Faculty & Staff

Faculty and Staff contact information for the Theatre Department.

Faculty

Mark Evans Bryan ’96

Associate Professor

Chair of Theatre

Chair of Dance

bryanm@denison.edu

740-587-6260

James Dennen

Assistant Professor

dennenj@denison.edu

740-587-8505

Cheryl Kennedy McFarren

Associate Professor

The Jonathan R. Reynolds Distinguished Professor of Theatre

mcfarrenc@denison.edu

740-587-8615

Aviva Neff

Assistant Professor

neffa@denison.edu

740-587-8026

Eleni Papaleonardos

Visiting Assistant Professor

papaleonardo@denison.edu

740-587-6525

Braxton Rae

Visiting Assistant Professor/Reynolds Playwright in Residence

braxtonr@denison.edu

Staff

Cristina Dorda Soriano

Academic Administrative Assistant, Music, Theatre, Dance

dordasorianoc@denison.edu

740-587-8043

Kristine Mathews

Program Coordinator, Music, Theatre, Dance

mathewskl@denison.edu

740-587-6712

Emeriti Faculty

Jon Farris

Professor Emeritus

jonfarris60@gmail.com

Cynthia Turnbull

Professor Emerita

turnbull@denison.edu

Eisner Center for the Performing Arts Staff

For staff contact information, please see our Eisner Center Contacts page.

Spotlights

Theatre professor blends virtual reality, AI, and tradition

James Dennen and collaborator Christian Faur will debut 'Like Leaves. Like Carrots.' at the Wexner Center for the Arts.

HERE US showcases original performances by students of color

In its third stage production, HERE US continues to thrive, evolve, and carve out space for passionate performers.

The famous white linen suit Hal Holbrook wore in his one-man Mark Twain show is the centerpiece of a collection of memorabilia the Holbrook estate gifted the university in 2022.

Denison Magazine

It suits him

“When (Hal Holbrook was) getting ready to do the Mark Twain show, Hal told my dad, ‘I need a white suit.’”

The surprising history of Bluegrass music

Visiting professor Heather Grimm ’17 shares an intriguing history of Bluegrass music.

The world premiere of ‘Pearls in the Wave’

‘Pearls in the Wave,’ a new play by Playwright-in-Residence Hongyi Tian ’13, tells the story of a struggling novelist and her nagging mother.

Denison Magazine

Farewell to Hal

Our distinguished alumnus died in January 2021. In 2012, he visited the campus where he met his life's mentor and came to know himself as a learner.

Denison Magazine

Ubiquitous Players

Theatre alumni find community and support during the pandemic.

Temporary Humans

Three Denisonians team up to create an animated series that’s been picked up by Will Arnett.

Denison students on the stage of 'BoJack Horseman'

How We Learn

Bringing BoJack to life

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to adapt award-winning animated series BoJack Horseman to the stage poses some creative challenges.

Where We Go

Summer With Shakespeare

Learning Shakespeare in the land of the Bard of Stratford-on-Avon gave Sarah Wilson ’20 a frame a reference that adds meaning to majors.

Megan Lovely in a production of Sweeny Todd

How We Learn

Building Connections Through Art

Megan Lovely ’19 has built a one-of-a-kind education around her classes, internships, workshops, research and study abroad.

Where We Go

NYC Internship Yields New Connections

Summer internships open doors and possibilities for Denison University students

How We Live

Improv Comedy with a Heart

Denison's Burpee's Seedy Theatrical Company uses a 24-hour marathon to raise funds for hurricane relief.

How We Learn

A New Home for the Performing Arts

As budgets across the country cut corners on the arts, Denison goes all in.

Where We Go

Unplanned success

Playwright Jeffrey Hatcher '80 adapts a modern classic 'Confederacy of Dunces' for the stage.

What's Happening

Student News

The GOATs of greenery control

Big Red spring sports highlights

Unprecedented: Inside Denison’s extraordinary year in sports

Faculty & Staff

Faculty

Mark Evans Bryan ’96

James Dennen

Cheryl Kennedy McFarren

Aviva Neff

Eleni Papaleonardos

Braxton Rae

Staff

Cristina Dorda Soriano

Kristine Mathews

Emeriti Faculty

Jon Farris

Cynthia Turnbull

Eisner Center for the Performing Arts Staff

Spotlights

Theatre professor blends virtual reality, AI, and tradition

HERE US showcases original performances by students of color

It suits him

The surprising history of Bluegrass music

The world premiere of ‘Pearls in the Wave’

Farewell to Hal

Ubiquitous Players

Temporary Humans

Bringing BoJack to life

Summer With Shakespeare

Building Connections Through Art

NYC Internship Yields New Connections

Improv Comedy with a Heart

A New Home for the Performing Arts

Unplanned success

What's Happening

A tribute to Denison’s past and present

Breaking the glass ceiling: ‘9 to 5 the Musical’

One semester, 30 plays