Theatre
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SPA has a long and established history of providing the highest quality training and education in the performing arts. The acting and directing faculty at SLSPA have an impressive array of credentials, including extensive professional experience and a minimum of 7 years of university training in a variety of performance techniques. This ensures that students are receiving the best instruction possible from faculty with a broad range of knowledge and experience.
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The curriculum at SPA is both broad and deep, and is designed to give students a solid understanding of the artistic process. Students are taught the fundamentals of acting, including voice and movement, audition techniques, and scene study. They are also introduced to other areas of theatre production, such as directing, writing, and design. This comprehensive approach to theatre training enables students to gain a well-rounded knowledge of the various aspects of the art form.
The success of the SPA Theatre Program is evidenced by the acceptance of its graduates into some of the most respected university training programs in the country. Many of the program’s students have gone on to successful careers in theatre and film, as well as other related disciplines. The success of the SPA Theatre Program can be attributed to the high quality of instruction, the comprehensive curriculum, and the dedication of the faculty to helping their students achieve their goals.
SPA is a great place to begin or further a career in the performing arts. With its highly trained faculty, comprehensive curriculum, and successful graduates, the SPA Theatre Program is an excellent choice for those seeking to gain a comprehensive understanding of theatre.
Meet the Faculty
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(801) 466-6700 Ext 102
vdavenport@saltlakespa.org
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Varlo Davenport graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in Theatre and a minor in English literature. He earned a Master of Fine Arts in Acting at The Ohio State University.
Varlo has produced, directed, and performed in numerous theatrical productions throughout the country, and has many film and television credits. He wrote and performed the award-winning one-person show John Wesley Powell: The Last American Adventure. He has taught at Utah State University, College of Eastern Utah, Utah Valley State College, and Ohio State University.
Varlo taught at Dixie State University for 15 years where, while building an award-winning theater program, he directed more than 22 productions.
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(801) 466-6700 ext 105
jhirsh@saltlakespa.org
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Jess holds a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (Thesis: Fabiana Aziza Cunningham in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot), a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Youngstown State University (Magna Cum Laude, Senior Project: The Witch in Into The Woods), a Shakespeare Certificate from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and a Musical Theatre Certificate from the Open Jar Institute in New York City. Jess was a two-time Irene Ryan Acting Competition nominee and was a semi-finalist for Musical Theatre Initiative in 2017 at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. She has worked internationally as a theatre artist and is incredibly grateful to be joining the team of superstars here at SPA!
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(801) 466-6700 ext 121
cpomeroy@saltlakespa.org
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Cara Pomeroy-Allan is a graduate of the University of Utah’s Theatre Department where she earned a BA in Theatre Studies with an emphasis in Scenic Design. She has worked as the master electrician for The Grand Theatre and as a carpenter and scenic painter for Pioneer Theatre Company.
She is currently the Founding Technical Director of Umbrella Theatre Company, a company whose mission includes identifying particularly exceptional theatre design students and connecting them with resources to help them take their first professional strides. She works as adjunct faculty teaching stagecraft and scenic painting at Westminster College, as well as a freelance scenic designer in the Salt Lake area.
