Andrew Mudd entered the faculty of the Department of Theatre this fall, bringing a wealth of experience in both the practice and teaching of technical stagecraft.

"He occupies a very important position in the department in two ways," said department chair Langdon Brown. "He is the person who teaches hands-on scenic construction courses. At the same time, he is our technical director in production and is responsible for turning design ideas into scenery. We are very lucky to get someone who has done as much in the profession as he has."

Mudd holds an MFA from Yale in Technical Design and Production Management (1992), and has had a varied career in both academic and professional theater. His most recent academic appointment was as technical director at Xavier University. He has worked in community theater and opera, and from 1993 to 1997 was production manager and technical director for the Human Race Theatre Company in Dayton, Ohio. Recent productions of the company include Sylvia, Rocky Horror, and Angels in America.

Angels in America, the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Tony Kushner, is also scheduled for production at the University's Performing Arts Center in November. Mudd called the play "important, with a great message," and said that Albany's willingness to produce the controversial work is a "great tribute" to the University itself.

Mudd said of his appointment at Albany, "I'm excited about coming in and rebuilding the technical side of the department" after the budget cutbacks of recent years.

He said that part of his job is to help students understand the career potential of theater. "I think it's really important that students realize there is a career in theater, not just a hobby.

I have some very enthusiastic students," he added, "who see the possibilities - and that makes work more enjoyable. The students get a sense of accomplishment and see that they are part of a team."