Faculty
Glenn Bernardis
Adjunct Professor
Glenn holds a degree in audio production, electronic music and computer music systems from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Glenn is owner and chief engineer of GB Audio, a full service recording, production and consulting facility. Production credits include: David Shire, Vocalis Chamber Choir, Babik, The Buffalo Philharmonic...
Steven Braddock
Director of Theatre
- Email:
- sbraddock@niagara.edu
- Phone:
- 716.286.8329
- Office Location:
- Clet 2217
Steve has directed Lady Windermere’s Fan, Afflicted: Daughters of Salem, Guys & Dolls, Sweeney Todd, Curtains, The Philadelphia Story, Urinetown: the Musical, The Rimers of Eldritch, Little Women and Damn Yankees for NU Theatre. Before coming to NU, he served for eleven years as the Artistic Director of the Gifford Family Theatre, a professional...
Chris Cooper
Lecturer, 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...
Trevor Copp
Lecturer, Physical Theatre
- Phone:
- 716.286.8480
Trevor is the founder and artistic director of Tottering Biped Theatre (TBT) of Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Established in 2008, TBT is a professional company that emphasizes highly physical and social issue-oriented work (www.totteringbiped.ca[http://www.totteringbiped.ca]). He completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Studies at The University of Waterloo, a Master’s degree in Theatre...
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, and she supervises the student workforce in the costume shop and is the Draper/Tailor for all of the theatre department’s productions. Previously, she was...
Josie DiVincenzo
Lecturer, Acting
Josie returned to her hometown of Buffalo, NY in 2010 after a successful career in Los Angeles, acting in theatre and film, with numerous guest and co-starring roles on popular prime time TV shows (Friends, e.r., NYPD Blue, CSI:NY, 24, Weeds to name a few). Locally, she’s appeared in the...
David Dwyer
Assistant Professor, Design/Tech; Scenic Designer/Production Manager
- Email:
- ddwyer@niagara.edu
- Phone:
- 716.286.8485
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 favorite...
Adriano Gatto
Artist in Residence, Stage Combat and Recruitment
- Email:
- agatto@niagara.edu
- Phone:
- 716.286.8481
Adriano is certified with Full Distinction by Fight Directors Canada. His work as a fight director has been seen in over 60 productions, most recently at Geva Theatre Center, Arizona Theatre Company, and Second Generation Theatre. Adriano has taught stage combat for many professional and educational institutions, including the Eastman School...
Cristen Gregory
Adjunct Professor, Voice
- Email:
- cgregory@niagara.edu
Cristen is a soprano and has been a member of the faculty since 2000. Her career has taken her all over the world in leading operatic roles, oratorio, pops concerts, orchestral concerts, and recitals. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Voice Performance from the University of Toronto, Canada, and an MBA...
Gary Marino
Lecturer, 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...
Robin Patterson
Adjunct Professor, Physical Theatre
Robin graduated from Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada, the 2-year physical theatre program at Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris, France, then toured with the Canadian Mime Theatre for 4 years. A co-founder of the international touring ensemble Theatre Beyond Words, Robin is presently Artistic Director of the company, specializing in devising...
Amanda Lytle Sharpe
Adjunct Professor, Speech; Guest Director
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...
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 spanned many facets of...
Amy Teal
Lecturer, Voice
- Phone:
- 716.286.8480
Amy holds a Master's Degree from The Eastman School of Music. She has taught voice privately for 20 years and most recently at the collegiate level for Buffalo State College. Throughout her career she has also worked as the Vocal Director for Academy of Theatre Arts in Williamsville, adjunct voice faculty...
Paul Todaro
Adjunct Professor, 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
Associate Professor, Dance, and Choreographer
- Email:
- tfilips@niagara.edu
- Phone:
- 716.286.8489
Terri has choreographed over 30 musicals and 19 concert works at Niagara University. She graduated summa cum laude with an MFA in Dance from the Texas Woman’s University and cum laude with a BA from Hope College. Terri has worked as a freelance teacher, choreographer and theatre director for numerous schools,...
Dr. Sharon Onevelo Watkinson
Professor & Chair of Theatre, Department Co-Founder
- Email:
- sw@niagara.edu
- Phone:
- 716.286.8482
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...
Stacy Zawadzki-Janusz
Adjunct Professor, Dance
Stacy is the Owner/Director of the ZPAC Company and ZPAC-Stacy Zawadzki’s Performing Arts Center, LLC. She is also an independent Director/Choreographer for many local Production Companies, local and New York City Productions, a theatre and Dance Adjudicator, and a Fitness Assessor/ Instructor with BWI Health and Promotions. She received MFA-Magna Cum...
Doug Zschiegner
Associate Professor, Acting/Directing, Associate Director of NU Theatre
- Email:
- dougz@niagara.edu
- Phone:
- 716.286.8487
Doug directed Company, The Threepenny Opera, She Stoops to Conquer, The Real Thing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Into the Woods, Bat Boy: The Musical and The Drowsy Chaperone at NU. Besides teaching acting, directing and contemporary theatre history here, he’s tried his hand at adapting classic texts with CyranA and this...