The department of Theatre & Dance offers studies leading to the
Master of Fine Arts degree in Dramatic Art. See the Graduate Program section for detailed
information. Current MFA students are listed below.
Universidad Finis Terrae, B.F.A., TheaterUniversidad Finis Terrae, B.A., Education
Verónica Díaz-Muñíz is a Chilean director, playwright and theater
educator with a background in the area of movement and
testimonial theater. Her work engages with questions of gender
and womanhood, and her creations evolve from a particularly
feminist perspective. She is a founding member of “Toma Teatro”
in which she has served as director and playwright since 2015.
Her research aims to create alternative theatrical spaces and
practices where liminality converges with the political.
B.S., University of California, Davis -- Food ScienceM.S., University of California, Davis -- Food Science
Ann Dragich has tap danced in NYC from 2008-2020. There she is a
member of Cole Collective. She steps in company “Momentum” and
was featured in Rick Owens Spring 2014 Women’s show at Paris
Fashion Week. Ann has presented work in various shows around New
York city including the Emerging Choreographer’s Series curated
by Mare Nostrom Elements, Flamenco Certamen USA and Tony Waag’s
“Somthing’s Afoot,” and venues such as Symphony Space, the Bruno
Walter’s Auditorium at Lincoln Center Performing Arts Library and
La Guardia Performing Arts Center.
University of Central Florida, B.A. Theatre (Stage Management Specialization)
Joseph Fletcher has worked as a director, content creator, stage
manager, producer, and arts administrator for over fifteen years.
He has experience working in NYC, regionally, and
internationally, past companies include Cirque Du Sole’s La
Nouba, The Walnut Street Theatre, the National Tour
of Chicago the Musical, The Signature Theatre, Target
Margin, and Riverside Theatre. A graduate from the
University of Central Florida with a BFA in Theatre, Joseph has
trained with Sojourn Theatre and Double Edge Theatre.
Jennifer Grace received her BA from Kansas State University in
1997. She has been working as a professional actor since, most
notably in a record-shattering run as Emily Webb in Tony
award-winning director David Cromer’s critically acclaimed
production of OUR TOWN, which she performed in Chicago, New York
and Los Angeles, opposite actors such as Michael Shannon, Helen
Hunt and Michael McKean, and for which she was recognized with a
Theatre World Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway debut.
University of Chicago, B.A., General Studies in the Humanities
An actor and dialect coach, Danielle has been seen at a number of
Bay Area companies from Marin Theatre Company, to TheatreWorks,
Shotgun Players to Crowded Fire. Danielle is an Associate Artist
with TheatreFIRST, Symmetry Theatre Company, and PlayGround
SF. Her interests lie in devised performances that communicate by
employing surprising visual elements and unusual use of
language. She is a graduate of the University of Chicago.
Brighton Polytechnic, B.A. Visual and Performance Arts
Barnaby O’Rorke is an interdisciplinary artist working in the
fields of theater, music, and dance for the past 30 years in
Europe. His physical training in dance, improvisation,
somatic practices, yoga and chi kung have informed his work in
music (cello, piano, voice, objects). He has worked for several
dance companies as a dancer and musician, and has developed
innovative solo and collaborative work in his field.
University of California, Davis, B.A. in Dramatic Art and CommunicationSan Francisco State University, M.A., Drama
Janey Pintar is an actor, director, and educator of the theatre
arts with a background in movement including Suzuki. She received
Bachelor of Arts degrees from UC Davis and a Master of Arts
degree from San Francisco State University. Her interests include
the exploration of movement systems and multicultural theatre
practices. Janey worked as a theatre teaching artist for the
Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission through the Kennedy
Center’s Any Given Child Program, and for the Sacramento Theatre
Company.
B.F.A., Cornish College of the Arts -- Theatre with emphasis on Original WorksGraduate, Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, Acting
J.R. Yancher (he/him) is a Canadian/American actor, director,
writer, and producer. In 2017 he co-founded Bike City Theater
Company (BCTC): a Northern California-based nonprofit focused on
bespoke educational theater for young audiences and the
sustainable development of original works. Yancher’s theaters of
employ have included Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Victory
Gardens, Pacific Conservatory Theater, Sacramento Ballet, Capital
Stage, Seattle Immersive Theater, Ten Chimneys, Catalyst: A
Theatre Think Tank, and Davis Shakespeare Festival, amongst
others.
