Performing Arts Faculty/Staff

Senior Lecturer/Curriculum Coordinator
emtnpa@rit.edu
LBJ-1774
585-475-7048

Erin Auble has been a fine artist since the day she picked up a crayon, and has been exploring photography since she could hold the camera in her own two hands. She graduated from Emerson College in 2005 with a bachelors degree in Design/Technology for Theatre. Erin then joined the team in the Department of Cultural and Creative Studies in 2006 as an educator and resident set designer for the Performing Arts Program. In 2010, she earned her masters degree here at RIT in Art Education. Erin’s hobbies include photography, drawing, and painting; all of which she brings to the classroom and to the productions here at NTID. At any given time you will find her creating, curled up with a good book, off in search of photo-ops, or just enjoying the world around her.

Coordinator - Sunshine 2.0
fmbnpa@rit.edu

Fred Michael Beam is the outreach coordinator for Sunshine 2.0. He is an experienced performer with acting credits that include Nicholas in “By the Music of the Spheres” at the Goodman Theater, Harry in “Harry the Dirty Dog” at the Bethesda Academy of Performing Arts; Witness in “Miracle Workers” and Stranger in “Mad Dancer” at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.; “Fall Out Shelter,” “The Dirt Maker” and “The Underachiever” at the Kennedy Center; the title character in “Othello” at Gallaudet University; and Steve in “A Streetcar Named Desire” at Sign­Rise Cultural Arts in Washington, D.C. He also performs in his one-man shows, “Fred Michael Beam: Sign Me a Story” and “Black, Deaf Male: Who Am I?,” which toured nationwide. He was a member of “I Didn't Hear That Color,” the first black deaf play ever produced. His television and film credits include “If You Could Hear My Own Tune,” “The West Wing,” “Secret Dream,” “Little Lonely Monster,” “Deaf Mosaic” and “The New Captain Kangaroo,” for which he won the 2000 Media Access Award.

A dancer, director and choreographer, Beam has worked with the Gallaudet Dance Company, the National Deaf Dance Theatre, the DuPont Dance Company, the Penn Vision Dance Company and the Bethesda Academy of Performing Arts. He has performed around the globe, including in Africa, Australia, Egypt, England, France, Jamaica, Japan, Sweden, South America and the Virgin Islands. He also was choreographer for the production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Open Circle Theater in Washington, D.C.

He is executive director of In­visible Hands, Inc., which promotes deaf awareness through performing arts and was a founding member of The Wild Zappers, an all deaf male dance company. He also established Theater Arts Leadership Training for Deaf People of Color at Gallaudet University. Beam established the Black Deaf Expo and has hosted it since 2003, providing the Deaf Black Community the opportunity to stand proud, displaying their culture.

Beam also was a board member of Quest for Arts, Inc., the Governor's Ad­visory Committee on Careers in the Arts for People with Disabilities in Maryland and a former president of District of Columbia Black Deaf Advocates. For his outstanding work with the deaf community, Beam was chosen one of “Essence Magazine’s” Real Men of the Year, and has been “DEAF LIFE” magazine’s Deaf Person of the Month.

Theatre & Tour Manager, Sunshine 2.0
jwfnpa@rit.edu
LBJ-1849
585-475-4219 (Office)
585-283-2630 (Videophone)

Joseph Fox is a Georgia native. He is the Theatre and Tour Manager for the Performing Arts Program. He earned his Associate degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Arts Imaging Studies and a certificate in NTID Performing Arts. He is thrilled to be part of Performing Arts team. He has been involved in so many productions since 2003 (acting, dancing, backstage crew, stage management, actor liaison, and directing.) His first directing was “How Did the Grinch Stole Christmas” in 2004 for Margaret’s House. He has been a member of Masquers Drama Club (MDC) since 2002.  His duties are publicity and designing publicity materials. He manages Panara Theatre and 1510 Lab Theatre.

Instructional/Support Faculty
srgnpa@rit.edu
LBJ-1755
585-475-6250

Sacha is delighted to be joining the Department of Cultural and Creative Studies here at RIT/NTID. She has always had a love for art and technology, and followed those passions by studying Theatrical Design and Production at Boston University. She has worked at a number of theatres in Boston, MA, including the Huntington Theatre Company and New Repertory Theatre. She has also spent time working abroad in Sydney, Australia. In her free time she can be found pursuing any number of her hobbies: traveling, biking, and photography to name a few.

Stagecraft Manager/Shop Foreman
jrhnpa@rit.edu
LBJ-1776
585-475-6248
585-286-4589 (Videophone)

Joe Hamilton, in his 24th year at RIT/NTID, serves as the Scene Shop Foreman and Stagecraft Manager and has built over 130 productions, with a particular focus on special effects and stage construction. Some of his favorite works include the Pulitzer Prize winning production of Windows of the Soul, the OOBR award winning New York City production of Emperor Jones, Peter Pan, The Wonderful World of Oz, Frankenstein, Dracula, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Guys and Dolls, and Little Women. Mr. Hamilton has often been asked to advise, on a national level, abut deaf people and the technical world of theatre. He teaches both deaf and hearing students core concepts and soft skills related to backstage craftsmanship, from building sets to special lighting and computer technology. Mr. Hamilton takes pride in giving students a place to use their various skills and imagination to build a world on stage. He has also presented at USITT concerning the use of visual approaches in technical theatre. Awards credited to Mr. Hamilton include the RIT Humanitarian Award, and several nominations for various university awards.

Assistant Professor
awhgla@rit.edu
LBJ-1837
585-475-4159

Andy Head is an Assistant Professor working with both RIT & NTID Performing Arts. Since joining RIT/NTID, he has directed "Love’s Fire: Seven Plays Inspired by Seven Shakespearean Sonnets" (2016), an adapted version of "Peer Gynt" with the RIT Orchestra (2017), "Stupid F*cking Bird" (2018), "Cabaret" (2018), "I and You" (2019), “She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms” (2021) and “Angels in America: Millennium Approaches” (2021). Both "I and You" and “Angels in America” were selected to perform at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for Region 2. “I and You” won a 2020 Outstanding Ensemble Production award from the KCACTF National Committee. “Angels in America” won a 2022 Kennedy Center Citizen Artist Award from KCACTF National Committee, among others. The award “recognizes programs in higher education using theatrical production to promote long-term societal impact through an artistic lens, to encourage empathetic exploration of the complex cultural and physical world, and to advocate for justice on campus and throughout the world.”

Andy completed his graduate studies in Acting at Michigan State University. He has acted professionally with the Michigan Shakespeare Festival, New Harmony Theatre, Summer Circle Theatre, and the Williamston Theatre. Locally he's appeared in the Rochester Fringe Festival, at the Wallbyrd Theatre Company, and with Blackfriars Theatre.

Andy has carried theatre outreach work to Ghana, where he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer for two years and created educational theatre pieces with members of his community. Before joining the RIT faculty, Andy taught for the Performing Arts Department at the University of Southern Indiana.

Courses Offered:
Introduction to Theatre
Introduction to Theatre Online
Introduction to Performing Arts
Traditions of Theatre in the US
Traditions of Shakespearean Theatre
Museum Theatre
Fundamentals of Acting
Devising Theatre
Theatre Ensemble
Dramatic Theory & Text Analysis
Experiential Learning in Performing Arts

His current office is 50-A147, under Peterson Hall.

Dance Instructor
mehnpa@rit.edu
LBJ-1241

Marc Ellis Holland is Broadway and touring dance veteran whose credits include Cats, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Jesus Christ Superstar, Guys and Dolls and La Cage Aux Folles.  He has performed with Deca Dance Company of New York City and Kineolab in Rochester, NY.  Internationally, he has performed in Japan, Austria, Hungary, and Mexico with both Cats and Deca Dance Company tours.  Marc also has experience in the television industry, appearing in commercials and industry events throughout his career.  He also appeared in summer stock at Pittsburgh Playhouse and West Virginia Theater in Morgantown, WV performing in La Cage Aux Folles, Anything Goes, Man of La Mancha, Chorus Line, Music Man, and West Side Story'

Marc holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA.  He also was a recipient of a scholarship with the Iowa Ballet Company.  He is Cecchetti certified and has been a faculty member for the last ten years for the Cecchetti International Ballet Camp in Holland, Michigan.  Marc has also been a returning Guest Faculty Members for Ann Parsley School of Dance’s annual ballet camp in Michigan, as well as conducting master classes and workshops for thousands of students and teachers in almost a dozen states.

Marc has numerous choreography credits for community theater including Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, La Cage Aux Folles, Sweet Charity, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Gypsy, White Christmas, TITANIC, Miracle on 34th Street, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Rent, Cats, Children of Eden, Cabaret and School House Rock.

Marc was on the faculty of Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where he taught dance and choreographed shows, including Fiddler on the Roof, Beauty and the Beast, Grease, and High School Musical.  He also teaches ballet, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, modern, and contemporary dance classes and choreographs competitive numbers for studios in Rochester, NY.  Marc has collaborated with the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus, bringing his students to perform with them, and recently appeared on stage at Rochester Fringe Fest in Invoking Justice, by Curtis Stedge.  He was selected to perform in Open Heart, Closed Hands, by Zachary Frazee, at So You Think You Can Choreograph in Saratoga Springs, NY.

A native of Western Pennsylvania, Marc currently resides in Rochester, NY with his husband.

Costume and Props Manager
rmmnpa@rit.edu

Rosie Mazique began her career at RIT/NTID in 2019 as a captionist in the Department of Access Services. She now serves as the Costume & Props Manager for the NTID Department of Performing Arts and looks forward to contributing her creativity to the team’s productions.

Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, she has had a knack for creative expression since early childhood. Obsessed with all things fashion, particularly dresses, her first style clients were the Barbie dolls she sewed clothes and home goods for. Taught at age 5 to hand stitch by her mother, Rosie went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design at Columbia College Chicago and designed a bespoke wedding dress for her sister.

During and after college, Rosie managed and taught at Thrown Elements Pottery for six years. There, she contributed to studio operations and  taught handbuilding, wheel-throwing, and pottery glazing techniques to people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.

Rosie also enjoys knitting, painting, and baking. Her cakes have placed 2nd and 3rd in cake decorating contests and are staples at family celebrations. You may find her biking, roller blading, or attempting to roller skate around town. 

Senior Staff Specialist
djmsps@rit.edu
585-475-6069

Denise Morgan is the Senior Staff Specialist for the NTID Department of Performing Arts. She brings with her more than 25 years of administrative experience. Denise started at RIT in 2018 in the Center for Advancing STEM Teaching, Learning and Evaluation (CASTLE). She joined NTID Department of Performing Arts in March, 2020. Her past experience and expertise lie in working closely with different program directors and students. From hiring and onboarding students as Learning Assistants to bringing them to campus for summer programs, assuring residence, meal plans, stipends and payroll, she guided faculty and students through the administrative requirements and RIT practices. Denise has served in a variety of administrative roles within several organizations. She brings a tremendous skill set from her past work in an accounting firm, television news room, construction company and advertising firm. Denise is a mother of two teenagers and is well known as a “Football Mom.“ She and her family have slowly grown from hitting all of the amusement parks during summer vacations to just sitting on a beach and enjoying the ocean. She loves the outdoors and tries to take walks every day. Denise is pleased to bring her knowledge to this new chapter at NTID and learning as much as she can about this wonderful world of Theatre.

Technical Director
ejmnpa@rit.edu

Eric is new to the Rochester area and RIT. Originally from Buffalo, NY he has spent the last 11 years in the Midwest. He received his B.A. in Theater from Buffalo State College in 2008. After a year of freelance work, he headed to Illinois State University where he received his M.F.A. in Scene Design in 2012.

Following grad school, he worked for 8 years at Rock Valley College, for the Starlight Theater, producing 4 major musicals every summer along with 4 studio shows during the school year. He helped to pioneer the Starlight Shakespeare Troupe as well as Starlight’s Holiday Traditions series. In this position her served as a Scene Designer or Lighting Designer, and Technical Director for all shows.

While working for Rock Valley College he was also working Beloit College of Beloit, WI. Here he was able to freelance design both scenery and lights. While being able to work at educational institutions after graduate school, he found a passion for teaching. Having the ability to work with a variety of students and open their minds to the creative process for theater is what draws him to the profession.

Eric is excited to work for NTID and be back in the area, and looking forward to many great experiences with RIT.

Director of Dance
tfwnvc@rit.edu
LBJ-1832
585-475-6252

Thomas Warfield ​was born and raised in Rochester, and has lived in 6 countries. He has performed from stage to television to film, in more than 100 cities worldwide; as a singer, dancer, actor, model, composer, choreographer, director, producer, educator, activist and poet. His performances have been a vast variety including the Metropolitan Opera, 17yrs of performances at ’The Yard’ on Martha’s Vineyard, a circus in Japan, giving performances and workshops in three U.S. prisons, a Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth in London, solo concerts throughout the USA and in 28 cities around the world, and an east-coast tour of his original project for RIT/NTID AstroDance - combining dance and astrophysics funded by the National Science Foundation. Thomas has worked with AIDS patients in Thailand, blind students in Taiwan, the homeless in Utah and NYC, inner-city youth in North Carolina and Texas, arts in education programs in Hawaii, Idaho, Wyoming, California and Florida and in 36 other states. He has worked with directors Spike Lee and Franco Zefferelli, composers John Adams and Marvin Hamlisch, scientist Carl Sagan, singers Placido Domingo, Beverly Sills and worked with and danced in works by choreographers Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor, Jose Limon, Robert Joffrey, Bill T. Jones, Jane Dudley, Tandy Beal, Anna Sokolow, Irina Nijinska and numerous others. Thomas Warfield has been director of dance in the Department of Cultural and Creative Studies at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology for 22yrs, where he has choreographed over 30 dances including 4 full-evening story ballets. At RIT he served as chair of the President’s Commission on Pluralism and Inclusion and Performing Arts Task Force. He holds a BFA in dance from SUNY Purchase (recipient of the President’s Award for Excellence) and an MFA in Dance/Ethnology from University of Utah, where he received a research fellowship and full scholarship. Thomas Warfield has taught extensively in the U.S.A. and abroad on a variety of subjects which include: ballet, modern dance, jazz dance, hip-hop fusion dance and African-based dance, choreography, improvisation, piano, voice, acting, poetry, English, African-American studies, art/religion, and classes on individual and social identity, inner peace, self-esteem, and workshops on nurturing compassion.

As founder and artistic director of PeaceArt International (a 29yr old local/global outreach organization), and former trainer for National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI), Thomas reinterpreted and integrated the NCBI, Alternatives to Violence Program, dance & music therapy tools of coalition building, leadership, self-affirmation and diversity principles into the creative process exercises of his local/global community building through arts PeaceArt projects fostering world peace. His Global Poem In Praise of Peace garnered global recognition in letters from composer Leonard Bernstein and Mother Teresa and hundreds of others. Mr. Warfield’s first solo album, Celebrate the Moment, has sold throughout the world and can be found on CDbaby.com and itunes.com. As a performing artist, his work has been noted in The New York Times, Hong Kong Daily Standard, China News, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Salt Lake Tribune, News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), Le Monde in France and many others. The British publication, The Morning Star wrote his "...sensitive, superbly trained body filled every word and every movement with bitter meaning." Thomas serves as vice president of the MuCCC Theatre board, former president of ARTWalk (and co-creator of ARTWalk Alive Festival), Association of Teaching Artists (founding member and former president of Rochester chapter), the William Warfield Scholarship Fund at Eastman School of Music (president emeritis), on the board of Rochester Fringe Festival (chair Diversity committee) and on the Advisory boards of Rochester Area Community Foundation, and formally board member of Gateways Music Festival, Greentopia, Education for Peace, China Millennium Council, Young Audiences, and associate director of the New York Dance Festival (for over 20 years). He is recipient of numerous awards including: the 2014 Essie Calhoun Diversity Award from Geva Theatre,  the Individual Artist Award from the Rochester Arts & Cultural Council, Diversity Trailblazer Award from RIT, Unsung Heroes Award from the City of Rochester, The 2010 Elliott-Black Award from The American Ethical Union, 2015 Community Champion Award from the Empire State Pride Agenda, United Nations Young Ambassadors Award, National Dance Association Award, Be More Award from PBS, Honorary Artist Citizen from the city of Macau, China, and the 2001 Off Off-Broadway Award for Choreography among others.