Meet the diretors who are leading the productions we're offering at PCTC during the 2018-2019 season!
George Popovich (Shakespeare in Love) – George was a professional actor and director in the greater Los Angeles theatre scene before coming to the Midwest in 1981. Popovich developed the Associate Arts Degree in Theatre consisting of over 40 new classes at Henry Ford College, and founded The New Playwright's Workshop, which produces new plays by Michigan playwrights. Popovich's productions of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Macbeth, The Grapes of Wrath, The Tempest, The Skriker and Bug were honored by the Kennedy Center's American College Theatre Festival. Popovich produced several groundbreaking live theatrical productions using real-time digital scenery, motion capture, and performance capture, and created an entire curriculum for technicians and actors interested in acting for the camera, greenscreen, microphone and motion capture. He directed The virtual reality production of Caryl Churchill's The Skriker, which used motion capture technology to create the demonic fairies. Popovich appeared in the feature film Misled in 2013. Popovich's sold-out production of the 3D children's show, Dinosaurus! was presented by The Virtual Theatricality Lab in November, 2014. In March of 2015, he was awarded the Dearborn Mayor's Arts Educator Award. He directed Bug at HFC in 2016. He retired from his full-time position at HFC in May, 2017.
Rob Roznowski (Framing Device) - Rob is an award-winning actor, author, director, educator, and playwright. He is a Professor at Michigan State University where he serves as the Head of Acting and Directing in the Department of Theatre. His publications include books-- Roadblocks in Acting, Inner Monologue in Acting and with Kirk Domer, Collaboration in Theatre: A Practical Guide for Designers and Directors (all published by Palgrave); plays-- Arts or Crafts (Norman Maine Plays) Comfort Food (Original Work Publishing), The Tail of Peter Rabbit (Big Dog Publishing) The Summer Circle (Brooklyn Publishers) The Amazing America Road Trip (Lazy Bee Publishers); and articles/chapters-- including an article inTheatre Topics and a chapter in Creative Theory in Drama and Theatre Education(Springer Books). He worked as the National Outreach and Education Coordinator for Actors’ Equity Association and has appeared extensively through the United States as an actor and director in New York, Los Angeles and regionally at Goodspeed Musicals, Long Wharf Theatre and the Pittsburgh Public Theatre. He was part of the original cast of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and can be heard on the show’s recording. He has directed internationally in Colombia, Dubai, and Greece where he was a Fulbright Fellow. Rob served on the faculty of Marymount Manhattan College, the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, SUNY/ Stony Brook and Stephens College where he received the “Distinguished Teaching Award.” At MSU he was awarded the “Mid-Michigan Alumni Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching”, the “Michigan Professor of the Year from the President’s Council State Universities of Michigan Award” and many more. He also coordinates the MFA program in acting.
Sarah Hendrickson (Framing Device) – Sarah is a proud alumnus of Michigan State University, receiving a Master of Arts in Theatre. Sarah has worked as a professional improviser, actress, instructor, and producer with The Second City (Chicago and Norwegian Cruise Lines), The Skinny Improv, ImprovAcadia, iO Chicago and Laugh Out Loud. She has facilitated workshops and performed in tailored comedy sketches for corporate clients including Yahoo!, Wells Fargo, and US Cellular. As a member of SAG/AFTRA, Sarah has appeared in commercials and as a recurring on-air personality for KRBK-FOX in vignettes she wrote and produced. She has worked as a Casting Associate in Chicago at O'Connor Casting and in Detroit at Carrie Ray Casting for commercials, industrials, radio, television and film. Sarah has also used her unique skill set as producer of shows and co-owner of UnScripted Improv and Entertain You Productions. She is currently an Academic Specialist in the Theatre Department and Michigan State University, and an Institute Teaching Artist with Wharton Center for the Performing Arts.
Ben Cassidy (The Wild Party) - Ben is glad to be welcomed back to direct for Peppermint Creek this season. Most recently, he directed the Thespie Award winning Falsettos by William Finn and James Lapine. Other directing credits include [title of show] (PCTC) and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (Owosso Community Players). Though relatively new to directing, Ben is no stranger to the stage, having performed in many productions within the Lansing area over the years including Mark in RENT (Riverwalk Theatre), Elder Thomas in The Whale (PCTC), Joe in 9 to 5 (OCP), Elegies (PCTC), and Frankie Epps in Parade (PCTC). When not at work at MSUFCU or at the theatre, Ben can be found inhaling Mexican food or playing board games with friends. He has also been known to sneak in to other PCTC productions’ rehearsals to get content to share on the Peppermint Creek Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Chad Swan-Badgero (Every Brilliant Thing) - Chad became active in community theatre while still in High School. The summer before his freshman year of college, he founded the Peppermint Creek Theatre Company. Chad has earned a Bachelors Degree in English and Theatre/Speech, and a Masters in Theatre from Michigan State University. Chad spent time acting and gaining invaluable theatre experience in New York City, where he gained his Actors Equity status and worked professionally both in New York and on tour across the country. For Peppermint Creek, Chad has most recently directed The Christians, The Secret Garden and Dogfight, and Les Miserables, Cinderella, and The Little Prince at Okemos High School Theatre Department. Chad works as the Arts Education Program Manager for the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, was named one of the "Ten Over The Next Ten" from the Lansing Chamber of Commerce in 2009, and was awarded the Arts Council of Greater Lansing's Individual Artist Applause Award in 2016.
Mary Job (Indecent) - Mary Job spent over 20 years as a labor and employment rights lawyer, representing teachers and other school employees, retiring in 2000 to pursue her love of theatre on a full time basis. She has a BA from the University of Vermont in American Ethnic Studies, a J.D. from Northwestern University, and an M.A. in Theatre with a directing emphasis, from Michigan State University. Since 1998 she has taught in the in the Theatre Dept. at Lansing Community College and was employed as an adjunct instructor and director in MSU Dept. of Theatre from 2001 to 2005. Until 2017, she also taught Theatrical Skills – Advocacy as a Performing Art for the MSU College of Law Fieger Institute. Mary has directed a wide variety of plays in the Lansing area, including, most recently, MEMOIR at Williamston Theatre, DANCING AT LUGHNASA, PROOF and GOODNIGHT DESDEMONA, GOOD MORNING JULIET at Over the Ledge Theatre Co. (OTL), and SERIOUS MONEY at LCC. Directing awards include productions of TAKING SHAKESPEARE (Williamston), EURYDICE (Peppermint Creek), MOON OVER BUFFALO and IN THE NEXT ROOM or the vibrator play (OTL), COPENHAGEN (RWT) Ragtime (LCC), JAMES JOYCE’S THE DEAD (RWT), PRIDE & PREJUDICE, (LCC), and LET’S GET A DIVORCE and THE DINING ROOM (RWT.)
Rob Roznowski (Framing Device) - Rob is an award-winning actor, author, director, educator, and playwright. He is a Professor at Michigan State University where he serves as the Head of Acting and Directing in the Department of Theatre. His publications include books-- Roadblocks in Acting, Inner Monologue in Acting and with Kirk Domer, Collaboration in Theatre: A Practical Guide for Designers and Directors (all published by Palgrave); plays-- Arts or Crafts (Norman Maine Plays) Comfort Food (Original Work Publishing), The Tail of Peter Rabbit (Big Dog Publishing) The Summer Circle (Brooklyn Publishers) The Amazing America Road Trip (Lazy Bee Publishers); and articles/chapters-- including an article inTheatre Topics and a chapter in Creative Theory in Drama and Theatre Education(Springer Books). He worked as the National Outreach and Education Coordinator for Actors’ Equity Association and has appeared extensively through the United States as an actor and director in New York, Los Angeles and regionally at Goodspeed Musicals, Long Wharf Theatre and the Pittsburgh Public Theatre. He was part of the original cast of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and can be heard on the show’s recording. He has directed internationally in Colombia, Dubai, and Greece where he was a Fulbright Fellow. Rob served on the faculty of Marymount Manhattan College, the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, SUNY/ Stony Brook and Stephens College where he received the “Distinguished Teaching Award.” At MSU he was awarded the “Mid-Michigan Alumni Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching”, the “Michigan Professor of the Year from the President’s Council State Universities of Michigan Award” and many more. He also coordinates the MFA program in acting.
Sarah Hendrickson (Framing Device) – Sarah is a proud alumnus of Michigan State University, receiving a Master of Arts in Theatre. Sarah has worked as a professional improviser, actress, instructor, and producer with The Second City (Chicago and Norwegian Cruise Lines), The Skinny Improv, ImprovAcadia, iO Chicago and Laugh Out Loud. She has facilitated workshops and performed in tailored comedy sketches for corporate clients including Yahoo!, Wells Fargo, and US Cellular. As a member of SAG/AFTRA, Sarah has appeared in commercials and as a recurring on-air personality for KRBK-FOX in vignettes she wrote and produced. She has worked as a Casting Associate in Chicago at O'Connor Casting and in Detroit at Carrie Ray Casting for commercials, industrials, radio, television and film. Sarah has also used her unique skill set as producer of shows and co-owner of UnScripted Improv and Entertain You Productions. She is currently an Academic Specialist in the Theatre Department and Michigan State University, and an Institute Teaching Artist with Wharton Center for the Performing Arts.
Ben Cassidy (The Wild Party) - Ben is glad to be welcomed back to direct for Peppermint Creek this season. Most recently, he directed the Thespie Award winning Falsettos by William Finn and James Lapine. Other directing credits include [title of show] (PCTC) and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (Owosso Community Players). Though relatively new to directing, Ben is no stranger to the stage, having performed in many productions within the Lansing area over the years including Mark in RENT (Riverwalk Theatre), Elder Thomas in The Whale (PCTC), Joe in 9 to 5 (OCP), Elegies (PCTC), and Frankie Epps in Parade (PCTC). When not at work at MSUFCU or at the theatre, Ben can be found inhaling Mexican food or playing board games with friends. He has also been known to sneak in to other PCTC productions’ rehearsals to get content to share on the Peppermint Creek Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Chad Swan-Badgero (Every Brilliant Thing) - Chad became active in community theatre while still in High School. The summer before his freshman year of college, he founded the Peppermint Creek Theatre Company. Chad has earned a Bachelors Degree in English and Theatre/Speech, and a Masters in Theatre from Michigan State University. Chad spent time acting and gaining invaluable theatre experience in New York City, where he gained his Actors Equity status and worked professionally both in New York and on tour across the country. For Peppermint Creek, Chad has most recently directed The Christians, The Secret Garden and Dogfight, and Les Miserables, Cinderella, and The Little Prince at Okemos High School Theatre Department. Chad works as the Arts Education Program Manager for the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, was named one of the "Ten Over The Next Ten" from the Lansing Chamber of Commerce in 2009, and was awarded the Arts Council of Greater Lansing's Individual Artist Applause Award in 2016.
Mary Job (Indecent) - Mary Job spent over 20 years as a labor and employment rights lawyer, representing teachers and other school employees, retiring in 2000 to pursue her love of theatre on a full time basis. She has a BA from the University of Vermont in American Ethnic Studies, a J.D. from Northwestern University, and an M.A. in Theatre with a directing emphasis, from Michigan State University. Since 1998 she has taught in the in the Theatre Dept. at Lansing Community College and was employed as an adjunct instructor and director in MSU Dept. of Theatre from 2001 to 2005. Until 2017, she also taught Theatrical Skills – Advocacy as a Performing Art for the MSU College of Law Fieger Institute. Mary has directed a wide variety of plays in the Lansing area, including, most recently, MEMOIR at Williamston Theatre, DANCING AT LUGHNASA, PROOF and GOODNIGHT DESDEMONA, GOOD MORNING JULIET at Over the Ledge Theatre Co. (OTL), and SERIOUS MONEY at LCC. Directing awards include productions of TAKING SHAKESPEARE (Williamston), EURYDICE (Peppermint Creek), MOON OVER BUFFALO and IN THE NEXT ROOM or the vibrator play (OTL), COPENHAGEN (RWT) Ragtime (LCC), JAMES JOYCE’S THE DEAD (RWT), PRIDE & PREJUDICE, (LCC), and LET’S GET A DIVORCE and THE DINING ROOM (RWT.)
