Dramatic Arts (MFA)

Katie Mallinson (Program Director) is a director and dramaturg with an interest in developing communities, particularly in her hometown of Buffalo. Her focus is on dramaturgical values as a foundation for artistry, identity, and collaboration. She received her MFA in Dramaturgy from the Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard University. She’s earned two Artie Awards for Outstanding Direction of a Play (Guards at the Taj in 2023 and Photograph 51 in 2022). Additional select directorial credits include: Bloom (Raices Theatre Company); People, Places, & Things (The Kavinoky Theatre); The Nether, Dinner With Friends, and Freud’s Last Session (Road Less Traveled Productions); Design For Living (Irish Classical Theatre); and Deathtrap (Lancaster Opera House). She is a member of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas and an Ensemble Member at Road Less Traveled Productions.

Megan Callahan (Voice, Movement, Acting). Megan is both a performing and holistic artist. She knew as a young child that she was a highly creative being and was drawn to assisting and empowering people from all walks of life on their journeys. She loves to work with people to help them become more connected to and aware of their innate wisdom and potential. She found her way to yoga as a young teen to help with a serious physical condition, and continues to be amazed and humbled by what is discovered on and off the mat, and works to deeply honor the lineage from which this practice emerged, and to help the practice become more accessible to all folks seeking liberation and self-actualization, and to support how folks can show up in service with a balanced heart during these critical times.

She is also an energy worker of several modalities, a writer, actor, musician, and director. She has taught theater for over fifteen years and holds a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Wayne State University/The Hilberry Repertory Theatre Company, has a certificate of completion as a teacher in the Michael Chekhov technique, which she has been studying since 2004, and has studied at the Moscow Art Theater (MXAT) and the Globe Theater in London. In addition to teaching theater to all ages, Megan is a nominated and acclaimed director, dialect coach, actor and musician. She has taught the Michael Chekhov technique for many years, including workshops in Ireland and throughout the United States. Most recently she directed an award-winning production of Frankenstein (via the Kennedy Center’s American College Theater Festival) at her alma mater of Ramapo College of New Jersey. Some of her local directing credits include, Mojada (RaÌces Theater Company, staged reading), My Birthday Party (Against the Grain Theater Festival, staged reading), Lulu, Uncle Vanya, He Who Gets Slapped, The Furies of Mother Jones and Far Away. As an actor and dialect coach she has worked with Torn Space Theater, ICTC, Musicalfare, Jewish Repertory Theater, The Kavinoky, Theater of Youth, Shakespeare in Delaware Park, Second Generation Theater, BUA, Subversive Theater Collective and The Alt. She is also a mother to two young, energetic and lovely boys.

Kelly Meg Brennan (Voice, Production). I am a committed, diverse creator and performer. From operas to plays to my own devised work, I bring great passion and dedication to arriving at the truth of each character and performance moment whether embodying an aria of heartache or lobbing sarcastic comebacks in a farcical play. Rooted in appreciation of the myriad personal qualities of those around me, I have a keen sense of empathy and kinesthetic understanding, which has enabled me to portray a colorful assortment of characters in a range of venues. Theater allows us to open our understanding of our shared humanity, it shows the world from another’s perspective and invites you on their journey. I have tremendous respect for the craft and the exploration of performing and am constantly seeking opportunities to stretch my creative endeavors.