Theatre

Faculty

Ernest Zulia, associate professor of theatre and department chair; M.F.A., Northwestern University

Ernie has directed more than 100 productions of plays, musicals, operas, and world premieres in theatres around the U.S. and abroad, including including Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., and Actors Theatre of Louisville. His stage adaptation of Robert Fulghum's international best-selling book, All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten, has been produced around the world. He has collaborated several times with Academy Award-winning composer Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Wicked) and has served as artistic director, associate artistic director, and artistic associate at theatres in Chicago, North Carolina, and Virginia, including Roanoke's Mill Mountain Theatre.

Todd Ristau, assistant professor of theatre; B.A., University of Iowa; M.F.A., University of Iowa

Todd is an actor, director, and graduate of the Iowa Playwrights Workshop. His plays have been produced internationally in theatres ranging from 30 chairs in an Iowa City church basement to the Birmingham Hippodrome in England. Todd's play, Great Balls of Fire, the Jerry Lee Lewis Story, was produced on London's West End. He has acted professionally, and in 1986 he cofounded No Shame Theatre, an experiential learning lab for new writing that has grown into a national network of venues where many important new theatre artists have gotten their start. In addition to Todd's responsibilities at Hollins, he is the literary associate at Mill Mountain Theatre, produces their second stage season, and coordinates the Norfolk Southern Festival of New Works. Also, Todd teaches and performs as part of Young Audiences of Virginia.

John Forsman, technical director and instructor; M.F.A., University of Virginia; B.F.A., Nebraska Wesleyan University