Research & Creative Achievements for Theatre & Film

Lauren Bone Noble is award the highly competitive fellowship that honors Mississippi artists who demonstrate the ability to create exemplary work in their chosen field. The fellowship gives Noble flexibility to pursue a variety of projects. Over the summer, she directed "An Iliad," at the Franklin Stage Company in New York's Great Western Catskills. The show, adapted from Homer's classic poem, "The Iliad," is an examination of "our fascination with war, heroes and the terrible human cost," Noble said.

Joe Jackson, Instructional Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre Dance, brings over twenty years of professional acting and dance experience to the university. Professionally, Joe has performed in New York, regionally, and internationally. Two career highlights were the national tour of Dr. Doolittle where he tapped alongside Broadway Icon Tommy Tune, and the Italian tour of West Side Story. Recently he directed and choreographed the regional professional premier of Bandstand for Front Porch Theatricals in Pittsburgh, PA.

Michael Barnett, Chair & Professor of Lighting Design, works on lighting, sound, and computer-aided design. He has designed over 100 professional theatre productions across the country including the national tours of Forever Plaid and Miracle on 34^th Street.  His work has been nominated for BroadwayWorld awards and reviewed in the Boston Globe, Washington Post, and others. As an Associate Artist for 18 seasons with Nashville Repertory Theatre and earned the First Night Award for Outstanding Lighting Design.

Sarah Hennigan, Associate Professor of Film Production, is an award-winning filmmaker who is passionate about telling Native stories on screen. Her directorial work has been seen in festivals such as LA SkinsFest, Māoriland Film Festival, Phoenix Film Festival, and Green Bay Film Festival. She works as a cinematographer has been shown at the Austin Film Festival and on PBS, and won the SXSW Texas Shorts Jury Prize. In her most recent project, Hennigan is director of a cross-country devised film that included professionals, current students, and alumni. Logline: “Navigating their already strained relationship, Markus and Marnie attempt to take their Grandma’s ashes on the “perfect” family road trip they never got.”

Film Production major Autumn Payne received a prestigious grant through the Stamps Impact Prize to support student-led research and creative projects. With mentorship by Sarah Hennigan, Associate Chair and Associate Professor of Film Production, Autumn's documentary short film sheds light on the nuance experiences of autistic women. The project for which she served as director will complete her senior capstone film as well as Honors College thesis. She was able to use the funds to support the production expenses and to hire recent alumni for post-production work.

Than Clayton and Jackson Strickland created the documentary, Oxford: A Place for Art, showcasing the local arts council’s impact. Despite challenges, they completed it in under a month with faculty support. The film was selected for four festivals: Oxford Film Festival, the Black Warrior Film Festival, the South Georgia Film Festival, where it won Best Poster, and the Auburn Indie Film Festival, where it won Best Editing.