Graduate Students in Residence

Haley Anissa Alvarez (she/her/ella) is a first-generation Ph.D. student from Pharr, Texas completing her 4th year in the program. She identifies as a Mechicana Scholartist who studies the intersectionality of gender and race in early Latinx Theatre. She obtained her Masters in Arts from Baylor University in Waco, Texas along with receiving a Bachelors in Fine Arts from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. She currently teaches THFM 2020: Performance in Life and Onstage, and has also taught THFM 2150: Exploring Cultural Diversity Through Performance

Chris Plonka (he/him/his) was born and raised in Massachusetts and though his professional journey has taken him away from there, you can still find him rooting for all of Boston sports as a reminder of home. Chris received a BA in Arts Management from Stonehill College as well as an MFA in Acting from Indiana University - Bloomington.

As a scholar and an artist, he is interested in the exploration of an actor’s movement, studying a wide variety of movement techniques. In the past few years, Chris has leaned into this interest through his work as a fight choreographer and studying with the Society of American Fight Directors. Chris also has extensive experience as an actor and director stretching back 15 years. 

Madison Ellis (she/her/hers): Madison is from Cleveland, but she is a Boston fan at heart [Go Celtics!]. She received her BA in Theatre from Miami University of Ohio and her MA in Theatre from Bowling Green State University where she is currently pursuing her PhD. Her dissertation research dissects notions of monstrosity in dramatic worlds across the shifting landscapes of feminist movements. Appearances in previous BGSU productions include POTUS (Harriet) by Selina Fillinger, Electra (Clytemnestra) adapted by Frank McGuinness, The Harvest (Michaela) by Samuel D. Hunter, Silent Sky (Director) by Lauren Gunderson and Doctor Faustus Lights the Lights (Assistant Director) by Gertrude Stein. As an actor, director, and scholar, she gravitates toward all things strange, unruly, and curious.

Sarah Hopson (she/her) is a 1st year Ph.D. student. Originally from Lexington, Kentucky, Sarah received her B.A. in Theatre and Cinema Performance from Asbury University in 2020 and her M.A. here at Bowling Green State University in 2024. Her experience includes 15 years of stage and screen performance as well as specific work in theatre and education integration from the Alliance Theatre Company in Atlanta, Georgia. Currently, Sarah teaches THFM 2020: Performance in Life and On Stage and serves as the Theatre Social Media and Publicity Manager for the department.

Christopher completed his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Theatre Arts at New Mexico State University and his Master of Arts in Theatre Technology and Production from the University of Connecticut. He has worked for various regional theaters and performing arts festivals both nationally and internationally. His academic focus is on politics, performance and the purpose of theatre.

Dane CT Leasure is the founder and Executive Artistic Director of Rubber City Theatre, a professional theatre located in Akron, OH. Primarily a director, Dane has directed productions ranging from A Midsummer Night's Dream to Pippin. In recent years, Dane has turned to new works, particularly musicals in development, such as Heartbreakers in Hell and  Love in Reserve. His primary research areas are Shakespearean Adaptation and the intersection of regional theatre and theatre in higher education. He is a senior lecturer and area chair in Theatre Arts at the University of Akron. He holds a M.Litt and MFA from Mary Baldwin University in Shakespeare and Performance. Dane is a proud member of Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.

Zahra Shirvani (she/her) holds a B.A. and M.A. in Acting and Directing from the University of Tehran, Iran, and is currently a first-year PhD student in Theatre at Bowling Green State University. Her research interests include gender and performance, feminist studies, the body in performance, critical theory, sociology, Iranian traditional and contemporary theatre, and Middle Eastern Studies.

Her academic research has been published in journals, including the Journal of Woman in Culture and Arts and the Journal of Fine Arts: Performing Arts and Music. Zahra's theatrical practice began in 2011 with her performance in Do-Be-Del (Hesitant) at the 29th Fajr International Theater Festival. She has also appeared in plays such as "Persistent Vegetative State", "Habib, Afsane, and Nader", "Upward Trend", and "Fake". In addition to her acting work, Zahra directed many performances at the university during her studies and contributed to various projects as a stage design assistant.

MJ is perky, sociable, and a little chaotic. He is completing his Masters in Theatre at BGSU in December, after which he will be an adjunct professor at Trinity Christian College where he obtained a BA in Graphic Design and Theatre in 2024. MJ has been involved in over 35 theatre productions primarily through acting, directing, and playwriting, but has also dabbled in scenic design, house management, stage work, and more. He prides himself on obtaining a diverse theatre skillset and hopes to one day use those skills to lead a college theatre program. Some of his favorite subsets of theatre include farce, experimental, LGBTQ+ theatre, and absurdism. Much of his past work both in theatre and graphic design can be viewed on his website mjhuizenga.com - he'd love for you to check it out!

John Jordan is a 2nd year M.A student and a 2024 graduate of Hillsdale College. At Hillsdale, he directed No One Will be Immune by David Mamet, and this year at Bowling Green he will be directing A Dead Man’s Apartment by Edward Allan Baker for the Elsewhere season and assistant directing Head Over Heels for BGSU’s mainstage season. Notable undergraduate papers include “Everything you Have Goes: Hope, Sin, and Adaptation in The Humans” and “Beyond Mortal Sight: Pentheus’s False Truths in Euripides’ Bacchae.” At BGSU, he has written “Trading Sins: Sexual Resignation in Ruined,” “Performatic Inscrutability: Queering Knowing Trumping Opinions,” and a case study of Choral Evensong at Hillsdale College as a reenactment of the past. He can probably be found in the costume shop hoping Laurel doesn't notice him mending his own clothes instead of the costumes.

Gifty Nunana Tay is a master's student in Theatre at BGSU, holds a B. A in Theatre Studies from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana with a concentration in directing. She began her theatre journey with the National Theatre of Ghana and performed with Village Minds Production for 4 years. Gifty's passion for storytelling drives her to deepen her understanding of theatre pedagogy, history, and practice. She has participated in international theatre exchange programs, fostering transcultural dialogue. She is excited about serving as a graduate assistant in the department's costume shop.