VARLO DAVENPORT
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Curriculum Vitae

Varlo R. Davenport

208 E. Elm St, Murray, UT 84107 • w (435)652-7797, c (435)705-8042, varloray@gmail.com

EXPERIENCE                            


Theatre Chair                                                                                                                               (Aug. 2018 - Present)
Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts (SLSPA,) Salt Lake City, Utah, 84106

My primary duties are providing comprehensive arts and program administration for the school’s theatre department. This includes budget and artistic management, faculty mentoring, curriculum development, and recruitment, as well as teaching and directing.  I teach Acting, Directing and Playwriting, coach competition teams, and supervise student projects. Of the successes I have had here, the most fulfilling has been the placement of students in several high ranking undergraduate programs, including the University of Utah’s Actor Training Program, The University of Hartford, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, and NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Criminal Information Tech II                                                                                                      (Jan. - Aug. 2018)
Bureau of Criminal Identification, Salt Lake City, Utah

Responsible for processing expungement applications. This includes processing, researching State and Federal databases, approving or denying applications, and processing appeals. The position required customer service, computer and research skills, and demands a high level of confidentiality.
​

Internet Sales Manager/Sales Associate                                                                                   (Oct. 2015 - Oct. 2017)
Findlay Volkswagen, St. George, Utah                                                                                      

Responsibilities included; Active listening to determine customer wants and needs, demonstrating vehicle features and benefits, managing expectations, collecting necessary information, working with management to negotiate terms and closing sales, giving effective follow up service, ongoing sales training and product knowledge development. I was also responsible for responding to all internet leads, and following up with them as needed.

Achievements include reaching “Elite Sales Associate” status in my first three months, consistent top scores on customer evaluation surveys, and consistently meeting sales goals.


Professor                                                                                                                                       (Aug. 2000 - Feb. 2015)
Dixie State University, St. George, Utah

My primary duties were divided between teaching acting and voice classes, and directing productions. I researched and produced the performance curricula, assisted with recruiting for the department, and served on campus committees. I developed the model "eportfolio" for the program, and in the summer of 2013 led a travel study group to London and Edinburgh. While at the Edinburgh Fringe we performed The Trojan Women.


Director of Theatre                                                                                                                        (Aug. 2000 - May 2011)

As the program administrator my responsibilities included program administration, artistic and financial management, recruiting, advertising and promotions. I oversaw the transition from a two year to a four year degree granting program, worked on several regional KCACTF and was site coordinator and host for a KCACTF conference. Two of my students have won national KCACTF competitions  including the Irene Ryan acting competition in 2010, and the Alcone makeup design competition in 2008.

In 2009 I founded DSU's Comedy Storm, a repertory summer theatre program, housed in the Fine Arts Center's black box theater.

Courses Taught:

THEA 1013          Intro to Theatre Studies
THEA 1020         Intro to Drama
THEA 1023         Understanding Movies
THEA 1223          Stage Makeup
THEA 1113            Voice and Diction
THEA 1033          Acting I
THEA 1900          Private Applied Theatre: Acting
THEA 2033          Acting II
THEA 2043          Acting III
THEA 2053          Classical Acting
THEA 2900          Independent Study Theatre
THEA 3042          Acting Studio: Acting for the Camera
THEA 3113            Accents and Dialects
THEA 3720          Theatre History & Literature I
THEA 3720          Theatre History & Literature II
THEA 4033          Acting Studio: Masks

Assistant Professor - Extension                                                                                              (1992 - 2000)
Utah State University - Uintah Basin Branch Campus, (USU-UBBC), Vernal, Utah


The primary responsibility of this position was to serve as Producing Artistic Director of the Outlaw Trail Theater, co-sponsored by USU-UBBC and the Uintah County Arts Council. The theater had an annual operating budget of approximately sixty thousand dollars. I was responsible for artistic, financial and personnel management, advertising, promotions and grant writing.

Other responsibilities included service as a theatre instructor and director for University shows presented during the school year, and as a resource coordinator between the USU-UBBC and the local arts organizations in Vernal and Roosevelt.  

Courses Taught:

USU 1330            Civilization: Creative Arts
THEA 1010          Theater Appreciation
THEA 1400          Acting I
THEA 1430          Stage Movement
THEA 1530          Makeup
THEA 1020          Understanding Movies
THEA 2740          Shakespeare and Classical Acting Techniques
THEA 5900          Women's Voices, Contemporary Female Playwrights
THEA 5900          The Plays of Horton Foote, Tennessee Williams and Romulus Linney
THEA 5900          Directed Readings - Acting Theory I
THEA 5900          Directed Readings - Directing Theory
THEA 5900          Vocal Theory         
           

Instructor - (Sabbatical Replacement)                                                                                       (9/91-6/92) 
College of Eastern Utah, Price, Utah

Courses Taught:

Th 101   Theater Appreciation
Th 109   Voice I
Th 121   Beginning Acting I
Th 122   Beginning Acting II
Th 158   Contemporary Drama
Th 205   Forms and Modes of Drama
Th 209   Voice II
Th 221   Intermediate Acting I
Th 222   Intermediate Acting II

Instructor - (Adjunct)                                                                                                                   (09/90- 03/91)
Utah State University, Department of Theater, Logan, Utah

Courses Taught:

ThArt 432            History of Theater II, (Elizabethan to 19th Century)
ThArt 105            Introduction to Theater Studies I

Instructor - (Sabbatical Replacement)                                                                                     (01/89 - 06/89)
Utah State University, Department of Theater, Logan, Utah


Courses Taught:

ThArt 121            Fundamentals of Acting (Non-majors)
ThArt 121            Fundamentals of Acting (Majors)
ThArt 109           First Year Voice
ThArt 209          Second Year Voice
ThArt 316            Dialects in Performance
ThArt 692            Projects in Theater


EDUCATION

Master of Fine Arts                                                                                                                       9/85 - 6/88
The Ohio State University                                                                                                            Columbus, Ohio.

Bachelor of Science - Theatre                                                                                                    9/82 - 6/85
Southern Utah University                                                                                                             Cedar City, Utah

EDNET Faculty Training Certificate                                                                                           5/99
Vernal, Utah    
  

HONORS/AWARDS

·        KCACTF Excellence in Theatre Education Award 2011.

·        Theater, Moab, Utah, Western States Playwrighting Contest, 1998, for John Wesley Powell: The Last American Adventure.

·        Community Service in the Arts award, The Uintah Arts Council, 1998.

·        Professor of the Year, 1988-89. USU Department of Theater.

·        Professor of the Quarter, Spring Quarter, 1989. USU Department of Theater.

·        Graduate Assistantship, OSU, 1985-88.  Tuition and fees plus salary.


WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS

·        “Why the Folio is Your Best Friend.” A one hour workshop introducing actors to the advantages of working with Folio copies of
         Shakespeare’s plays. Utah Shakespearian Festival High School Acting Competition, 2007, 09, Cedar City, UT.

·        “Mormons and Theatre.” A lecture/discussion delivered to St. George chapter of The Sons of the Utah Pioneers. Delivered                        October, 2005, St. George, UT.

·        “Shot Through the Heart: The Death of the Western Movie.”  A lecture/discussion about the cultural influences behind the
          demise of the genre Western. Presented several times for Utah Valley State College Elderhostel and the Utah Humanities                         Council Speakers Bureau, 1999-00.

·        John Wesley Powell: The Last American Adventure. A performance/discussion about Powell’s adventures exploring the Green               and Colorado Rivers.  Presented several times for Utah Valley State College Elderhostel, the Utah Humanities Council Speakers               Bureau, Northern Arizona University Elderhostel, with ongoing presentations by Dixie State College of Utah Elderhostel.

·        “Neutral Mask,” a series of three two hour workshops designed to introduce participants to  the neutral mask.  Session one is the
         construction of the mask.  The second session focuses on internal work. The third session focuses on external characterization.
         Presented at the 1997 Rocky Mountain Theater Conference, Twin Falls, ID.

·        “Audition: A one man/woman show,” a one hour workshop covering the elementary aspects of theatre and film auditioning. This
         includes basic presentation skills, what to expect from your auditors and how to not sabotage your audition. Presented at the                 1994 Utah Theater Association Conference, Logan, Utah and the 1993 Rocky Mountain Theater Conference, Rock Springs, WY.

·        “Losing that Twang,” a voice workshop directed at un-learning regionalisms by use of Lessac methodology and various other
         techniques. Presented at the 1994 Rocky Mountain Theater Conference, Ogden, UT.

·        “A Fighting Chance,” a series of workshops geared as a crash course in stage combat. Especially useful for scene extras who                   need to be able to self-direct their fights. Tumbling, hand to hand combat, foil work and basic fight notation can be covered.                  Presented many times for the Utah Theater Association and also Tuacahn High School Summer Theatre Institute, Ivins, UT, USU-           UBBC, Vernal, UT, CEU Theater Dpt. Price, UT, and USU Theater Dpt., Logan, UT.


COMMITTEES AND SERVICE

·        Respondent, Irene Ryan Acting Competition, KC/ACTF Regional Conference, 2012-15.

·        Chair, DSU Retention, Tenure and Promotion Appeals Committee 2011-Present.

·        DSU Faculty Senate Executive Committee, Fine Arts Representative 2010-2012.

·        Founding Director, The Space Between Theatre Company, 2006 - 2008. St. George, Utah. Co-Chair of the “inner circle” charged           with the Artistic management and direction of this alternative theatre company.

·        DSU Student Services Council, 2001-present. Recommends approval of meal rates, housing rates, and all auxiliary charges to
         students; to deal with policy issues related to student costs, including tuition, fees, refunds and bookstore costs.

·        DSU Rebel Awards Committee, 2003-present. Plans, organize and administer the Rebel Awards Program each year, to include
         outstanding student, faculty and staff awards. Was responsible for major re-visioning of awards and processes.

·        Committee Member, While at DSU I have also served on several hiring committees and also an academic discipline committee.

·        Director, KC/ACTF 10 Minute Play & New Play Development Workshops, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 regional conferences

·        Circuit 8 Coordinator, KC/ACTF Region 7, Coordinates performance respondents for all productions in Utah. 2004 - 2010.

·        Theatre Advisory Panelist, Utah Arts Council. 2005-2007 cycles. An appointment to the States’ board which reviews grant
         applications from theatre organizations to the Utah Arts Council.

·        Coordinator, USU-UBBC Program Evaluation Committee, 1999. Committee developed a report outlining the strengths, challenges
         and potential of the degree and certificate programs at USU-UBBC.

·        Nominating Committee for the Governor’s Awards in the Arts. 1996-1999 cycles. The committee meets annually to review award
         nominations in various Arts categories.

·        Graduate Committee, Carolyn Gwyther, USU MFA Directing candidate, 1998.

·        Community Arts Council Advisory Panelist, Utah Arts Council. 1995-1998 cycles. An appointment to the States’ board which                   reviews grant applications from Community Arts Councils to the Utah Arts Council.

·        Performance Scholarship Competition Judge, Rocky Mountain Theatre Conference, Provo, Utah. 1998.


·        Vice President, Uintah Arts Council, Vernal, Utah. Responsible for overseeing project budgets, grant writing, theater, and                          promotions, liaison with USU-UBBC and the Basin West 2000 Fine Arts Council.

·        Founding Member, Basin West 2000 Fine Arts Council, Roosevelt, Utah, (serves Duchesene County). Responsible for                              coordinating Arts Council theatre events, general management and assisting in grant writing.               


CREATIVE WORK

DIRECTING


-         Savage/Love, SLSPA, Auditorium Theatre, March, 2022
-         Tragedy Averted, SLSPA, Black Box Theater, February, 2022
-         What Was Good, (Premier) Black Box Theatre, March, 2021         
-         Lear, SLSPA, Laboratory Theater, January 2020

-         Into the Woods,  SLSPA, Black Box Theater, November 2019
-         Start Your Engines, Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival, Gateway Center, July 2019
-         Love and Information,  SLSPA, Black Box Theater, March 2019
-         Antigone, SLSPA, Laboratory Theater, December 2018
-         Jekyll and Hyde, The Musical,  Stage Door, The Electric Theater, October 2017
-         Moonlight and Magnolias, St. George Musical Theatre, The Old Opera House, February/March 2015
-         Sunday in the Park with George,  DSU. FAC Main Stage, March 2014
-         Nice People Dancing to Good Country Music, DSU's Comedy Storm. FAC Black Box, June/July 2014
-         The Trojan Women, C Nova, Studio 0, Edinburgh, Scotland, August  2013
-         Dancers, DSU's Comedy Storm, FAC Black Box, June/July 2013
-         The Gondoliers, DSU. FAC Main Stage, February/March 2013
-         The Goodbye Girl, The Neil Simon Festival. Festival Hall, Cedar City, UT, July/August 2012
-         Fiddler on the Roof, DSU. FAC Main Stage, March 2012
-        The Foreigner, DSU. FAC Main Stage, Oct. 2011
-         Run For Your Wife,  DSU’s Comedy Storm, FAC Black Box, June/July 2011 
-        The Trojan Women, DSU. FAC Black Box, April, 2011
-        Blithe Spirit, DSU. FAC Black Box, Sept/Oct, 2010
-        Almost, Maine, DSU. FAC Black Box, Sept 2009 – KCACTF Regional Conference, Feb. 2010
-        A Bedful of Foreigners, DSU’s Comedy Storm, FAC Black Box, June/July 2009
-        110 in the Shade, DSU. FAC Main Stage, April 2009
-        Dancing at Lughnasa, DSU. FAC Main Stage, Sept/Oct 2008
-        As You Like It, DSU. FAC Black Box, Jan/Feb, 2008
-        Sweeney Todd, DSU. FAC Main Stage, Nov, 2007
-        Betrayal, The Space Between Theatre Company, May/June 2007
-        Sleuth, DSU. FAC Black Box Theatre, Feb. 2007
-        Crimes of the Heart, DSU. FAC Main Stage, Oct. 2006
-        Gianni Schicchi, (Starring Michael Ballam) DSU. FAC Main Stage, April, 2006
-        The Mikado, DSU. FAC Main Stage, Nov, 2005
-        A Midsummer Night’s Dream, DSU. FAC Main Stage, April, 2005
-        Jekyll and Hyde, DSU. FAC Main Stage, Nov. 2004. KCACTF Regional Conference, Glendale Community College, Phoenix, AZ.
         Feb., 2005
-        The Boys Next Door, DSU. Gardner Ballroom, March 2004

-        Deathtrap, DSU. Gardner Ballroom, Oct, 2003
-        Pippin, DSU Amphitheater, April 2003
-        The Cripple of Innishman, The Cox Auditorium, Oct, 2002
-        The Glass Menagerie, DSU. Graff Black Box, Feb, 2002
-        The Imaginary Invalid, DSU. Graff Black Box, Sept/Oct, 2001
-        Godspell, Graff Theater, DSU. April, 2001
-        Romeo and Juliet, Graff Theater, DSU. Feb, 2001
-        Little Women: Part First, Graff Theater, DSU. Dec, 2000
-        Harvey, Graff Theater, DSU. Oct, 2000
-        Brighton Beach Memoirs, Geary Theater, CEU. Feb, 1999
-        Joyful Noise, USU-UBBC Multi-Purpose Room & Vernal Middle School Auditorium. Produced by The Basin West 2000 Fine Arts  
         Council. Also designed and constructed the sets.  Dec, 1998

-        The Dining Room, USU-UBBC Multi-Purpose Room, Roosevelt, UT. Produced by USU-UBBC. April, 1998
-        As You Like It, USU-UBBC Multi-Purpose Room & Vernal Jr. High Auditorium.  Produced by USU-UBBC, Basin West 2000 Fine              Arts Council, Uintah Arts Council and The Uintah Recreation Association.  Also designed and constructed the sets for this touring           production.  Feb/Mar, 1997
-        Love Rides the Rails or Will the Mail Train Run Tonight?   Western Park Amphitheater, Vernal, UT. Produced by The Uintah Arts
         Council and USU-UBBC. June/July, August, 1997
-        CASSIDY: The Mostly True Story of Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch, Western Park Amphitheater, Vernal, UT. Produced by The
         Uintah Arts Council and USU-UBBC.  June/July, 1995-96 seasons.
-        Romeo and Juliet, Union High School Auditorium, Roosevelt, Utah, Duchesene High School Auditorium, and Vernal Jr. High
         Auditorium.  Produced by USU-UBBC, Basin West 2000 Fine Arts Council, Uintah Arts Council and The Uintah Recreation
         Association.  Designed and constructed the sets for this touring production.  Feb, March, 1996
-        Robin Hood, by Don Nigro.  Union High School Auditorium, Roosevelt, Utah. Produced by Union High School Theater                              Department. Nov, 1995
-        Arsenic and Old Lace, Union High School Auditorium, Roosevelt, Utah.  Produced by the Basin West 2000 Fine Arts Council.
         Designed stage set. Oct, 1993
-        Rawhide and Lace, Western Park Amphitheater, Vernal, Utah. Produced by The Uintah Arts Council and USU-UBBC  June/July,
         1993
-        Dancers, USU-UBBC Multi-Purpose room. Produced by USU-UBBC. Jan, 1993
-        Love's Labor's Lost, Geary Theater, CEU. Also designed stage set.  April, 1992
-        The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, Studio Theater, CEU, Dec, 1991

-        The Feaste of Saint Nicholas, CEU Ballroom, An Elizabethan feast  produced by the Price Vocal Ensemble. Scripted, directed,
         choreographed fights and appeared as Lord of the Manor. Russell Wilson, Music Director. December, 1991
-        Star Spangled Girl, Lyric Theater, Logan, Utah. Produced by  the Vagabond Theater Company. August, 1991
-        Star Spangled Girl, Stage Stop Theater, Collinston, Utah, June, 1991  (First guest director at theater.)
-        Dylan Thomas Loved His Father, USU's Laboratory Theater, April, 1989


ACTING

Companies worked for:

·         Guest Artist, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, UT        
.         Pinnacle Acting Company, Salt Lake City, UT

·        Guest Artist, DSU Theater Department
·        The Neil Simon Festival, Cedar City, UT
·        The Space Between Theatre Company, St. George, UT
·        The Pioneer Theater Company, Salt Lake City, UT
·        Wyoming Summer Theater, Laramie, WY
·        Old Lyric Repertory Theater, Logan, UT
·        Scioto Society, Chillicothe, OH
·        The Playmill Theater, West Yellowstone, MT   
                   

WRITING

·        DSU Theatre Model ePortfolio:  A webpage showing the format and content of the eportfolio that students are expected to                    create and maintain while at DSU. It can be found at: www.dsctheatreeportfolio.weebly.com

·        John Wesley Powell: The Last American Adventure, a one man show based on Powell’s life and experiences exploring the Green
         and Colorado rivers.  


·        “The Eccles Fine Arts Center: a Masterpiece for Dixie.” Southern Utah Homeowners Magazine, Issue 4, Elite Publishing Services,             St. George, UT.

·        Developed scenario and assisted in re-writes of Tim Slover’s script, CASSIDY: The Mostly True Story of Butch Cassidy and the
         Wild Bunch
.

·        The Feaste of Saint Nicholas, a renaissance feast produced in 1991. (See DIRECTING)

·        Richard, a one man show adapted from historical research and dialogue from Shakespeare's Richard II. (MFA Thesis Production)


GRANT WRITING

·        The George S. & Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation. 1996 - $2000, 1997 - $2500, 1998-99 - $3000, for expanded advertising and
         support of the UAC’s Outlaw Trail Theater.

·        The Utah Arts Council, 1993 to 1996, $2000. 1997 - $2100.  1998 - $2700.  1999 - $3000.  For general support of the UAC’s                      Outlaw Trail Theater.

·        Utah Power. 1993 - $3000. 1994 - 96,  $5000.  1997 - 99, $3000.  For support of UAC’s Outlaw Trail Theater.

·        The US West Foundation. 1993 to 1996. $3000 each year for support of  the UAC’s Outlaw Trail Theater.

·        The Utah State Centennial Commission. 1994.  $15000 to be used over three years, (1994-96), to upgrade the Outlaw Trail                      Theater’s set, props and costumes. 


ANCILLARY SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Retail sales, 
Freelance costume design and construction, specializing in mask design/construction and millinery. Lapidary and silversmithing, visual artist. Theatre Specialist, DSU Elderhostel Theatre Tours, 2005-2009

REFERENCES

·        
Eric Young, Emeritus Faculty, DSU, Chair - CTE and Media, SLSPA. 2291 S. 2000 E. Salt Lake City, UT 84106, (435)862-4168.

·        Richard Bugg, Southern Utah University, 351 W. University Blvd. Cedar City, UT 84720, (435)865-8365.

·        Dr. Colin Johnson, Former Chair USU Department of Theater, P.O. Box 26405, Logan, UT 84322, (435) 797-3046.


PERSONAL DATA


Married, willing to relocate.

Married.  Willing to relocate.  Further data on request.
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