Brown, James Needham

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Instructor in Theatre
Program Chair, Theatre
Beaver Athletics and Wellness Center, 201M


James N. Brown earned an MFA in Directing from the Florida State University School of Theatre. He worked on the production staff at the Public Theatre (New York Shakespeare Festival) in the 1970’s and 80’s while “playing” way, way Off-Off Broadway at some favorite tiny theatres. At NYSF, Mr. Brown was fortunate enough to work on a variety of productions with a superb group of theatre artists. Some personal favorites among these productions were Drinks Before Dinner with Christopher Plummer, Taken In Marriage with Colleen Dewherst and Meryl Streep, The Pirates of Penzance with Kevin Kline, and Don Juan directed by Richard Foreman. While in New York, Jim studied the Meisner Approach to Acting with Katherine Gately at the William Esper Studio, scene study with Bill Hickey and Shakespeare with Aaron Frankel at the HB Studio. 
Since graduating from FSU, he has taught in the theatre programs at Penn State Berks, Kutztown University, the University of Florida, Auburn University in Montgomery, Kennesaw State University, and Alabama State University. Since coming to Pennsylvania, he has performed in Patient A by Lee Blessing for Philadelphia’s Sympatico Theatre Project, understudied the role of Porfiry in the Arden Theatre Company’s production of Crime and Punishment, and the role of Clive in the Wilma Theatre’s production of Cloud 9. At Kutztown University, Jim directed Baby With the Bath Water, She Stoops to Conquer, and Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors, among others. In addition to working as a director/fight director for the theatre programs where he has taught, the professional theaters for which he has served as Fight Director include The Orlando Opera, Arden Theatre Company (Philadelphia), The Horizon Theatre Company (Atlanta), and Town & Gown Theatre (Birmingham). Jim is a member of The Screen Actors Guild/American Federation of Radio and Television Artists (SAG/AFTRA), and holds the rank of Certified Teacher in the Society of American Fight Directors.

 

MFA, Directing, Florida State University School of Theatre