Jules comes to Fayetteville via Chicago where she taught early music and dance education at Old Town School of Folk Music, as well as hosted the Songwriters Circle and other events. Jules holds an MA from Texas A&M University and a BFA from the College of Santa Fe, NM. She has taught music, dance and drama to babies as young as six months old and to adults in their 80s. She has worked as Lead Teaching Artist for Gallery 37  for the city of Chicago teaching dance and drama to special needs high school students. She is a choreographer and director of many children's theater performances, as well as an actor herself. Jules also created and produced “Devin Rocks Presents,” a weekly showcase of musicians and poets from around the country which ran for over a year. Most recently, Jules was seen in Cat On a Hot Tin Roof at Arts Center of the Ozarks and A Dupont Christmas Carol. She has been with Arts Live Theatre for nearly two years where she taught several classes and workshops and directed The Emperor’s New Clothes.

Theatre Programs & Education for Youth in Northwest Arkansas

Arts Live Theatre, Inc.

Faculty & Staff

Arts Live is fortunate to have a strong, talented base of faculty to work as teachers, directors and mentors for our youth. In addition, we have two permanent staff members who handle the regular, on-going administration of the organization. We are here for you and the kids in our area, so please feel free to contact us by e-mail (listed below) or by phone at (479) 521-4932.

Ginger Bowen, Executive Director

Ginger comes to Arts Live Theatre, Inc. with a bachelor’s degree in Financial Management from the University of Arkansas and has nonprofit experience in facility management, grant-writing, budgeting, fundraising and volunteer management. She also brings accounting and office management experience to the position. Ginger resides in Fayetteville with her husband and two daughters. Information regarding Arts Live Theatre, Inc. and its productions and classes, call 479-521-4932, or e-mail director@artslivetheatre.com.

 

E-mail: director@artslivetheatre.com

Mark Landon Smith, Artistic Education Director

Mark has served on the creative faculty of Arts Live Theatre for the past three years. In addition to teaching a series of classes and workshops, Mark also directed several Arts Live production including Ascension Day, Androcles and the Lion, An Evening of Williams and Inge and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Mark holds an MFA in Acting from the University of Arkansas where he appeared in several productions and was a two time Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Regional Finalist.  He has worked as an actor with Centerstage, Tidal Theatre Company, Gaslight Dinner Theatre, The Playroom, Theatre Memphis, Starlight Productions and three seasons with the McCoy Repertory Theatre.  As a professional playwright, Mark has had seven scripts published by Baker's Plays/Samuel French. His plays are produced nationally and internationally. Mark is also an adjunct faculty member with Tulsa University. In addition, he is co-founder and co-producer of Ceramic Cow Productions. He also now serves as a regular staff member for Arts Live Theatre in the position of artistic education director and handles the artistic programming of the organization.

Missy Gipson, Teaching Artist & Director

Missy has a BA in Theatre as well as a minor in music from Lyon College. After college she moved to New York, where she studied acting and voice. While in New York, Missy originated the role of Mary Shelley in the off-off Broadway debut of Frankenstein: The Rock Musical at LaMaMa E.T.C. Some of the shows she has appeared in include A Streetcar Named Desire, The Beggar’s Opera, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, South Pacific and Bandstand U.S.A. Locally she was seen as Donna in Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding at the Walton Arts Center. Missy is also a vocal coach and tours regionally as part o ChaseMissy, an Americana band. They have opened for such acts as Lucy Kaplansky, Robert Earl Keen and other well-known performers. She has been a teaching artist with Arts Live Theatre for the past year and is directing How to Eat Like a Child (And Other Lessons in Not Being a Grown-Up).

E-mail: marksmith@artslivetheatre.com

E-mail: julestaylor@juno.com

Theatre Programs & Education for Youth in Northwest Arkansas

Arts Live Theatre, Inc.

Jules Taylor, Teaching Artist & Director

E-mail: ms_gipson@hotmail.com

Mario Moreno, Teaching Artist

Mario Moreno holds an MA in Theatre from the University of Arkansas, and a BA in Theatre/Psychology from San Jose University.  Stage credits include The Miser (Irene Ryan nominee), The Cradle Will Rock (Excellence in Ensemble Performance, ACTF), The Kathy and Mo Show (director), A Spaghetti Western (playwright and producer), The Good Woman of Setzuan and Tony 'n Tina's Wedding, to name a few.  Mario has also worked as a sound, props and costume designer.  He is a community volunteer and has been involved with the Fayetteville Public Library, First Night, Walton Arts Center and has also taught conversational Spanish throughout the area.

 

Bonner holds a BFA theatre major/minor from Auburn University. She has directed and acted in numerous stage productions with both community and professional theatre. She has designed and implemented summer workshops, school arts curriculum and teacher workshops along with founding Fantasy Playhouse Academy of Theatre for youth.   She has authored a theatre curriculum, “Acting with Imagination” and “Fun and Easy Plays for Children.” Bonner has over thirty years experience working with children in schools and other educational settings, including mentally challenged and at-risk youth, providing them an educational and fun program. She is currently involved in several statewide arts programs and is somewhat new to the Bentonville area where she has performed acting parts with Classical Youth Ballet’s Nutcracker Ballet and spring performance of Graduation Ball.  Bonner is on the artist’s roster for the state of Arkansas and has previously worked as an artist for Alabama, Texas, and Georgia.

Bonner Dison, Teaching Artist