Shelley M. Russell, Ph.D.
Contact Information:
215 TFA, Northern Michigan University
Marquette, MI 49855
srussell@nmu.edu
(906) 227-1657 or (906) 360-5253
UNIVERSITY THEATRE TEACHING EXPERIENCE
27 years, Northern Michigan University (1983 – the present)
Ashland University, Ashland, OH (Summer, 2003)
Florida State University, 1981 – 1983 (Graduate Teaching Assistant)
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, 1979 – 1981 (Graduate Teaching Assistant)
Specialty Areas:
Directing for the Stage
Acting (Acting I, Acting II, Advanced Acting, Acting Shakespeare)
Voice and Diction for the Stage, Advanced Stage Dialects
Stage Combat (Historic Weaponry and Unarmed)
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING BACKGROUND
Ph.D. Florida State University, Performance Theory
Dissertation: A Phenomenological Approach to Acting and Performance
M.A. Miami University of Ohio, Theatre Directing and Dramatic Criticism
Alley Theatre, Houston, TX – Equity Apprenticeship and Training Program, 1973 - 1974
Thesis: Waiting for Godot: Translating Camus’ Absurd Man into Performance Process
B.A. Otterbein College, Ohio, Theatre Performance and Fine Arts
PLAYWRITING
Pendragon, 2005. Production at Forest Roberts Theatre
Four school matinee performances – Presented to Marquette Senior High School,
Bothwell Middle School and Graeveret Intermediate School
Links, 2004
Staged public reading, NMU/ MC 105, December, 2004
Superior Heroes, (Co-written). Produced Lake Superior Theatre, 2002
Full-length Historical musical review on U.P. statesmen and writers
Points North, 2001 (Faculty Grant Project)
Lake Superior Theatre, Summer, 2001
Excerpts with Combat Workshop, Fall, 2001
Encore production, Summer, 2002
Holdin’ Our Own, 2000
Script commissioned by Michigan Iron Industry and Marquette Maritime Museum
Produced by Forest Roberts Theatre, October, 2000
Dracula, 1999
Forest Roberts Theatre, October, 1999
Stage adaptation from novel by Bram Stoker
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Beacon on the Rock, 1999, Produced by Lake Superior Theatre from 1999 – 2008
Production sponsored by Marquette Historical Council and various business
and arts organizations in Marquette.
Jule, 1996
Jane A. Chambers National Playwriting Award, 1996, 5th Place
Haywire, 1995 (Most recent production, 2004 – Gwinn High School)
National Winner, American College Theatre Festival
One of Five productions selected from over 900 productions (national)
to perform in the Kennedy Center, Washington, DC, April, 1995
Award of Merit, State of Michigan, 1995
Tour, Lansing Historical Museum, 1996
Gathering on the Threshing Floor, 1989 – Historical Review on Women’s Issues
Middle and Secondary School Tour, 1990
Produced at Forest Roberts Theatre, Summer, 1989
Furies, 1983, Staged Reading, Florida State University
DIRECTING - Over 60 University and Professional Productions, including:
Musicals, including:
Rent/ 2010, Cinderella (2009), The Scarlet Pimpernel, Guys on Ice, Summer/ 2009
for Lake Superior Theatre, Beacon on the Rock, Summer, 2008, West Side Story,
My Fair Lady
Contemporary, including:
Anatomy of a Murder (2009), A Rembrandt’s Eyes, The Elephant Man,
Warrior, Biloxi Blues, Franz and Dora, Picnic
Classical, including:
Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Hamlet, The Bacchae, Cyrano de Bergerac
STAGE COMBAT CHOREOGRAPHY- Over 30 Productions
Unarmed – Historic and contemporary
Rapier, Case of Rapiers, Rapier and Dagger (Fundamentals – Intermediate level)
Broadsword
DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY - 20 Productions, including
Cinderella, 2009
Beacon on the Rock, 2008
ACTING - Over 40 Productions including the following:
Titania, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2008, Lake Superior Theatre
MacNaughton, Points North, 2001 – 2002
Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Staged Reading), 2003
Desiree in A Little Night Music, Lead player in Pippin
Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire
COSTUME DESIGN - Over 30 University productions, including:
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The Mousetrap, 2010, The Full Monty, 2008, Warrior, 2007, Hello Dolly, 2007,
Closer Than Ever, 2006, Chorus Line, Godspell, Beast, 1994, Madwoman of Chaillot
Artists’ renderings and Costume/ character photos available upon request.
Costume plots available upon request.
FILM/ VIDEO
Northern Notebook, Co-Host, 5 yrs.
Various Local Commercials including:
The Window Store, 2005 and 2008
Matthews Floor Fashions, 2007
Somar Media, for Pride Printing, 2006
WLUC-TV, Voiceover for Marquette Golf Club
Superior Video, for Shwick Plumbing, 2005
Videographer, Editor, Forest Roberts Theatre, 1986 to 1994
Videographer, Video director, Lake Superior Theatre, 1999 to the present
Regional Commercials, Sun Studios, L.A.
HONORS AND AWARDS
NMU Distinguished Team Award for 2010, Olympic Trials and World Cup Organizing
Committee, Opening and Awards Committee Chair
Michigan Humanities Council Adjudication, 2006- 2007
Great Lakes Community Arts Award (with Lake Superior Theatre), 2001
Touring Program Adjudicator, Michigan Humanities Council, 2000
National Endowment for the Arts, Director’s Challenge Award (w. Lake Superior Theatre), 2000
Northern Michigan Performing Artist of the Year, 2000
Peter White Scholar, 1999
Award of Merit, Michigan State Historical Society, 1999
Michigan Humanities Council Grant, 1999
Jane A. Chambers National Playwriting Award, 1996, 5th Place
National Winner, Kennedy Center/ ACTF for Haywire, 1995
Performed in the Kennedy Center, April, 1995
Regional Winner, Region VII, Kennedy Center/ ACTF for Haywire, 1995
Region includes MI, WI, OH, IN, IL
Performed at Weidner Center, Green Bay, WI
Special Award of Merit for Excellence in Playwriting/ Musical Composition,
Kennedy Center/ ACTF, Region VII, 1995
Award of Merit, State of Michigan, 1995 for Haywire
Special Merit Award for Excellence in Costume Design, ACTF, Region VII,
For Beast, 1999
Special Award of Merit for Directing, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris,
Kennedy Center/ ACTF, Region VII, Performed at Weidner Center, Green Bay, 1984
CONFERENCE PRESENTATION
Southeastern Theatre Conference, “Acting and Performance,” and multiple workshops
On auditioning, acting styles, character in performance, 1982 - 1997,
Association of Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE), “Auditions for Musical Theatre,”
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And “Professional Acting Careers,” 1986 and 1987
Beckett Symposium, “Waiting for Godot and Camus’ Absurd Man,” 1982
PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS
Online Teaching, NMU, 2010
Michigan Association of Community Arts Agencies Conference, April, 2001
NEH Challenge Grant Program Workshop, Washington, DC, 2001
UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Olympic Trials and World Cup Committee, Opening and Awards Committee Chair, 2009
Faculty Grants Committee, 2007 – 2008 and 2009 – 2011
NMU Figure Skating Team, Faculty Advisor 2008 – 09
MFSC Volunteer, 1999 – 2010
Vice President, Marquette Figure Skating Club Board, 2004 - 2005
Westwood High School Shakespeare Workshop and lectures, 2004
Marquette-Alger Young Authors Program, Presenter, 2001 – 2004
Marquette Junior Golf Association, Volunteer, 2002 - 2005
Presentation, Historical Society of Marquette, Research on Historical Plays, April/ 2003
Editor and Acting Consultant, McClintock/ Darter-Dace diorama for Marquette Maritime
Museum, 2002
Career Day, Marquette Senior High School, 2002 -04
First Nighter's Club Member, 1983 – 2008
Upper Peninsula Tourism Council, Presentation, May, 2001
MAPS District’s Professional Development Conference, 2001
“Connections” Recruitment Video, 2000
NMU Recognition Dinner and Retirees Luncheon talent (FRT Musicals, 1983 - 2010)
Northern Notebook Co-host, 1994 - 1998
Lake Superior Theatre, Regional Theatre dedicated to regional history, arts and artists
H.S. Workshops on non-violence through creative and controlled historical swordplay
High School Work shop on Monologues and Theatre Professions.
Performed staged reading, Dear Mrs. Martin, for Iron Mountain GFWC, 1997
Presentation to Marquette Historical Museum, 1995
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