

1999       Theatre West, Scottsbluff, Nebraska                              A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum

1995       Lambuth University, Jackson, Tennessee                     Curse You Jack Dalton

1995       Lambuth University, Jackson, Tennessee                      She Done Him Wrong

1994       Civic Theatre of Central Florida, Orlando, FL                Terra Nova

1994       Lambuth University, Jackson, Tennessee                     Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?

1993       Theatre West, Scottsbluff, Nebraska                              Portable Pioneer and Prairie Show

1993       Theatre West, Scottsbluff, Nebraska                              Sleuth

1993       Theatre West, Scottsbluff, Nebraska                              Little Shop of Horrors

1991       Theatre West, Scottsbluff, Nebraska                              The Good Doctor

1991       Theatre West, Scottsbluff, Nebraska                              Driving Miss Daisy

1991       Theatre West, Scottsbluff, Nebraska                             Nunsense

1991       Birmingham Festival Theatre, Birmingham, AL             Speed the Plow

1991       Birmingham Festival Theatre, Birmingham, AL             They’re Playing Our Song

1990       Birmingham Festival Theatre, Birmingham, AL            Mass Appeal

1987       Birmingham Festival Theatre, Birmingham, AL             Quilters

1982       St. Louis Community College, St. Louis, MO                The Elephant Man

1982       St. Louis Community College, St. Louis, MO                The Woolgatherer

SELECTED EXTERNAL THEATRE PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE

2004             Special Effects Consultant, Barter Theatre, Abingdon, Virginia

2002             Carpenter, Barter Theatre, Abingdon, Virginia

2001             Technical Director, Shakespeare and Friends in the Park, Rogersville, Tennessee

2000            Technical Director, Shakespeare and Friends in the Park, Rogersville, Tennessee

1999            Technical Director/Designer, Theatre West,  Scottsbluff, Nebraska

1998             Technical Director, Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre, New Orleans

1997             Carpenter, Mercedes Plant Gala Opening, Vance, Alabama

1997             Shop Foreman, Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre, New Orleans

1997             Asst. Technical Director, Tulane Shakespeare Company, New Orleans

1996             Stage Manager, Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre, New Orleans

1995             Technical Director/Designer, Lambuth University, Jackson, Tennessee

1994             Technical Director/Designer, Lambuth University, Jackson, Tennessee

1993             Technical Director/Designer, Theatre West, Scottsbluff, Nebraska    

1991             Technical Director/Designer, Theatre West, Scottsbluff, Nebraska    

WORKSHOPS, PANELS AND SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

2011       Southeastern Theatre Conference        Style v. Genre Smackdown: How Best to Teach the “isms”.

2009        Tennessee Theatre Association          Decoding the Alphabet Soup of College Degrees: BA vs. BFA with a Little BS Thrown In

2005       International Conference on Arts and Humanities      Team Teaching, Team Learning: Synergistically Teaching the Collaborative Process of Theatre Art

2005       Southeastern Theatre Conference        Team Teaching: A Holistic Approach to the Fundamentals of Theatre Design

2004       Southeastern Theatre Conference        To Go Down You Must Go Up

2003       Johnson City Area Arts Council Arts in Education       Producing Our Town

2003       Tennessee Theatre Association           Model Making

2003       Southeastern Theatre Conference        Fourteen Years Later; The Second Class Status of Costume Designers Revisited                                                                 

2003       Southeastern Theatre Conference        The Collaborative Process: Can’t We All Just Get Along

2003       Southeastern Theatre Conference        Lost in Space: Creative Solutions to Storage Problems

2002       Johnson City Area Arts Council Arts in Education       From Page to Stage: Breathing Life into an Ancient Classic

2002       Tennessee Theatre Association           Portfolio and Resume Preparation for SETC Job Contact

2002       Tennessee Theatre Association           Networking and Resource Sharing Across the State

2002       TN HS Speech and Drama League        Cost Effective Strategies to Achieve Brilliance on the Stage   

2002       Southeastern Theatre Conference        There is more to Theatre than Acting

2002       Southeastern Theatre Conference        Is There a Walmart Around Here? Inexpensive Solutions to Technical Problems

2002       Southeastern Theatre Conference        Creating Drama from Oral Histories

2001       Tennessee Theatre Association           Creating Effective Technical Portfolios

2001       Tennessee Theatre Association           Modern Issues in Design

2000       Southeastern Theatre Conference        Protocols and Pecking Orders: Making the Transition from Academia to Professional Theatre

1999       Tennessee Theatre Association           Protocols and Pecking Orders: Making the Transition from Academia to Professional Theatre

1991       Southeastern Theatre Conference        Designing for Dance Without Stepping on Toes

1991       Southeastern Theatre Conference        Computer Technology and the Creative Collaboration of the Designer and Director

1990       Southeastern Theatre Conference        Keeping The Holmes’ Fires Burning:  Bringing Fictional Characters to Life

1989       Southeastern Theatre Conference        The Second Class Status of Costume Designers

1989       UAB Arts and Humanities Forum         Sex and Violence Denied the Victorian Stage:  A Contemporary Staging of  Wilde’s Salome

1988      Scenic Design and Special Effects: A community outreach and student recruitment presentation given at Minor High School, Huffman High School, Russellville High School, the Resource Learning Center, and Berry High School

EXHIBITS

KCACTF Faculty Design Exhibit - Oedipus the King – scenic model - Savannah, GA, February 2003

Tennessee Theatre Association Design Exhibit - Oedipus The King – scenic model - Chattanooga, TN, October 2002

Tennessee Theatre Association Design Exhibit - Sand Mountain - scenic model - Jackson, TN, October 2001

USITT-SE Faculty Design Exhibit - A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum, Steel Magnolias, 1940s Radio Hour -  Lighting and scenic renderings and photos - Winston Salem, NC, September 1999

USITT-SE Faculty Design Exhibition (Juried) – The Hairy Ape – Scenic model, drawings and photos - Atlanta, GA, March 1988