{"id":7327,"date":"2022-06-30T09:39:52","date_gmt":"2022-06-30T13:39:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/?page_id=7327"},"modified":"2024-06-10T15:03:21","modified_gmt":"2024-06-10T19:03:21","slug":"curriculum-faculty","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/busti\/curriculum-faculty\/","title":{"rendered":"BUSTi Curriculum & Faculty"},"content":{"rendered":"

CURRICULUM<\/h2>\n

Designed to mirror the first year BFA experience within the College of Fine Arts School of Theatre at Boston University, the Institute allows all participants the opportunity to test their interests and abilities in a professional training environment. Students earn 4.0 college credits for their coursework in acting, design, theatre for social change, improvisation, and other theatre techniques, as well as immersive theatre workshops and the creation of an original piece of theatre with members of their ensemble.<\/span><\/p>\n

FACULTY<\/h2>\n

Leadership<\/h4>\n

Ashleigh Reade – Academic and Artistic Director<\/h5>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ashleigh Reade is an interdisciplinary theater educator and performer, specializing in voice, speech, text, and accent work. Prior to joining the faculty at CFA School of Theatre, she was an Assistant Professor of Theater at the Boston Conservatory, where she taught Fitzmaurice Voicework and Knight-Thompson Speechwork. She also designed and taught the Vocal Production course for Harvard Summer School and Harvard Extension School, and served on the theater faculties of Dean College, Salem State University, and Bunker Hill Community College. She has taught masterclasses for Loyola Marymount, CCM, Boston Conservatory, Harvard University, Broadway Artist\u2019s Alliance, Lyric Stage, and The Moscow Art Theater School. Coaching credits include Intimate Apparel (Brandeis), Witness: Uganda (ART, asst.), The Light Princess (ART), as well as multiple productions with the Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard University and the Harvard-Radcliffe Dramatic Club. A presenter at VASTA and ATHE, Ashleigh\u2019s research focuses on an anti-oppresive vocal pedagogy that centers application, acting to voice connection, and the actor\u2019s lived experience as the fuel for dynamic vocal variety.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prior to her teaching transition, Ashleigh was a professional actor, beginning her career on the National Tour of Roger\u2019s and Hammerstein\u2019s <\/span>STATE FAIR<\/span><\/i>. Other credits include Sacramento Music Circus, Papermill Playhouse, Surflight Theater, Seven Angels Theater, and West Virginia Public Theater. Ashleigh has also originated lead roles in four new musicals, performing at the Producer\u2019s Club, Ars Nova, and The York. In 2020, Ashleigh and her partner started indie-rock band Your Local Dance Hall.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ashleigh is a Certified Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework<\/span>tm<\/span>, a Certified Vocal Combat Technique<\/span>tm<\/span> Trainer, and has completed multiple workshops in Knight-Thompson Speechwork<\/span>tm. <\/span>She has received two Dean\u2019s Commendation Awards from Harvard Extension School, and ten Certificates of Teaching Excellence from the Derek Bok Center at Harvard University. Member, VASTA, ATHE, AEA, Yoga Alliance (E-RYT 200). BFA, Boston Conservatory, MFA, Harvard University\/M.X.A.T., Certificate in Classical Acting, LAMDA.<\/span><\/p>\n

Matt Lupulio – Administrative Director<\/h5>\n

\"\"Matt Lupulio joins us most recently from the Perkins School for the Blind, where he oversaw all activities at the Grousbeck Center for Students & Technology. He brings extensive event planning, supervision of student workers & teaching assistants, crisis support and communication expertise. He is well equipped in supporting young people in identity formation and helping them achieve their goals in art, music and theatre. His event planning has ranged from recreational events and educational opportunities to diversity celebrations. Previous to this most recent position, he was a supervisor in the student residences, where he managed the daily operations, support and resources required for a high school program. He holds a BA in Counseling and a BA in Communications from Emmanuel College.<\/span><\/p>\n

Teaching Faculty<\/h4>\n

Valyn Lyric Turner<\/h5>\n

\"\"Valyn Lyric Turner (she\/her) is an actor, playwright, poet, and educator from Atlanta, Georgia. An alum of Boston University, Valyn is now Boston-based and proud to have performer with the Huntington Theatre, Actors’ Shakespeare Project, New Repertory Theatre, and most recently, Gloucester Stage. Film credits include LIFETIMES’s My Acting Coach Nightmare<\/em> and SONY Pictures’ I Wanna Dance with Somebody<\/em>. Commercially, Valyn has worked with companies such as Hasbro Gaming and Plymouth Rock Assurance. Valyn is proud to be the 2024 Elliot Norton Award winner for Outstanding Featured Performance in a play, Small, for her role of “Beneatha” in A RAISIN IN THE SUN at New Rep. Valyn is also a social justice poet and educational equity advocate in K-12 schools around the country. She is so thrilled to be back for her third summer at BUSTI!<\/p>\n

Charlie Berger<\/h5>\n

\"\"Charlie Berger is an Actor, Director, Comedian, and Writer based in the Boston area. Charlie graduated this May with a BFA from Boston University in Theatre Arts Performance with concentrations in directing and playwriting. Charlie is also an improvisational comedian and is currently training at Improv Asylum. At BU, Charlie explored how to engage with the serious acting training as a comedic actor, constantly looking for new ways to experiment with the pedagogy. Charlie is a strong advocate for new works in theatre. His passions for playwriting and directing have been cultivated in the new works festival at Boston University, in which he developed seven new plays written by his peers, concluding in his senior year by directing in the Booth Theater. Charlie was awarded the Milan Stitt New Works Award for his work as a director of new plays at Boston University.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meredith Eib<\/h5>\n

\"\"Meredith Eib is a voice teacher, singer and musical theater performer based in Washington, DC. As a voice teacher, Meredith is on the musical theater voice faculty of Catholic University\u2019s Rome School of Music Drama and Art in Washington, DC and Temple University\u2019s Boyer College of Music and Dance in Philadelphia, PA.\u00a0 Additionally, Meredith is an Instructor of Voice and Speech for Harvard Summer School.\u00a0 As a performer, Meredith has performed regionally in Boston, Washington DC and NYC- favorite recent musical theatre credits include Kate Monster (<\/span>Avenue Q<\/span><\/i>), Rona Lisa Peretti (<\/span>25th\u2026 Spelling Bee<\/span><\/i>), Audrey (<\/span>Little Shop of Horrors<\/span><\/i>), Miss Honey (<\/span>Matilda<\/span><\/i>), Jo March (<\/span>Little Women<\/span><\/i>), Cinderella (<\/span>Cinderella<\/span><\/i>), and more. In concert, she\u2019s performed as a headliner with the SummerSet DC Concert Series on the National Mall and at venues such as the Library of Congress, Kennedy Center, The Washington Arts Club and more.\u00a0 Meredith holds an MFA in Musical Theatre Vocal Pedagogy from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee.\u00a0 <\/span>www.mereditheib.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Aubrey Elson<\/h5>\n

\"\"Aubrey Elson has been a professional theatre artist for over 15 years. Credits include 2 national tours, over 30 regional musicals\/plays, performances at Madison Square Garden, and on the Wendy Williams Show. She most recently starred in a world premier play, <\/span>Last Night in Inwood<\/span><\/i>, in 2023. With her MFA, Aubrey has taught a multitude of theatre courses at universities across the country. Her training\/teaching include Knight-Thompson, IPA\/Dialects, Fitzmaurice, Linklater, and Rodenburg. She currently adjuncts at Dean College, teaching BFA Voice, Speech, Movement, and Acting courses. She is a member of AEA and IADMS, a 500-hour certified yoga instructor, as well as a choreographer and dialect coach. <\/span><\/p>\n

Yo-El Cassell<\/h5>\n

\"\"Yo-EL Cassell (He, Him, His Series), Head\/Assistant Professor of Movement at BU, is hearing-impaired with an accomplished and extensive movement performance, choreographic, direction, and teaching experience for theatre, dance, opera, and film whose approach lie in his collaborative mission of breaking through the boundaries of access via physical expression. Mr. Cassell\u2019s unconventional teaching and creative approach champions the importance of how each individual\u2019s physical instrument\u2014their body–is the solution to expressing their inner landscape, balancing the essentiality of owning in equal measure: the expressive and informative self within the movement of creativity and life. For more specific insights on Mr. Cassell\u2019s career and approach, please visit <\/span>https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/about\/contact-directions\/directory\/yo-el-cassell\/<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jacob DeSousa<\/h5>\n

\"\"Jacob DeSousa is a theatre technician and educator with a passion for technical design. He has worked previously as a rigging technician installing automation equipment around the country and as a technical designer for PRG Scenic Technologies servicing regional, touring, and Broadway productions. Along with his work as Scene Shop Manager at Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Theatre, Jacob teaches and mentors students in the craft technical theatre with community theatres and schools in the south shore of Massachusetts.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Alex Leondedis<\/h5>\n

\"\"Alex Leondedis (he\/him\/his) is an actor, director, and teaching artist around Boston. Past Acting credits include <\/span>The Antelope Party<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>Lunch Bunch <\/span><\/i>(Apollinaire Theatre); <\/span>Macbeth, Much Ado<\/span><\/i>, and<\/span> Romeo and Juliet<\/span><\/i> (Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare); <\/span>A Wrinkle In Time<\/span><\/i> (Wheelock Family Theatre); <\/span>Midsummer<\/span><\/i> (Boston Theatre Company); and <\/span>Hurry Home: A Collaborative Performance<\/span><\/i> (Samuel-Lancaster Productions). Alex’s Directing work has been seen at Emerging Artists Theatre, TC Squared, and the Boston Theatre Marathon. Alex has worked as a Teaching Artist in programs with Wheelock Family Theatre, The Boch Center, Harvard’s TDM Division, Central Square Theatre, and Kansas City Repertory Theatre. <\/span><\/p>\n

Taylor Stark<\/h5>\n

\"\"Taylor Stark (she\/her) is a creator, teacher, administrator, and theatre maker above all else. As a director, she specializes in boundary-pushing work that reimagines what theatre can look like in the 21st century. Her work has been seen in Detroit, Chicago, Portland, Boston, and New York. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre from Northwestern University and looks forward to completing her MFA in Directing at Boston University next year. She is also the Founder and Artistic Director of Witch Hunt Theatre, a company that specializes in site-specific, immersive, horror theatre.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Gregg Wiggans<\/h5>\n

\"\"Gregg Wiggans |\u00a0 BROADWAY: Assistant Director\/Ockrent Directing Fellow on <\/span>Promises, Promises.<\/span><\/i> Assistant Executive Producer <\/span>How to Succeed In Business… <\/span><\/i>REGIONAL: Boston Playwrights Theater, Opera pa Sk\u00e4ret, StageWEST, Paper Mill Playhouse, Geva Theatre, Arena Stage, Writers Theater of New Jersey, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Roundabout Theater Company, Williamstown Theater Festival, The Lark, The Kennedy Center, The Goodman, Actor\u2019s Salon of D.C., Casa Ma\u00f1ana, Austin Lyric Opera. TELEVISION: Assistant Executive Producer, SMASH (NBC), 2nd Assistant Director, IT COULD BE WORSE (Hulu) and HHI for the HGTV network. Gregg is a two-time National Directors Fellowship Finalist, Lincoln Center Directors Lab member, and graduate University of Texas at Austin.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CURRICULUM Designed to mirror the first year BFA experience within the College of Fine Arts School of Theatre at Boston University, the Institute allows all participants the opportunity to test their interests and abilities in a professional training environment. Students earn 4.0 college credits for their coursework in acting, design, theatre for social change, improvisation, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14125,"featured_media":0,"parent":2375,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"bu-publication":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7327"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14125"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7327"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7327\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":110555,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7327\/revisions\/110555"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2375"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7327"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"bu-publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-publication?post=7327"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}