Curriculum Vitae




Ilene Fins, MFA

EDUCATION

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG)
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Theatre, Emphasis in Acting

Clemson University
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Major: English
Minor: Dramatic Arts

ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS

Effective Teaching Practice Framework (2024)
Association of College and University Educators         

MICHA Teacher Training (2016)

Florida International University

MICHA Summer Training Intensive (2011–13)
Southampton Arts at Stonybrook University                                                                   

Shakespeare in the Present (2011)
Patsy Rodenburg                            

P3 East Suzuki Training Intensive (2008)
University of South Carolina                  

Professor, Theatre, Midlands Technical College Columbia, SC (2015–Present)

  • Created 7 PSA videos on the Best Practices in Undergraduate Education

  • Created in collaboration with English faculty a student arts organization Cola Creative Collective, and a Coffee House Open Mic Night (2020-2022)

  • Humanities Department Faculty Council representative (2021-2023)

  • Distinguished Faculty Award for Student Engagement (2022-2023)

  • Member of MTC Strategic Planning Committee for Delivering Excellent Instruction

  • Initiated public poetry, spoken word performance program

  • Develop and implement community literacy outreach

  • College and Community Service committees

  • Develop and implement Theatre 101 online Hybrid course

  • Courses Taught:

  • Acting Fundamentals I

  • Introduction to Theatre

  • Oral Interpretation

Adjunct Professor, Theatre and Speech, Polk State College Lakeland, FL (2010–2015)     

  • Initiated Performance classes and Stage Reading Series

  • Develop and implement community literacy outreach

  • Develop new curricula for STEM to STEAM in Education program

  • Develop and facilitate Arts Integration programming for area public school

Courses Taught:

  • Acting Fundamentals I and II

  • Theatre Appreciation

  • Oral Interpretation

  • Theatrical Production

  • Theatrical Workshop

Dean of Theatre/Instructor, Harrison School for the Arts Lakeland, FL (2005–2012)       

  • Designed and implemented curricula for grades 9, 11, and 12

  • Mentored student-written 10-Minute Play Festival

  • Mentored Senior Capstone Production

  • Created classical acting/stage combat showcase

  • Directed Main Stage Productions

  • Mentored Student-directed New Student Showcase

  • Developed and supervised parent departmental support

  • Oversaw guest artist contracts, and budgets

  • 2009 grant recipient of Heartland for Children for an anti-bullying tour to local middle schools

  • Created children’s literacy outreach program in partnership with Jr. League

  • 2008 Polk County Teacher of the Year Finalist.

Master Class Instructor, Florida Southern College Lakeland, FL (2010)

  • Created and implemented four-hour stage combat workshop (single-rapier technique)

Instructor/Resident Teaching Artist, Seattle Children’s Theatre Seattle, WA (1993–2009)

  • Designed and implemented curricula for grades 3-12

  • Directed “On Stage” and “Summer Season” performance programs.

  • Developed and implemented curricula for residencies specific to academic standards, teacher, and student needs.

Courses Taught:

  • Beginning Acting

  • Acting from a Script

  • Intermediate Acting

  • Acting for the Camera

  • Original Works

  • Theatre Process

  • Physical Comedy

  • Stage Combat

Resident Teaching Artist, Book-It Repertory Theatre Seattle, WA (2000–05)

  • Developed and implemented curricula for long-term residencies specific to academic standards, teacher, and student needs

  • Developed and implemented techniques for adapting narrative literature.

Master Class Instructor, Shotgun Players Berkeley, CA (2004)

  • Created and implemented four-hour workshop exploring the creation of gestural vocabulary, ranging from naturalistic to abstract, and the possibilities for its integration in the rehearsal process.

Instructor, The Bush School Seattle, WA (2003–04)

  • Taught Middle School theatre classes

  • Directed 6th and 8th Grade Productions

Courses Taught:

  • Commedia dell’Arte

  • Contemporary play analysis

  • Directing

Instructor/Mentor, Arts Impact Clover Park School District, Pierce County, WA (2002–03)

  • Trained K-8 multi-arts specialists to teach theatre arts skills and concepts through Summer Institute Intensive and workshop

  • Mentored multi-arts specialists and classroom teacher teams

  • Assisted in creation of lesson plans, establishing clear and measurable learning criteria, coaching in teaching the arts, and assessment of student work.

Teaching Artist, Seattle Shakespeare Company Seattle, WA (1999–2004)

  • Developed and implemented workshops for schools and libraries

  • Focusing on Shakespeare’s use of violence and demystifying stage violence through teaching combat fundamentals.

Teaching Artist, Seattle Repertory Theatre Seattle, WA (1993–2004)

  • Designed and implemented 5-day residency for Pericles

  • Led students to create original performance based on themes from the play and adapted to their personal experiences

  • Worked as guest teacher in Girl Speak program

  • Taught unarmed stage-combat techniques

Education Director, Theater Schmeater Seattle, WA (1999–2000)

  • Designed and implemented classes for education program

  • Five-week acting class for elementary school students

  • Ten-week performance class creating a performance piece based on movement and original monologues inspired by Diane Arbus photography.

Instructor, Seattle Center Academy Seattle, WA (1997–2004)

  • Co-created and implemented 2-week summer program for middle-school students

  • Acting Shakespeare

  • Character creation with mask, stage combat, and physical comedy

Artist-in-Residence, Arts Arising Consortium Camden, SC (1990–92)

  • Created and implemented basic acting/performance curricula for rural county students.

Education Director, TRUSTUS Theatre Columbia, SC (1989–92)

  • Designed education program for small professional theatre

  • Established an apprentice company

  • Represented theatre at conventions

  • Served in local schools as Artist-in-Residence

Instructor, Benedict College Columbia, SC (1988)

  • Created and implemented public-speaking curricula at historic All-Black college.

Education Co-Director, Flat Rock Playhouse Flat Rock, NC (1987–88)

  • Co-created and implemented creative drama program for summer-stock theatre.

Teaching Assistant, UNCG Greensboro, NC(1986–87)

  • Implemented voice and diction curriculum for undergraduates using Your Voice and Articulation by Glenn/Glenn/Forman, under the mentorship of author Sandra H. Forman.

PRODUCTION

University of South Carolina (2023)

  • Sideway Stories from Wayside School

SCGSAH Spark Tour (2023)

  • The 4th Story

Workshop Theatre (2019)

  • The Realistic Joneses

Trustus Theatre (2017)

  • Barbeque

  • Boy

Columbia Children’s Theatre (2017-Present)

  • Miss Nelson Has a Field Day

  • Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook

  • James and the Giant Peach

Polk State College (2011-2015)

  • The Learned Ladies

  • Brighton Beach Memoirs*

  • Pride and Prejudice

  • Anna in the Tropics

  • Moonlight and Magnolias

  • There Is a Field

·         * denotes FCSAA Superior Award

Theatre Winter Haven (2011, 13, 14, 15)

  • Becky’s New Car

  • Dixie Swim Club

  • The 39 Steps

  • Rabbit Hole

Harrison Arts Center (2006-12)

  • The Children’s Hour

  • As You Like It

  • The Three Musketeers

  • Lear, Inc.

  • Pride and Prejudice

  • Singin’ in the Rain

  • Tartuffe

  • South Pacific

  • The Royal Family

Kitsap Opera (2004)

  • La Traviata

Book-It All Over (2004)

  • Cinderella Stories

  • Baseball Stories

Consolidated Works (2004)

  • Dream of Zeus

ACT Theatre (2004)

  • Geography Club

SCT Summer Season (1994-2005)

  • There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom

  • Captain Blood

  • The Oresteia

  • The Three Musketeers

  • The Comedy of Errors

  • The Betrothed

  • Macbeth

  • The Children’s Crusade

  • The Arkansaw Bear

Steeplechase Productions (2003)

  • Jack & Jill: A Romance

Theatre Babylon (2002)

  • The Lizzie Borden Play: A Speculation

SIS Productions (2002)

  • Sex in Seattle: Episode 5

Theatre Co. No. 3 (2002)

  • Antigone

Theater Schmeater (1991-2000)

  • The Twilight Zone: Live On Stage

Cornish College of the Arts (2004)

  • Flesh and Blood

Shorewood High School (2004)

  • The Music Man


FIGHT DIRECTOR

Harrison Arts Center (2009-12)

  • Peter Pan

  • Camelot

  • Brigadoon

  • The Pirates of Penzance

Everett Community College (2005)

  • Deathtrap

North Seattle Community College (2005)

  • Independence

Kamiak High School (2005)

  • The Pirates of Penzance

Inglewood Junior High (2001-04)

  • Romeo and Juliet

  • The Outsiders

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR


Seattle Children’s Theatre (2003)

  • The Shakespeare Stealer

Seattle Children’s Theatre (2003)

  • The Shakespeare Stealer

Theatre Under the Influence (1995, 2001)                                                                    

  • The Laboratory of Hallucinations

  • The Racket

Insight America Touring Theatre (2001)

  • Speed the Plow

Green Stage (1997)

  • As You Like It

Trustus Theatre (2022-24)                                                                            

  • POTUS (Stephanie)

  • Fairview (Bets)

  • Dance Nation (Maeve)

Instant Shakespeare Co., NYC (2012)                                                                            

  • Othello (Emilia)

ACT Theatre, Seattle (2000)                                                                                                       

  • God of Vengeance (Poor Woman)

Theatre Under the Influence (1995-97)                                                                         

  • Everything in the Garden (Mrs. Toothe)

  • Dr. Gorlitz’s Death Ray (Maritza)

  • The Laboratory of Hallucinations (Maritza)

Stepping Stone Theatre (1998)                                                                                       

  • The Seagull (Arkadina)

Theater Schmeater (1998-99)                                                                                          

  • The Cherry Orchard (Ranevsky)

  • The Madwoman of Chaillot (Countess Aurelia)

Will & Co./Northwest (1995)

  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Theseus, Oberon, Quince)

Brown Bag Theatre (1994)                                                                                               

  • The Taming of the Shrew (Kate)

  • Chicks (Miss Phallon)

Northwest Actors’ Studio (1994)                                                                                    

  • Macbeth (Witch, Murderer)

ArtReach Touring Theatre (1992-93)                                                                             

  • The Time Machine

  • Young Cherokee

  • Trail of Tears

Piccolo Spoleto, Chopstick (1990)

  • Atrocious Wretch’s Ruse (Atrocious)

TRUSTUS Theatre (1988-92)                                                                                          

  • Brilliant Traces

  • Italian American Reconciliation

  • Comrades

  • The Arkansaw Bear

  • The Heidi Chronicles

  • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

  • Talking With

  • Step On a Crack

  • To The Top

  • Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You

  • Mother Hicks

  • A Girl’s Guide to Chaos

  • A Shayna Maidel

  • Vampire Lesbians of Sodom

  • The Adventures of Butthole the Clown

  • The Boys Next Door

  • Last Night at Ace High

  • Isn’t It Romantic

  • Talk Radio

Flat Rock Playhouse (1987)                                                                                             

  • No Time for Sergeants

  • The (New) Odd Couple

Winston Salem Theatre Alliance (1987)                                                                       

  • The House of Blue Leaves (Nun)

SERVICE

Trustus Theatre (2017-Present)

  • Education Committee

Harrison School for the Arts (2005–11)

  • Scholarship Committee

WA State Arts Commission (2009)

  • Teaching Artist Roster Panel

Book-It All Over! (2004–05)

  • Advisory Board

WA State and Regional Thespian Competitions (2002–04)

  • Adjudicator

Habitat for Humanity (2005)

  • Sous-Chef Volunteer

SC Theatre Association (1990-92)

  • Arts in Basic Curriculum Committee

SCTA Community Theatre Festival (1991)

  • Adjudicator

SC Speech Comm. Assoc.-Middle School Drama/Speech Festival (1991-92)

Adjudicator

SCTA High School One Act Competition (1989)

  • Adjudicator

ASSOCIATIONS

Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) 2000–present
Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) 2013–present                                        
International Michael Chekhov Association (MICHA) 2011–present
Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) 1995–present

PRESENTATIONS

Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) Chattanooga (2012), Atlanta (2011)
“Page to Stage: Community Outreach and Touring with High School Performers” Literature adaptation for performance and touring opportunities with a focus on literacy and arts state standards.

TEACHING INTERESTS

Theatre

  • Acting: Michael Chekhov, Uta Hagen, Patsy Rodenburg

  • Directing: Viewpoints

  • Stage Combat

  • Applied Theatre

Education

  • Arts Integration

  • Curriculum Development

  • STEM 2 STEAM

REFERENCES

Stan Brown, Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Professor of Acting, Director of Graduate Studies MFA Acting Program
Northwestern University, School of Communication, Theatre Department   
Contact information upon request

Martha Hearn Kelly, Hand Middle School Theatre Teacher, Program Director, Trustus Theatre Summer Symposium
Contact information upon request

Osubi Craig, M.A.; Director of the Center for Arts, Migration and Entrepreneurship; Gainesville, FL
University of Florida, College of Arts
Contact information upon request

Lisa Jaret, Arts in Education Program Manager
Washington State Arts Commission
Contact information upon request

Dr. Ken Cerniglia, freelance dramaturg and theatre scholar
Broadway Dramaturg, Hadestown, Peter and the Starcatcher
Board Member and Former President, LMDA
Former Dramaturg & Literary Manager,
Disney Theatrical Productions (2003-2019)
Contact information upon request