Lesley-Ann Timlick (Chairperson, Acting, Voice, and Movement) earned her M.F.A. in Acting from the University of California Davis, and completed her post-graduate study in Theatre Voice Coaching at the National Theatre Conservatory and is a certified Feldenkreis Practitioner. She has studied with top voice specialists such as Bonnie Raphael, Patsy Rodenburg, Arthur Lessac, Cicely Berry, Kristin Linklater, Andrew Wade and Katherine Fitzmaurice. She has presented workshops on her unique approach to physical and vocal training at regional and national conferences. She has coached for such companies as Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Florida Shakespeare, Denver Center Theatre Company and the American Repertory Theatre. She has won several awards for teaching.
Email: timlickl@fiu.edu

 

Phillip M. Church (Head of Performance, Acting) received his M.F.A. from the University of California at Irvine and is a graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA). He is the Head of the Performance program within the Department of Theatre and has worked with many distinguished actors, including Constance Cummings, Cecily Courtnedge, Jack Hulbert, Paul Massey, Barbara Jefford and Robert Morley. As a professional Equity actor he has appeared in several South Florida Theatres, most notably at Coconut Grove Playhouse, New Theatre, GableStage and the South Florida Shakespeare Theatre. In 1996, Mr. Church teamed up with FIU alum Danny Pino (now the star of the CBS detective series Cold Case), and produced a feature-length AIDS prevention film entitled Conditions of Secrecy. Besides directing numerous plays and musicals at FIU, his latest film Loners Not Losers explores the issues of loneliness and alienation on college campuses and is in response to the Virginia Tech tragedy. His most recent project was a production of Carly Simon's opera ,Romulus Hunt at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts.
Email: churchp@fiu.edu

Marilyn R. Skow (Head of Design, Production Manager, Costume Design, Theatre History) received B. A. degrees in English, Speech and Education from University of Northern Iowa, an M. A. in Theatre Arts from Schiller College in Berlin, Germany, and an MPh from Columbia University.  Prior to coming to FIU in 1982, she worked as a designer in NYC (New York Baroque Dance Company, Omega Dance Company, etc.) and as a draper in the New York Shakespeare Festival costume shop, working on such shows as
A Chorus Line, Shakespeare in the Park productions and ballet costumes for the Eliot Feld Ballet Company.  She also taught at Barnard College, the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia College.  Prior to her living in New York, she was the resident costume designer and costumer at Vassar College for five years.  In Miami she has designed numerous pieces for Momentum Dance Company.  Her costumes for the South Florida Shakespeare Festival Company's rotating productions of Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead received a Carbonell nomination.  She is also a certified makeup artist. 
Email: skowm@fiu.edu

 

Wayne E. Robinson, Jr. (Acting, Theatre Movement) is a graduate of Phillips Academy (Andover), Northwestern University, The National Theatre Conservatory and American Conservatory Theatre (STC).  After many years as an actor and director, he joined the theatre faculty at Florida International University where he is currently an Associate Professor.  His theatre career, which includes acting or directing in more than 60 productions, has taken him to Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and now Miami.  At FIU, he has directed Eleemosynary, The Rose Tattoo, All in the Timing, Talking With  . . . , Sylvia, 5th of July, The House of Blue Leaves, Glengarry Glen Ross, The Hot L Baltimore, As You Like It, Balm in Gilead, Anna in the Tropics, Electricidad and the musicals Company, Gypsy and Hair.  In South Florida, professional projects include directing Line, All in the Timing and Frag, as well as acting in Betrayal,
Talley's Folly, King Lear, Never the Sinner, The House of Seven Gables, Electra, Wit, The Weir, Hamlet, Othello, and Twelfth Night.
Email: robinson@fiu.edu

Jesse Dreikosen (Scenic Design) received his M.F.A.in scene design from Purdue University and a BFA in theatre design from Viterbo University.  Prior to joining the faculty at FIU, he worked as the resident set designer for three seasons at New Theatre.  Favorite shows at New Theatre include Madagascar (Carbonell nomination), Paradise, and The Sunken Living Room, which was remounted at Southern Repertory Theatre in New Orleans.  He continues to work with New Theatre on both regional and world premiere productions.  He has also designed for The Texas Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, The Mint Theater, Texas Repertory Theatre, The Red Fern Theatre, The Ohio Theater, The Renaissance Theatre and assistant designed at Indiana Repertory Theatre.  His work was exhibited at the 2007 Prague Quadrennial in the Czech Republic. He has received regional and national awards for his designs.
Email: jdreikos@fiu.edu

Celso Peruyera  (Technical Director) recently received his BA from the University of Miami in Design. Celso’s theatrical credits include working as a carpenter at Coconut Grove Playhouse and Florida Grand Opera as well as working for nine years as a Technical Director of special effects for two professional magicians. His other credits include filming documentaries abroad and running his own production company. 
Email: peruyera@fiu.edu

Michael Yawney (Directing, Playwriting, Theatre History) is a Miami-based playwright/director. He has an M.F.A. from Columbia University and a B.F.A. from the Experimental Theater Wing of New York University.  His play
1,000 Homosexuals will debut in November 2008 at the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.  He was a playwright in residence at New York Stage and Film/Vassar Powerhouse in 2006 and his production Three Angels Dancing on a Needle was named the Best Theatrical Production of 2007 by Miami New Times  as well as Best Foreign Language Production at the Brooklyn Brick Theater’s Pretentious Festival.  Mr. Yawney's writing has appeared in Theater Week, Out Traveler, Propaganda, and OFF.  He was Artistic Director of New York’s Bad Neighbors Theater and founding member  of the Genesius Guild.  Mr. Yawney taught workshops at Columbia University, the Minskoff Studios and The South Florida Theater League.
Email: michael.yawney@fiu.edu

Geordan Gottlieb (Assistant Technical Director) majored in Technical Theater at Florida State University, then moved to New York City. There Geordan was the resident Technical Director  for TADA! Children’s Theater and Manhattan Class Company. Notable productions include The Grey Zone (OBIE and Lucille Lortel Award) and Nixon’s Nixon. Later  his company, Vision Scenic Studio, supported clientele including MTV, Nike, Parker Brothers, and over 40 off-Broadway and local theaters. Since returning to Miami in 1998, Geordan served as Shop Foreman, then as TD at  Coconut Grove Playhouse. His sixty plus productions there included the pre-Broadway openings of I’m Not Rappaport, Urban Cowboy and Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks. Geordan is currently in his 7^th season as TD for New Theatre.
Email: gottleibg@fiu.edu

Marina Pareja (Costumer) is a native of Peru. She  has worked on the field of theatre and film costuming  for many years. After completing her A.A.in fashion design, she received her B.F.A . in Costume Design at Florida International University, then served as Costumer and Designer for FIU Theatre, while working professionally for New Theatre, South Miami Elementary School and the Mount Holyoke Summer Theatre. She has designed such shows as Gypsy, The Mystery of Irma Vep, Pygmalion and Marat/Sade.  Marina completed her M.F.A . at Queen Margaret University College in Edinburgh. Prior to returning to Miami in 2004, she worked in Peru as the costume production supervisor for the Documentary, The Lord of Sipan. 
Email: parejam@fiu.edu 

Marianna Murray (Administration) worked at Bellsouth for 18 years as an Administrative Assistant before joining the Department of Theatre at Florida International University.  As an integral component of the operations at the Department of Theatre for the past 12 years,  Marianna extends herself above and beyond her scope of duties to wear many hats; from Box Office Manager, to Photographer,  to Budget Coordinator.  Marianna is the first point of contact for new students and employees in the orientation process at the
Department of Theatre.
Email: murraym@fiu.edu

Laverne Cuzzocrea (Marketing Coordinator) joined the Department of Theatre at Florida International University in August 2007. Laverne received her  B.F.A. in Theatre from FIU and has an extensive background in Multi-National Marketing; specializing in outreach to South America and Africa.  Laverne has been developing new means of raising the profile and communicating the value of FIU Theatre in the South Florida area and beyond.
Email: cuzzocre@fiu.edu