<p>This year was our beloved dance professor Barbara Hartwig’s fifth and final year at CCU. Although she will be missed greatly, we are excited to announce the addition of two new dance faculty members taking over (and a brand new dance studio to boot!).</p>
<p>First up, "CCU Theatre would like to welcome Adam Pelty to the faculty. Adam Pelty has joined the American touring company of Billy Elliot-the musical as resident choreographer. His production of Tick Tick Boom for Porchlight Music Theatre in Chicago starred Adrian Aguilar and was critically acclaimed. Peltys Broadway and touring credits as actor include Steel Pier, Titanic, A Christmas Carol, Cyrano-The Musical, Joseph…, and The Scarlet Pimpernel, for which he also created the original choreography. Most recently he was seen as Santa in the national touring company of A Christmas Story, Aldolpho in The Drowsy Chaperone (Jeff nomination, supporting actor) at Marriotts Lincolnshire Theatre, Sir Robin in Spamalot at Drury Lane and Putting It Together for Porchlight (Jeff nomination, actor in a revue).*He has served on the faculties of Ithaca College and Interlochen Center of the Arts in Michigan, and is creative director every July for Summer Stars at the Rochester Broadway Theatre league in upstate New York. He is also the founder of Moveable Arts, a Broadway education company.</p>
<p>After twenty years in New York City, he now makes his home in home-town Chicago pursuing creative endeavors and helping mom with their Lincoln Park B and B. He is the son of the late legendary Chicago entertainer Lee Pelty and the father of New York City teenage up-start, Noah Pelty.</p>
<p>Since childhood, Adam has been a professional in the performing arts. His early experience encompassed singing jingles for national television and radio commercials to work in feature films to leading roles in musicals. The son of Chicago celebrity Lee Pelty, Adam appeared in his fathers nightclub act throughout the 70s and 80s, while studying and performing as a featured soloist with Ruth Page’s Chicago Ballet. He was formally trained at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan and United States International University in San Diego and London. He also attended Purdue University, touring internationally*as a soloist with the Purdue Varsity Glee Club. </p>
<p>Adam’s adult professional acting career has taken him on national and European tours as well as to Broadway. He has worked with industry standouts Susan Stroman, Frank Galati, Ann Reinking, Terrence McNally, Chita Rivera, Kander and Ebb, Frank Wildhorn, John Rando and Mike Ockrent, to name a few. As a choreographer, Adam has staged dances for film, television specials, and commercials. Adam is certified in fencing and stage combat by the British Society of Fight Directors, and teaches master classes in theatre art throughout the United States. From 2000 to 2004, Mr. Pelty served as Director of High School Musical Theatre at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan and currently serves as creative director for Summer Stars in Rochester, NY."</p>
<p>To add to the excitement, " The Department of Theatre faculty welcome our newest member. Becky Timms has been dancing professionally for over 20 years. She has been in many Broadway Shows and National Tours including Showboat directed by Harold Prince (Swing for 12 roles), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Starring Donny Osmond (Judah’s Wife-High C soloist), Cats (Swing for 7 roles), West Side Story directed by Jerome Robbins (Velma), Chess (Lead Dancer/Ensemble), Pippin (Player/Manson Trio), Guys and Dolls (Hot Box Girl u/sAdelaide). She also performed in many Equity Regional Theatres. Some of her favorite roles are Lola in Damn Yankees, Catherine in The Foreigner, Lois/Bianca in Kiss Me Kate, Elvira in Blithe Spirit and Lina Lamont in Singing in the Rain.</p>
<p>Becky was the Associate Choreographer for Thoroughly Modern Millie which won the 2002 Tony Award for Best Choreography. She choreographed the 2012 Opening Ceremonies and Arthur Ashe Kids Day at the U.S. Open. Becky has directed and/or choreographed many theatre productions all over the country. Three of her favorites are Shenandoah, Cabaret, and Illyria, a musical of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night at the New Jersey Shakespeare Theatre - where she choreographed theproduction’s World Premiere.</p>
<p>She and husband, Paul Carlin, were founders and co-artistic directors of Northstage Theatre Company in Illinois, where they produced/directed/choreographed many productions, including Brigadoon, The Mousetrap, Bye Bye Birdie, Ten Little Indians, and A Child’s Christmas in Wales. Becky’s favorite production is her son, Payton."</p>
<p>The addition of these two as well as some TBA new technical faculty is just going to continue to push the program and students to new heights!</p>