Staff

Full Time Faculty

Lyn Dutson, Director of Theatre

The Director of Theatre at Mesa Community College since 1980, Ms. Dutson has been an Instructor in the Speech Communication and Theatre Arts Department since 1969. She received her BA in Liberal Arts and MA in Drama from Arizona State University in 1967. Ms. Dutson was named Outstanding Teacher of the Year (1991/1992) at Mesa Community College and received a Service Award in 1997, also from Mesa Community College. She received the Arizona Theatre Alliance Award of Excellence in the Category of Educator and Educational Program in 2000. In addition to the classes she teaches, Ms. Dutson is the producer of the Theatre Season for the Theatre Arts Department in the Theatre Outback and is the costumer for the Department

Kara Thomson, ADG, ATAS, Technical Theatre Faculty

Faculty Designer for Mesa Community College Ms. Thomson has designed for The Nebraska Repertory Theatre, The Illinois Shakespeare Festival, 24th Street Theatre of Los Angles, Dolly Parton, and the television networks ABC, NBC, and CBS. She has received Emmy nominations for her work on General Hospital and an emmy nomination for Days of Our Lives. She holds an M.F.A. from the University of Nebraska and a B.F.A. from Arizona State University. She is a member of the Art Directors Guild, IATSE Local 800, and a voting member of The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Ms. Thomson received a 2004 Zoni Award for Set Design for The Lion in Winter.

Kevin Dressler, Theatre Faculty
Kevin graduated with a double major in Psychology and Communications and Theatre Arts from the University of Puet Sound in 1979. He was awarded a Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting/Directing from Utah State University in 1983. He co-founded the professional classical theatre company, Arizona Shakespeare Festival in 1991. In 1994, Arizona Shakespeare Festival evolved into Southwest Shakespeare Company (SCC), which has been a mainstay in Valley professional theatre ever since. Kevin won a "Best Production" AriZoni Award in the Contracted Theatre category in 1994 for Romeo and Juliet, which he directed. In 2001, Kevin earned an additional Master of Arts in Human Resources Counseling from Ottawa University. He is a member of the Actors' Equity Association. Kevin is full time Theatre Performance Faculty at mesa Community College's Department of Theatre Arts and Film.

Jon Valpey, Coordinator of Fine Arts

Mr. Valpey has been at MCC since 1978, having also designed for community, commercial, industrial, and professional groups. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Technical Theatre from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre Design from Arizona State University. Jon also has taught technical theatre classes and supervises student construction crews for productions. He is active with local community and college planning committees, and is currently a member of the design committee for the soon to be opened Mesa Arts & Entertainment Center.

Troy Buckey, Coordinator of Technical Theatre

Mr. Buckey received a BA in Theatre with an emphasis in Lighting design from San Diego State University. His lighting designs have been seen in various theatres in the valley Lost in Yonkers for the Arizona Jewish Theatre Company and has many notable designs such as A New Brain, Blood Relations, Carmina and The Crucible to name a few. He received the Helen Bychinsky Award for Artist of Promise and was the regional design winner at the American College Theatre Festival for Blood Relations and The Crucible. He received the Northern California Section United State Institute for Theatre Technology Design Merit in a Festival Performance for Blood Relations. He has also received an AriZoni nomination for MCC's production of Into the Woods. Mr. Buckey received 2003 Zoni for Stage Lighting ?or Three Tall Women and 2004 Zoni Awards for Secret Garden.

Brian Daily, Theatre Technician

A Master Carpenter and set designer, Mr. Daily is originally from Wayne, New Jersey and a graduate of West Virginia University with a B.F.A. in Theatre Design/Technology. He has worked as a Technical Director and Artisan for such companies as The West Virginia Public Theatre, The American Theatre of Actors and the Jean Cocteau Repertory Theatre in New York City. His design work at MCC includes Three Tall Women, Wait Until Dark, and The Musical Comedy Murders of the 1940's (received a 2004 Zoni for this production).

PROFESSOR EMERITUS

Charles K. Evans

Stanford (Sandy) Elias

DIRECTORS- adjunct Faculty

Gary Stephens

Gary Stephens recently had his production of The Musical Comedy Murders of the 1940's receive a 2004 Zoni for Over All Production.?

Bev Byrd

Linda Thorp

Professional Staff

Marissa Estrada, Theatre Assistant/Box Office Coordinator

Ms. Estrada has worked for the Theatre Department since the late 1990's. She began working while attending MCC and is now continuing her education at ASU. While working as the Box Office Supervisor, Ms. Estrada has assisted with the event planning for numerous productions and Stagedoor Players events.

Ms. Estrada is the Box Office Coordinator for Dance, Music and Theatre events in the Theatre Outback.

Billie F. Harris, Carpenter/Scene shop assistant


Laura Johnson, Scenic Artist

 

 

Please contact Lyn Dutson for comments or corrections email phone: 480-461-7165