Master of Theatre Studies Faculty/Staff
MoTS program faculty include nationally and internationally-known artists, including design and technical faculty from the Oregon Center for the Arts at SOU Theatre Program and professionals from the renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Kim Andresen
MoTs Marketing
BA English, Pacific University
Kim Andresen has over 30 years of experience in marketing, fundraising, writing, and special event coordination. She has worked in higher education, tech corporations, and non-profit organizations. She is also an entrepreneur and business owner, and has served in a variety of capacities at Pacific University, The Oregon Graduate Institute of Science & Technology (now part of OHSU), WebArtists.biz, Livestock of the World, Inc., The Andresen Group, Global Grange, Inc., Southern Oregon University, Special Olympics Oregon, and a variety of other companies across Oregon.
Office: Britt 174
Phone: 541.552.6348
E-Mail: andresenk@sou.edu
Kimberly Carbone
Graduate Program Sound Design
MFA, North Carolina School of Arts; BFA, Southern Oregon University
Kim Carbone is an Oregon native. She became a sound engineer in high school and attended SOU to pursue her Theatre Arts degree. Kim then attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where she obtained her Master of Fine Arts degree in Sound Design. Opportunities to make sound have taken Kim across the country and around the world. Some favorites include; The Denver Center, The Weston Playhouse, Cagney the Musical (NYC), Voca People (NYC, Costa Rica, Colombia, Dubai) and 50 Shades: The Musical Parody! (NYC).
Office: THTR 123
Phone: 541.552.6346
E-Mail: carbonek@sou.edu
Jane Hickinbotham
Instructor – Scenic Build Instruction
Originally from Wisconsin, Jane graduated with a B.F.A. in Technical Theatre from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. Her career started at several regional theatres, where she worked as prop master, carpenter and assistant technical director. She moved to Ashland where she worked for 7 years at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as a carpenter, followed by six years as the technical director at Ashland High School. Currently, Jane is the Staff Technical Manager at Southern Oregon University where she helps teach students safe techniques in building scenery and takes care of the shop and the building in general and supports the faculty.
Craig Jessen
MFA, University of California Los Angeles; BFA, Southern Oregon University
Craig Jessen is a playwright, director, and filmmaker. His produced plays include PYLON, BABEL BELLY (winner of the 2010 Tim Robbins playwriting award), MIDNIGHT REQUISITION, INTO THE BAT CAVE, ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, THE END OF SEX, and GHOSTLY (winner of the Chameleon Theater’s 2020 New Play award). In Los Angeles he served as interim artistic director for The Attic Theater and resident director at The Lyric Theatre. For the Rogue Valley Symphony he directed AMERICA’S JOURNEY and wrote the libretto for A LOVE LETTER TO SHAKESPEARE. Craig has written and directed two feature films: A PROMISE OF TIME TRAVEL and BEYOND METHUSELAH, and served as cinematographer, producer and supporting actor for CONFESSIONS OF A ROMANCE NARRATOR. craigjessen.com.
Annette Julien
Instructor – Props Workshops
Annette Julien has been a props artisan for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival since 1994. Before that, she worked for the Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, the Seattle Opera and Dillon Works and was the prop master on an Ashland movie. Annette teaches high school seminars where the students do hands-on projects and learn about production in theatre. She is a guest speaker for local Elderhostel programs. As a props artisan, her skills include welding, upholstery, sculpting, casting, and building custom furniture. Annette graduated from the Art Institute of Seattle.
Brian Redfern
Graduate Program Scenic Design
MFA, San Diego State University; MoTS, Southern Oregon University
Brian Redfern has designed the scenery for more than 100 theatrical productions for a variety of companies including The Old Globe, San Diego Rep, Capital Stage, Cygnet Theatre, Summer Rep Theatre Festival, Oregon Cabaret Theatre, Sierra Rep, and several others. He has taught design in both secondary and university settings including: California State University, Chico, Point Loma Nazarene University and currently North Central College just outside of Chicago, IL. Brian has been awarded a San Diego Theatre Critics Circle award for outstanding scenic design and a University Resident Theatre Association award for excellence in undergraduate training. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Scenic Design from San Diego State University and a Master of Theatre Studies from Southern Oregon University. Brian is a proud member of United Scenic Artists USA Local 829. www.brianredferndesign.com
Office: THTR 130
Phone: 541.552.6346
E-Mail: redfernb@sou.edu
Deborah Rosenberg
MoTS Program Coordinator; Graduate Program Costume Design; MFA, Costume Design, North Carolina School of the Arts; BA, Anthropology, Trent University
MFA, Costume Design, North Carolina School of the Arts; BA, Anthropology, Trent University
Deborah Rosenberg came to SOU from New York where she worked as faculty costume designer and costume shop supervisor at Ithaca College and SUNY: Brockport, as well as guest draper at Cornell University and resident costume designer at Niagara University. Professional design credits include The Alley Theatre, Player’s Theatre Columbus, The Berkshire Theatre Festival, Shakespeare and Co., and theatres internationally. She holds a B.A. in anthropology from Trent University in Ontario and an M.F.A. in costume design from The North Carolina School of the Arts.
Office: THTR 126
Phone: 541.552.6690
E-Mail: rosenbergd@sou.edu
Jonathan Spencer
Graduate Program Lighting Design
MFA, Ohio University; BFA, Southern Oregon University
New York City and Colorado based Lighting and Scenic designer working principally on Broadway, Touring, Regional, and Off-Broadway productions. Designs include the current RENT – 20th Anniversary National Tour, Priscilla Queen of the Desert First National Tour, Who’s Holiday – Off-Broadway at the West Side Theatre, Grace Notes: Reflections for Now the John F Kennedy Center, Yale Repertory, and Spoleto Festival USA, and You Are Mine Own Directed by Atom Egoyan. Professor of lighting design at the University of Colorado Boulder and the Southern Oregon University summer Masters of Theatre Studies program. Member United Scenic Artists 829. Visit jspencerdesign.com
Office: THTR 130
Phone: 541.552.6346
E-Mail: spencerjo@sou.edu
Emily Peña Thornber
MoTS Administrative Program Assistant
Emily spent 11 years as an English and theatre teacher in the Bay Area in California, and graduated from the MoTS program in 2019. After moving with her family to Ashland, she was excited to join the MoTS program as office support to help current and future students thrive as theatre educators.
Emeritus
Chris Sackett, Founder
Bill Bloodgood, Scenic Design
Helen Eckard, MoTs/Theatre Staff
Contact the Theatre Program
SOU Theatre Program
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
541.552.6690
Contact Deborah Rosenberg at mots@sou.edu
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