2019-2020 SETC Executive Committee
The 2019-2020 Slate of Officers will be voted on at the Annual Business Meeting at the 2019 SETC Convention.
Learn More About Your Nominees
President: Jeff Gibson
Jeff Gibson has served SETC through service as Vice President of Administration, membership on the Finance Committee, and developer and reviewer for SETC’s grant program for professional theatre companies. He also initiated the development of the Arts Management interest group. He is Chair of Theatre and Dance at Middle Tennessee State University, Chair of the Theatre Division of the Tennessee Governors’ School for the Arts, and a former chair of KCACTF Region IV. He received his MFA in Theatre Management from the University of Alabama and served as a management assistant at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.
Vice President of Services: Lee Crouse
Lee Crouse is an Associate Professor of Theatre at The Mississippi University for Women. In addition to SETC, he serves as the Immediate Past President of the Mississippi Theatre Association and the Mississippi/SETC Professional Screening Auditions Coordinator. Past service to SETC includes Strategic Planning committee, Vice-President of States, Mississippi State Representative, the Screening Auditions Task Force, the IOT Task Force, and Chair and Vice-Chair of the Stage Movement Committee. He is a proud Associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
Vice President of Administration: Maegan McNerney Azar
Maegan McNerney Azar is the Associate Professor of Acting & Directing at Furman University in Greenville, SC. She received her BS in Theatre from East Tennessee State University and her MFA in Acting Pedagogy from The University of Alabama. Specialties include Physical Storytelling, Musical Theatre, and Theatre for Young Audiences. Prior to Furman, Maegan was the Education Director for the California Theatre Center. A member of SETC since 2001, Maegan’s career has developed in large part due to the organization’s constant presence in her professional and academic life. She has served SETC as Vice President of Administration, Secretary, Vice Chair of College & University Division, and on the Strategic Planning Committee, Hall of Fame Task Force, Succession Planning Task Force, and Screening Auditions Task Force. Maegan is also a co-founder of the SETC Women in Theatre Interest Group.
Vice President of Finance: Jonathan R. Michaelsen
Jonathan R. Michaelsen served as chair of the Department of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance at Indiana University from 2004 to 2018. He is producing artistic director of both the Indiana University Summer Theatre and Premiere Musicals: Developing New Works at Indiana University. Before coming to Indiana University Michaelsen was Associate Dean for Humanities and Fine Arts at the University of Alabama. He created a professional theatre company for the University of Alabama, SummerTide, and directed its inaugural production. Active in the Southeastern Theatre Conference since 1991, he served for a number of years on the executive committee and as president from 2003-2004. In 2018 Michaelsen was inducted to SETC’s Hall of Fame. Michaelsen has been awarded a number of grants including funding to develop theatre curriculum for secondary school educators and he received a Druid Arts Educator of the Year Award. Michaelsen also received a State of Alabama arts award for his contributions to theatre. Professor Michaelsen currently serves on Commission on Accreditation for the National Association of Schools of Theatre and frequently chairs accreditation visiting teams to Colleges and Universities around the country.
Secretary: Rebecca Beasley
In addition to Rebecca’s work as Secretary, she is also a member of the Endowment and Strategic Planning Committees with SETC. She holds an MA from Austin Peay State University in Communications and Theatre. Rebecca has had the pleasure to work closely for and with professional companies such as Spoleto, Goodspeed Musicals and Magnum Productions. Currently she is the Lead Sales Associate with Barbizon Lighting Atlanta where she works closely with the Southeastern theatrical community to provide product, support, and knowledge. Rebecca’s current personal artistic endeavors include the opening of an arts and movement studio, Metropolitan Studios in Atlanta and working closely with the vintage arts community producing shows that showcase Burlesque and variety entertainment.
Elected Past President: Jack Benjamin
Jack Benjamin recently retired after 32 years at the University of South Carolina Aiken and is Professor Emeritus. While at USC Aiken he directed over 75 productions and has directed over 150 productions since graduating from college. Prior to coming to Aiken, Jack taught in Dallas, TX and also served as a lighting and scenic designer for several professional theatres throughout the U.S. In 2017, Jack was inducted into the South Carolina Theatre Association Hall of Fame. In March 2006 he received the Suzanne Davis Memorial Award. In 2004 he received the Founders Award (the highest award given to a South Carolinian) from the South Carolina Theatre Association. In 2002, Jack received the John F. Kennedy Center Medallion for his work in educational theatre. Jack has served as President of SETC for four terms and has held many other offices and chairmanships during his 32-year association with the organization
Vice President of States: Kris Rau McIntyre
Kris Rau McIntyre has been with the Coastal Carolina University Theatre Department since 2002, where she also works as the Assistant Director of the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies. She also loves contributing to the greater community of theatre through her work as the South Carolina State Rep and Professional Screening Auditions Coordinator on the boards of the South Carolina Theatre Association and the Southeastern Theatre Conference. Kris has worked in theatre professionally for 19 years as a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association, and is a founding company member of Atlantic Stage in Myrtle Beach. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Master of Fine Arts in Acting in 2001, after earning her Bachelor of Arts in Communication/Theatre from North Carolina State University in 1998.
Vice President of Divisions: Tom Booth
Theatre for Tom Booth began when cast in Life with Father at Amory Community Theatre and he has never been the same. Executive Director of Tupelo Community Theatre since 2002, Tom has served in leadership positions at the state, regional and national levels as President of the Mississippi Theatre Association: Treasurer, State Representative and Community Theatre Division Chair with SETC, and on the adjudication and finance committees for the American Association of Community Theatres. Active in his community he has served as president of the Rotary Club of Tupelo and the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association. He has directed eight Best Production shows at the Mississippi Theatre Association festival and three at Southeastern Theatre Conference and has won MTA’s Best Director twice. The 2015 production, Lone Star, advanced to the national AACTFest winning People’s Choice Best Production and Outstanding Scenic Design. He happily lives in Wren, MS with his chickens and sings in his church choir.
Nominations Committee
The Nominations Committee members, led by the Chair, identify, encourage and contact possible candidates for the next year’s offices. The committee meets during the Fall Business Meeting and presents a slate of officers to the membership during the March convention.
Tiza Garland (Chair)
Bio and Photo Coming Soon
Paul Crook
Bio and Photo Coming Soon
Lance Culpepper
Lance Culpepper has been with The Lost Colony production for 13 seasons, participating in the SETC annual convention regularly during that time. In addition to The Lost Colony he is involved with the development of educational and ancillary programming including interactive experiences for students and touring performances. Prior to returning to the theatre he spent nine years in television production as a costumer.
Marci Duncan
UWF Assistant Professor of Acting Marci Duncan is an accomplished director and SAG-AFTRA actress who holds multiple credits in stage, film, commercial and television drama. Duncan is the founder of Artists at Play which offers a place where artists can “discover and nurture the artist within” through coaching and technique classes. Duncan currently serves as chair for SETC’s Auditions Committee and as a board member and the vice president for the Florida Theatre Conference. She has also been named a Feeder Fellow of the University of Florida Department of Theatre. Duncan holds a BS in Theatre from Florida A&M and an MFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Florida.
Neno Russell
Bio and Photo Coming Soon
