Theatre Department Faculty
Heather
McMahon, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Theatre
Heather is originally from Nashville, Tennessee and earned her B.A. in Theatre and History at Belmont University. She holds a Master's degree in Theatre History from Illinois State University and completed a Ph.D. in Theatre History, Literature and Criticism at Indiana University in 2003.
Heather's specialization is nineteenth-century American theatre and her research interests include theatre of the American Civil War, feminist theatre, and child actors. She has presented papers at the Mid-American Theatre Conference, the Comparative Drama Conference, South-Eastern Theatre Conference's Theatre Symposium, and the American Society for Theatre Research. Her article on theatre of the Confederacy, entitled " The 'Benevolent' Institution of Slavery: James D. McCabe's The Guerillas," was published in the 2003 edition of Theatre Symposium.
Heather's experience and interest in theatre also extend to all areas of production. She has worked as an actor, director, designer, house manager, and dramaturg. These days, her production focus is on directing at Maryville College, and recent productions have included Sophocles’ Elektra, David Ives’ All in the Timing, Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit, and Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Email: heather.macmahon@maryvillecollege.edu
Alan
Reihl, Instructor
Technical Director
Alan Reihl has received an M.F.A. in 1987 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in Technical Production; and a B.A. in Speech and Theatre '79, University of New Hampshire. He has been employed at Maryville College since 1989, teaching Stagecraft, designing and producing two dramatic productions per year here. Alan also does the Lighting Design for Van Metre Dance School Recitals and Appalachian Ballet Concert Ballets.
Previously, he has worked as Shop Foreman for Aladdin Stage Lighting, Philadelphia, as a Straw Boss on Tops at The Philadelphia Festival ''75; as a Technical Director at Weathervane Theatre summerstock from '71 through '79; an Equity Stage Manager for Long Wharf Childrens' theatre tour, an Equity Manager for Playmakers' Repertory, Chapel Hill, a Technical Director and Carpenter for "Tecumsa", "ThePassion Play" and "Christy", and for Outdoor Dramas. "I'm older than I look, and I do not lie."
He has a wife named Elaine, and has two boys named Ernest and Anthony. Ernie is a Sophomore here at MC, and Tony is a Junior at Heating High School. He is still working/building his home [after 15 years' part-time work], and works with the Boy Scouts of America.
His hobby is restoring Volkswagens because, "it keeps him humble".
