Monthly Archives: July 2015

Via Richard Hess, Chair of CCM Drama

Rocco Dal Vera

Please join me in celebrating the recent appointment of Professor ROCCO DAL VERA to his new role as TAPAA (Theatre Arts, Production, Arts Administration) Division Head. Since joining the CCM Drama faculty in 1999 Rocco has distinguished himself with excellent teaching, leadership, and service to the department and college. His new appointment will allow him to continue to be an advocate for CCM Drama on a higher level, and to help move our Division to new heights with new opportunities. Rocco has moved his office up to our Division Head Office next to Patti Hall. He will continue to teach for CCM Drama, one course per semester to be determined, and he will still be available to us in many ways. Congratulations!

AMAZING CHANGES, there’s more exciting news
I am so pleased to announce the appointment of D’ARCY SMITH to the CCM Drama Faculty. In our time of need we moved quickly and efficiently to find an exceptional Voice and Speech teacher for CCM Drama.

D’Arcy Smith

D’Arcy Smith, BFA, MFA, Voice Teaching Specialist
D’Arcy Smith was recently the resident voice/dialect coach at the Guthrie Theater and a Lecturer of Voice/Speech/Text at the University of Minnesota. He has worked as a teacher and voice and speech specialist in the United States, U.K., Canada and New Zealand. A graduate of York University, Toronto, Canada from the MFA program in Acting with an additional Diploma in Voice Teaching, he has taught at The Central School for Speech and Drama in London, Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, Wright State University, the Canadian National Voice Intensive, and at York University in Toronto. He has also worked as voice, speech and dialect coach on countless professional productions. He produced and directed the audio CD that accompanies the book “Phonics for Dummies”. D’Arcy is well versed in a variety of different voice, speech and communication techniques so that he can best help the individual in their learning. He believes in always keeping a sense of play while guiding the actor to find freedom, confidence and empowerment.

AMAZING CHANGES, there’s even more exciting news
Please Welcome GILES DAVIES to his position as Full Time Visiting Faculty member for the 2015-2016 school year. Giles has graciously agreed to put his successful acting career on hiatus, to leave Florida, and to spend the year in a full time capacity with us teaching a variety of courses. Giles was an adjunct instructor for us for 3 years from 2004-2007 as our Movement II teacher, as well as covering my teaching duties for a term while I was on sabbatical. He is a Cincinnati icon, now based in Florida, highly respected in the field as an actor and teacher, and I know you will all have an amazing year and life changing experiences working with Giles after the retirement of Diane Kvapil.

Giles Davies.

Mr. Davies was born and bred in Hong Kong where he began acting at the age of five at the behest of his sister. He received his M.F.A. from Ohio State University where he specialized in creating solo performances, and his Bachelor of Science degree in Theatre and History, Honors College, Ball State University. He has performed two of his solo shows, An Evening with Charles Dickens and Turgid Tales of Turmoil, Terror and Tortured Souls, in Hong Kong, Belgium, Malaysia, California, New Hampshire, Indiana and Cincinnati. He specializes in teaching Shakespeare, movement, and acting. He has had the privilege of studying with Marcel Marceau, The SITI Co., Richard Schechner, The Wooster Group, Kevin Kling, and Danny Hoch, among others. He initiated a High School age actor training program at The Cincinnati Shakespeare Co., where he worked full time as an ensemble member for 9 years (performing in over 45 productions on their stage). In the Tampa area he has taught with The Patel Conservatory, The American Stage summer programs, Hillsborough Community College, workshops at The Gorilla Theatre and independent sessions with various local artists and students. Most recent Tampa Bay credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (freeFall Theatre), Death and the Maiden (A Simple Theatre) Quills (Jobsite Theatre), and November (American Stage.)