EIU Department of
Theatre

2013-2014 Guest Artists

Guest Artist Wil Kilroy

Artist residency: May 2 & 3, 2014

Friday, May 2 – 2:00 – 4:00 pm Michael Chekhov Acting Techniques

in the Movement Studio

Wil is currently a Professor of Theatre at the University of Southern Maine and is also Vice President of the National Michael Chekhov Association which he co-founded with the late Mala Powers, executrix of Chekhov’s estate. Wil presents workshops for actors and teachers around the country with recent visits to Loyola Marymount, Bowling Green University and the University of Florida. Wil is also the director of the long running USM Summer Theatre Academy for 13-18 year olds, and has additional teaching credits for international programs in London and Greece. As an actor, Wil has appeared in a variety of roles ranging from Snowy Eagle in Tammyand Billy-Bob’s Wedding, which he co-created and directed, to Steve in Becky’s New Car. TV/Film appearances include Jim for Norway Savings Bank, spokesperson for Maine Tax Amnesty and Release HD, a detective in The Brotherhood of Poland, NH, Empire Falls, an alien on Babylon 5, and various soaps such as All MyChildren. Credits as a director range from Nunsense to Cabaret. Wil’s productions of The Laramie Project, AMidsummer Night’s Dream, Everything Sprite, and Purple Breasts were all chosen for competition in the Kennedy Center’s New England festivals, with Sprite also chosen for performance at New York’s Village Gate and Purple Breasts chosen to perform in Washington, D.C. for a National Breast Cancer Conference. Wil has been the recipient of a national faculty scholarship to study with Uta Hagen at the Kennedy Center, the Moss Hart Award, the Maine Education Association’s Human and Civil Rights Award, USM’s Outstanding Teacher/Scholar Award, and was recently awarded his third Kennedy Center Medallion for excellence in theatre. Wil’s screenplay, “Nana’s Slippers”, was a finalist in two film festival competitions. He has studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Art, the Michael Chekhov Studio, and the National Shakespeare Conservatory in New York, and holds theatre degrees from the University of Rhode Island and the University of Illinois. Wil is also a certified fitness instructor.

Guest Artist Judith Pender

Artist Residency: February 28 - March 1

Judith Pender Workshop on staying in the moment. A script analysis technique that helps with focus as well as the correct delivery of replies. Followed by technical exercises addressing the application of tactical choices in pursuit of your objective.

Friday, February 28, 1:30 - 2:00- Chairman Mao’s exercises for the Chinese people – a favorite total body warm-up

2:00 – 4:00 - Acting Workshop, “Staying in the Moment”

Workshop on staying in the moment. A script analysis technique that helps with focus as well as the correct delivery of replies. Followed by technical exercises addressing the application of tactical choices in pursuit of your objective.

Saturday, March 1, 10:00 – noon Director/Designer collaboration and Stage Picturization Note: Dr. Pender is willing to continue for individual student work.

Judith Midyett Pender is a Professor of acting, directing, and theatre history in the Peggy Dow Helmerich School of Drama at the University of Oklahoma. She also serves the School of Drama as Performance Area Coordinator. She holds a BFA in Theatre and Interpretation from Missouri State University, and MFA in Acting and Directing and a PhD in Theatre History, Theory, and Criticism from the University of Georgia. While living and working in New York, she trained in the Meisner Technique. She is a member of Actors’ Equity Association, Screen Actors’ Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and has studied stage combat with the Society of American Fight Directors. Recent acting work includes Joyce in the feature film, Just Crazy Enough, starring Chris Kattan,; Mrs. Bennett in the film,The Art of Kissing; Dr. Glasscock in four episodes of the web series, FPU; and Dawn in the web series,Shambles, scheduled for release in August. As AEA Guest Artist she played Madame Desmortes in Ring ‘Round theMoon at Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, at St. Gregory’s University, she played Beatrice in The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds; and at OU, Ouiser in Steel Magnolias. In the last two years, she has had the pleasure of directing world premiere plays under the auspices of the Faith Broome Playwright in Residence Program, and she directed Middletown, by Will Eno last fall. Her book, ACTING: What to Do, was published in 2011 and has been adopted by colleges and universities across the country. She and her husband, Dr. Thomas Pender, are the proud parents of OCCC freshman, Sam, who is studying film. Boomer Sooner!