Featuring Brian Begley, communication arts professor at Wayne State College.
Brian Begley likes to joke that the Wayne State Theatre Program’s scene shop is his second office. But when he’s in the middle of working on a play – like he is now with “The Oregon Trail” – the joke becomes reality. Begley, a professor of communication arts at Wayne State, is this week’s subject of the Faculty Spotlight Series.
Begley, a native of Rapid City, S.D., is the technical director and designer for the Wayne State Theatre Program. He teaches lighting and set design, technical theatre, play writing, and acting specialties, including performance for the camera and stage combat. He’s been teaching at Wayne State since 2016.
While he’s an accomplished actor himself, Begley would rather talk about the accomplishments of Wayne State graduates working in the theatre industry.
“We have graduates working in major touring houses like the Washington Pavillion in Sioux Falls, S.D., the Omaha Community Playhouse, and many more,” said Begley. “Actors working as far afield as Los Angeles; Portland, Ore.; and Baton Rouge, La.; and directors from Wakefield to Omaha to Chicago and beyond. Our teachers are sharing their love of theatre with young people across the Midwest and dozens of schools in Nebraska including Blair, Ashland, Summerland, Laurel, and Omaha.
“Our program offers a degree where students learn and do all aspects of theatre,” continued Begley. “It prepares them for work in the professional theatre, entertainment industry, teaching, and a life of joy in the art of theatre.”
Wayne State’s Theatre Arts degree program dives deep into the heart of storytelling and stagecraft. Students can build their foundation and make themselves a well-rounded performer. Mainstage productions at Wayne State give students the opportunity for acting, directing, costume design, special effects, lighting, and more.
In the Theatre Arts program, students can participate in the annual American College Theatre Festival (Region V) and tour with the children’s theatre. Students can also join the WSC Drama Club, a thriving student organization with a busy programming schedule.
With a Theatre Arts degree, students will be prepared to steal the show on the big screen, or use their speaking talents to become an announcer, on-air personality, or even a salesperson. No matter what route they take, students gain skills that are beneficial to any career, such as design, production, management, and even cultural awareness.
Begley is a designer, sound technician, director, and actor, and has performed across the United States, and in Canada, Mexico, and Costa Rica. He is co-founder of Discovery Mime & Movement Theatre, a regional touring performance company dedicated to physical theatre. Begley's areas of specialty are in mime, slapstick, juggling, vaudeville, movement, and stage combat, as well as lighting and sound design.
Begley earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting and his Master of Fine Arts degree in Directing from the University of South Dakota.
Fun Fact: “I play guitar in a local cover band called Reinvented Wheels, and we play classic rock.”
Catch a performance of “The Oregon Trail” by the WSC Theatre Program on Oct. 8-11 in the Black Box Theatre.