Group: Faculty

Pamela Workman is an Associate Professor at Brenau University and teaches Principles of Design, Costume Design and Crafts classes. Pam earned her B.A. from Morehead State University (KY) and her M.F.A. from the University of Oklahoma. She focuses on the development of script analysis and psychology to get into what is in a character’s closet. She enjoys utilizing well-known films as examples of well-developed costume storytelling. She has designed such shows as Beauty and The Beast, 9 Parts of Desire, Much Ado About Nothing, Commedia del ‘Arte Androcles and the Lion, and Zimmerman’s The Odyssey. She specializes in mythology and Native American character wear. She insists that to be a well-rounded designer one must also know how to build the costumes, not just draw the pictures.

Elisa Carlson is a professional voice and dialect coach, actor and director. Her 200+ coaching credits include productions Off-Broadway at The Mint and New Dramatists, and at premiere regional theatres including the Guthrie Theater (Minneapolis), Alliance Theatre (Atlanta), Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Alley (Houston), American Player’s Theatre (WI), The Children’s Theatre (MN) and the Resident Ensemble Players (DE). Elisa coached dialects and historic voices for all actors in Ava DuVernay’s Best Picture Academy Award nominee Selma and in Damien Chazelle’s critically acclaimed First Man with Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy (Golden Globe nominee). Other film coaching includes Baby Driver (Golden Globe nominee Ansel Elgort), Burden, The Good Lie, Coat of Many Colors and HBO’s Stranger Things. She was text consultant for Campbell Scott’s highly regarded film of Hamlet and had a featured role in the film.

Acting credits include the Guthrie (lead in world premiere of Shadow Language), The Shakespeare Theater (D.C.), StageWest (MA), Alliance Theatre, Georgia Shakespeare, Theatre-in-the-Square (Suzi Bass Award nomination for Best Actress in Ghost Writer), Theatrical Outfit (Suzi Bass nomination for Best Ensemble in The Book of Will) and “Woman” in Aris Theatre’s Woman and Scarecrow. She is a narrator of more than 20 books for Audible.

Elisa directed the Reiser Award-winning Moxie and The Guys (featuring Jasmine Guy) at Theatrical Outfit. As a resident director/actor for GTA she has staged or acted in multiple productions, some favorites being A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Glass Menagerie, Antigone, Much Ado About Nothing and Men on Boats. Other directing credits include Theater Emory, Working Title Playwrights and the Guthrie Theater’s BFA Actor Training Program. She has been on the faculties of the University of Minnesota and Emory University, and taught in the post-graduate professional programs at the Guthrie, American Player’s Theatre, Alliance and The Children’s Theatre.

elisacarlson.com

Terri Becker serves as GTA’s Lighting & Projections Coordinator, and is also Senior Instructor of Theatre at the University of North Georgia. Terri teaches Lighting Production, Lighting Design, Media & Projections, Theatre Practicum, and Capstone for BFA Design and Technology for Theatre. Terri recieved her M.F.A. in Lighting Design from Florida Atlantic University and her B.F.A. in Drawing and Painting from the University of Georgia. She has two amazing children, Bailey and Griffin, and GTA’s Technical Director, David Becker, is her husband. She loves cats and spends way too much on saltwater fish tanks.

Larry Cook has worked with GTA for close to two decades. He started his theatre artist journey as an actor but after performing in over thirty different productions chose to work backstage. He earned an M.F.A. in Theatre, Design and Technology, at The University of Georgia in 1992 (where he also taught from 1993-1999) and a B.S. in Speech and Theatre at Troy State University, Troy, AL in 1988. Larry has worked extensively in film, television and theatre production. Larry has attended Master Classes with theatre professionals such as Jules Fischer, Freddy Wittop, and Jay Glerum. He also has extensive experience in the construction trades and is OSHA ten-hour certified in safety. Larry has trained with nine of the eighteen Fight Masters in the SAFD college of Fight Masters and is certified in unarmed, rapier and dagger, broadsword, and firearms. He is a member in good standing of The United States Institute for Theatre Technology, The Southeastern Theatre Conference, and the Society of American Fight Directors. Larry is primarily a scenic designer and carpenter but has experience in nearly every area of technical theater. He primarily teaches Stagecraft, Scenic Design, and Drafting.

Zack Bennett is pleased to be joining UNG and GTA for his first season. Zack’s recent work includes The Comedy of Errors and The Living Dead, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company; Thoughts of a Colored Man (Assoc), Broadway; A Christmas Carol (Asst), Guthrie Theatre; True West (Asst), Seattle Rep; numerous productions at the Clarence Brown Theatre including This is Our Youth, Around the World in 80 Days (Assoc.), and South Pacific (Assoc). Zack’s corporate Sound Designs include the 2022 National Order of the Arrow Conference at Thompson Bowling Arena and the 2017 BSA National Jamboree (Asst). Zack is a proud graduate of The University of Tennessee (BA, 2017) and Purdue University (MFA, 2020) where he designed productions of Next to Normal and Angels in America. Zack would like to thank his wife, Alex for her support, encouragement, and patience through every production, and In this new chapter with GTA. ZackBennett.com

Michael D. Jablonski (He/Him) has been a professional musical theatre artist for over 20 years. He has taken his experience on the stage and transitioned it into the classroom where he has taught professional workshops for many universities and theatre centers across the globe.

Michael performed on Broadway in Cry-Baby, The Book of Mormon and the 2009 revival of West Side Story. He toured the world with Broadway productions of Matilda, The Book of Mormon, West Side Story, Saturday Night Fever, Doctor Dolittle, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas starring Ann-Margret, Victor/Victoria, and Brigadoon. Michael also performed with the Radio City Rockette’s in the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. On film, he can be seen as a featured dancer in the movie version of The Producers starring Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane. Michael also performed at many prestigious theatre’s across the United States.

Michael is an award-winning Director and Choreographer. His credits include Fame, Edges, Mamma Mia, We are Proud to Present a Presentation about the Herero of Namibia… (Best Director-BroadwayWorld), Wildwood Park, and Another Day (Devised), Grease, The Producers, Hello Dolly, Eurydice and multiple productions of West Side Story. He created additional choreography for the National Tour of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas starring Ann-Margret. He also Dance Supervised 4 national tours and multiple regional productions.

Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance from SUNY at Buffalo and a Master of Fine Arts in Directing from Florida State University. He is certified in Living Mental Wellness and serves as an Assistant Faculty member of Theatrical Intimacy Education. His previous academic appointments include Elon University and Florida State University.

Michael is a member of American Actors Equity Association, American Guild of Variety Artists, Society of American Fight Directors and Canadian Actors Equity Association.

MichaelDJablonski.com