Craig Ellingson awarded national teaching grant

Craig Ellingson, a faculty member in the MSUM Theatre Department, was recently awarded one of six National Teaching Artist Grants from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The grant supports Ellingson’s sabbatical leave during 2011-2012. He will participate in Dell’Arte International and its Physical Theatre certificate program in Blue Lake, Calif.

Dell’Arte International is the North American center for theatre training, research, and performance of the actor-creator. The organization was founded in 1971 in Berkeley, Calif., to bring the European physical training tradition to the United States and to develop actor-creators through training in mime, mask, movement and ensemble creation.

Ellingson is the Chair and Director of Theatre Arts, where he teaches in the area of acting, directing, musical theatre, movement and dance. He has performed at the Kennedy Center and has danced professionally with Ballet Omaha, Lincoln Midwest Ballet, Omaha Dance Collective, Lincoln Contemporary Dance Theatre and The Prairie Dance Collective. Ellingson’s directing and choreography work has been seen regionally at MSUM, The Straw Hat Players, The Theatre of the Invisible Guests, Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre, FM Opera, Detroit Lakes’ Playhouse 412, Highland Summer Theatre, Nebraska Repertory Theatre and The Lofte Theatre. He holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre Performance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a M.F.A. in Theatre Directing from Minnesota State University Mankato.

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