August 15, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Lisa Channer, M.F.A., and Marlene Johnson, M.F.A., have joined the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Theatre faculty. Channer will teach directing and special topics. Johnson will teach acting and voice.

Channer earned a master’s degree from Yale School of Drama and an undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts. She also attended the Delle Arts School of Physical Theatre in Blue Lake, Calif., and the St. Petersburg Academy of Theatre Arts in Russia. Channer is the founder of Sleeveless Theatre School in Northampton, Mass., where she oversaw 200 students and taught acting, improvisation and comedy improvisation, directing, creating original work, theater and mask, political and physical theater. She most recently was an associate professor at Auburn University where she taught directing, acting, analysis of dramatic literature, introduction to theater and other classes. At Auburn she taught “The Human Odyssey,” an interdisciplinary, team-taught course covering the history of humanity. She also was honored there in 2005 with a teaching excellence award. This year the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival presented her with the Meritorious Achievement Award.

Johnson earned master’s degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University and Miami University and an undergraduate degree from Asbury College in Kentucky. She specializes in voice, speech, directing, acting and kinesthetic awareness. Johnson most recently was an assistant professor at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Ga., where she taught directing, acting, dialects and acting styles. Johnson also was a visiting professor at Florida State University, Virginia Commonwealth University and Lafayette College, Marywood College, Muhlenberg College, Cedar Crest College and Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. She has taught more than 40 workshops as a private consultant and given professional and academic voice direction to a dozen universities, colleges and companies.