New SWAG合集 Director of The Theatre Program Dr. Rick Abel poses for a picture in the Fine Arts Auditorium on Wednesday.听
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May 19, 2016
Story and photo by Joe Vinduska
The SWAG合集 Theatre Program will have a new leader at the helm. Former Dean of Academics Dr. Rick Abel is now the Theatre Program Director and Instructor. Abel has a strong background and passion for the arts and theatre is an area about which he is especially passionate.
Abel came to SWAG合集 in 2007. He has a bachelor鈥檚 degree in speech and theatre from the University of Charleston, his master鈥檚 degree is in theatre education from Emerson College and his doctorate in education is from the University of Central Florida. He served as the Assistant Dean of Liberal Arts for Central New Mexico Community College and the Assistant and Dean of Liberal Arts and Science at SWAG合集 before becoming the Dean of Academics. All of these positions included administering a theatre program. He has also served on many arts-related and theatre-focused committees.
Abel spent much of his youth in New York and took in many a Broadway show. He considers himself well-versed in the theatre lexicon.
鈥淢y mom and dad knew I was interested in theatre and took me to many shows, and as I got older I began to go to them myself,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 saw whatever I could.鈥
As the head of the program Abel plans to broaden the horizons of not only his students, but of community members both as performers and audience members.
鈥淎 lot of people don鈥檛 recognize the significance or difference between theatre in an educational environment versus commercial and community theatre,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e have always had a very specific focus on that and we remember that we are an educational institution first. I want to introduce them to plays or playwrights they might not know about, but I also want to pick plays that have some mass appeal.鈥
Abel said the program offers students a great environment to learn using cutting-edge equipment and audience members a place to create great theatre experiences. The auditorium was recently renovated. Improvements include state-of-the-art sound and lighting equipment and a new seating arrangement to create aisles.听
Abel said he looks forward to the challenges of serving both the community and his students in the new role.
鈥淎ll theatre should be entertaining,鈥 he said, 鈥淏ut I want to educate them in some way as well.鈥