Faculty
Steven Braddock
Director of Theatre
- Email:
- sbraddock@niagara.edu
- Phone:
- 716.286.8329
- Office Location:
- Clet 2217
Steve has directed Legally Blonde, Little Shop of Horrors, Chicago, Julius Caesar, Mother Hicks, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Lady Windermere’s Fan, Afflicted: Daughters of Salem, Guys & Dolls, Sweeney Todd, Curtains, The Philadelphia Story, Urinetown, The Rimers of Eldritch, Little Women and Damn Yankees for NU Theatre. Before arriving at...
Chris Cooper
Adjunct Faculty, Stage Management
- Phone:
- 716.286.8480
Chris, a graduate of Niagara University’s theatre program, has been an Equity Stage Manager /Production Manager for over 25 years. Her career began at Studio Arena Theater as AEA Assistant Stage Manager. Coop continued at Artpark as AEA Production Stage Manager/Production Manager for 12 years where she oversaw both the...
Marilyn Deighton
Assistant Professor, Costume Technology and Design
- Email:
- msd@niagara.edu
- Phone:
- 716.286.8492
Marilyn holds an MFA in costume technology from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Currently, she teaches stagecraft, costume construction, pattern drafting, corsetry, dancewear, supervises the student workforce in the costume shop and is the Draper/Tailor for all of the theater department’s productions. Previously, she was a lecturer...
Josie DiVincenzo
Adjunct Faculty, Acting
Josie returned in 2010 after a successful career in Los Angeles in theatre, TV and film. A veteran Buffalo actor with Shakespeare in Delaware Park, she recently played Mistress Page in their acclaimed The Merry Wives of Windsor. Often appearing locally, roles include one woman show, Dai: Enough! at the Jewish...
Teodoro Dragonieri
Adjunct Faculty, Physical Theatre
Teodoro is a multi-disciplinary artist and educator who has developed acclaimed programs for all levels of education. He has worked with arts organizations, cultural institutions, museums and theatre companies. Teodoro has served Indigenous communities, individuals with special-needs, LGBTQ, at-risk and street-cultured youth. He has led workshops, given lectures and shown...
David Dwyer
Assistant Professor, Design/Tech; Scenic Designer/Production Manager
- Email:
- ddwyer@niagara.edu
- Phone:
- 716.286.8485
- Office Location:
- Clet 2203
- Office Hours:
- TH 9:30-11am
David holds a Master of Fine Arts in production design from Michigan State University, a Bachelor\'s degree in theatre, and an Oral Communication Certificate with distinction from Marietta College.As a freelance scenic designer he has over one hundred designs to his credit throughout the Eastern United States. Some of his...
Adriano Gatto
Artist in Residence, Stage Combat and Recruitment
- Email:
- agatto@niagara.edu
- Phone:
- 716.286.8481
Adriano is Certified with Full Distinction by the Academy of Fight Directors Canada. Adriano’s work as a Fight Director has been seen in over 100 productions, including productions at Geva Theatre Center, Arizona Theatre Company, and the Kavinoky Theatre, among others. For NU Theatre, Adriano has served as the Fight Director...
Mary Kofahl
Adjunct Faculty, Vocal Music
Mary is excited to be teaching voice lessons at Niagara University this year. Mrs. Kofahl studied voice at Houghton College with Kelley Hijleh and graduated with a Music Education degree. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Music Education from University at Buffalo and is currently teaching Vocal Music in...
Gary Marino
Adjunct Faculty, Ballet
Gary began his formal training in the music department of SUNY at Albany, then went on to study dance with Melissa Hayden, Elizabeth Carroll, Edward Vilella, Kay Mazzo and Peter Martins at Skidmore College. He also studied jazz with Rhett Dennis at the Luigi School in New York as well as...
Bridget Moriarty, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor, Voice; Music Director
- Email:
- bmoriarty@niagara.edu
- Phone:
- 716-286-8464
Bridget Moriarty is the full-time music director at Niagara University, recent NU credits include Legally Blonde, Little Shop of Horrors, She Loves Me and Chicago. Other credits include First Lady Suite at Syracuse University, Spring Awakening and Cabaret with Syracuse Summer Theatre at The Oncenter, La Cage aux Folles, The Wizard of Oz, The Little Mermaid, and From Foster Care to Fabulous with...
Mara Neimanis
Adjunct Instructor, Physical Theatre
Mara devises theatre using standing and suspended steel sculpture. Her work has been described; “Neimanis makes the impossible look supremely easy” –The Washington Post, She has created 6 aerial plays, invented 4 site specific aerial installations, and served as a coach and collaborator on theater projects with companies in DC, NYC...
Amanda Lytle Sharpe
Adjunct Faculty, Speech
Amanda received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting with honors from the University of Florida, and her Masters of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. She worked professionally with the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival and the North Carolina Theatre for Youth. Amanda also attended the...
Natalie Slipko
Adjunct Faculty, Dance
- Email:
- nms@niagara.edu
Natalie graduated summa cum laude from Niagara University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre and Departmental Honors. On a full assistantship and in one year, she completed a Master of Arts degree in Theatre at Bowling Green State University graduating summa cum laude. Natalie has studied tap, jazz, and...
Maureen Stevens
Associate Professor, Design/Tech, and Costume Designer
- Email:
- mstevens@niagara.edu
- Phone:
- 716.286.8490
Maureen received her B.S. from Buffalo State College in Apparel and Textile Technology and her M.F.A. in Theatre with an emphasis in Costume Design from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Previous to joining the faculty at Niagara University, her career has spanned many facets...
Paul Todaro
Adjunct Faculty, Acting
- Email:
- MGPT11@aol.com
Paul graduated from Niagara University's Theatre program in 1987 and moved to New York where he worked with the Independent Theatre Company at House of Candles Theatre on Manhattan's lower east side. Paul acted and directed the plays of Shakespeare, Beckett, Brecht, Pinter, Strindberg and, in 1992, became the Artistic Director...
Brother Augustine Towey, C.M.
Late Director Emeritus & Co-Founder of Niagara University Theatre
Brother Augustine (1937 - 2012) earned a Ph.D. in Theatre from New York University, a certificate in Shakespeare and Elizabethan Theatre from the University of Birmingham (Stratford-upon-Avon, England) and a Masters in Dramatic Literature from St. John's University (New York). Brother Augustine directed over 135 plays in the past 50...
Terri Filips Vaughan
Professor of Dance, Choreographer, Chair of Department of Theatre & Fine Arts
- Email:
- tfv@niagara.edu
- Phone:
- 716.286.8489
Terri has choreographed over 40 musicals and 19 concert works at Niagara University. During this time, she had the privilege of working alongside the great musical team of John Kander and the late Fred Ebb. Terri has worked as a freelance teacher, choreographer and theatre director for numerous schools, community groups,...
Dr. Sharon Onevelo Watkinson, Ph. D.
Professor Emeritus, Department Co-Founder
Dr. Watkinson earned her Ph.D. from New York University, and MA from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Here at NU, Dr. Watkinson has directed many productions including the Focus Award-winning J.B. and Good Woman of Setzuan. She has acted frequently in local and university theatre productions including Women...
Leah Wietig
Adjunct Faculty, Vocal Music
Leah has gained a reputation as a gifted and versatile performer throughout the Western New York cultural community and beyond. Ms. Wietig made her solo debut in 2007 singing with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in Hansel and Gretel and has returned to the BPO as a guest soloist for various...
Doug Zschiegner
Associate Professor, Acting/Directing, Associate Director of NU Theatre
- Email:
- dougz@niagara.edu
- Phone:
- 716.286.8487
Doug directed NU’s Company, The Threepenny Opera, She Stoops to Conquer, The Real Thing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Into the Woods, Bat Boy: The Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone and She Loves Me. Besides teaching acting, directing and contemporary theatre history here, he’s tried his hand at adapting classic texts with CyranA,...