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Kevin Trudeau

Chair, Director of Theatre, Associate Professor of Theatre History
1997, Ph.D., Theater Arts, University of Oregon
1992, M.F.A., State University of New York at Stony Brook
1989, B.A., St. Louis University

Dr. Trudeau has served on Lewis' theater faculty since 1999. His areas of interest include Native American performance, dramaturgy, dramatic adaptation, turn of the century avante garde theater, and contemporary non-realistic drama. Dr. Trudeau has worked as a dramaturge on more than twenty productions. He's also directed a number of shows.

Andrew Nelsen

Associate Professor of Design & Technical Theatre
2012, M.F.A., Theatre Arts, University of Iowa
2006 A.S., Show Production & Touring, Full Sail Real World Education
2004, B.A., Theatre, Lewis University

Andrew Nelsen, a Lewis alumnus, received Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) Certificates of Merit for his student scenic design of Jake’s Women and lighting design of The Laramie Project.  He went on to study live audio and lighting at Full Sail in Winter Park, Florida where he earned an Associate of Science degree along with the Advanced Achievement Award in Show Production & Touring, the Course Director’s Award in Show Light Engineering and the Course Director’s Award in Advanced Show Production.  While attending Full Sail, Andrew received live field experience in show lighting, rigging and sound production.

Andrew completed graduate studies at the University of Iowa in 2012, receiving an M.F.A. in Theatre Arts - Scenic and Lighting Design.  His thesis included a scenic design for Oliver Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer and lighting design for Caryl Churchill’s version of August Strindberg’s A Dream Play.  Other University of Iowa designs included Sarah Ruhl’s In The Next Room or The Vibrator Play | Steve Martin’s W.A.S.P. and world premiere new scripts including Jenga | The Man In The Sukkah | People of the Ditch | Salvage | and Sunshine.  Andrew was thoroughly inspired by the integration of technology and collaboration opportunities on world premiere scripts made available to him at the University of Iowa Theatre Department.

Some of Andrew’s recent PLT work includes the scenic designs of:
Moonlight and Magnolias | All Shook Up | Chicago | Disney’s Shrek the Musical

and lighting designs of:
The Life of Galileo | Leaving Iowa | High School Musical | Little Brother | A Little Night Music

Annie Calhoun

Professor of Acting, Improv & Performance
2025 (projected) MFA DePaul (Screenwriting)
2009 MFA DePaul (Acting)
2005 BA Taylor University

Annie received her MFA in Acting from the DePaul’s Theatre School and quickly became involved in theatre, improv, and writing in Chicago and Los Angeles where she recently spent five years. She is currently pursuing her second MFA in Screenwriting at DePaul University. Completing improv training programs and regularly performing improv (iO Chicago, Upright Citizens Brigade & Groundlings in LA), helped shape Annie’s voice as a writer and performer.  She has written and performed two solo shows; Nun Memoirs at Chautauqua Theatre Co. in NY, and Oregon Trail the Musical at iO, Stage Left Theatre, and Round the Coyote Festival.  Annie wrote five short plays that were combined into a show entitled Ages With Eight, performed at A Red Orchid Theatre, and a sketch show called In The Beginning (also at A Red Orchid).  She has written two original musicals, one for a school in Los Angeles and one for The Chicago High School for the Arts and adapted three others at Northlight Theatre’s summer academy.  Her love of acting and writing began in elementary school with her story, “The Cat Who Laughed” which was officially her first one woman show :)  As a teacher, Annie has taught all around the country including professional actors in Los Angeles, and has a special love for two schools of which she was on the founding teams; Kipp Scholar Academy and ChiArts. She LOVES teaching and watching transformation and growth happen in students. She also loves watching this growth in her two kids, Solly and Maya (4 and 2) and raising them with her best friend and husband, Rob.

Celeste Mackey

Resident Costumer
1991, BA Governors State University

Celeste Mackey has been teaching English and Literature of the Holocaust at Joliet Catholic Academy for 15 years and has been the adjunct faculty costume instructor at º£½ÇÉçÇø since 2000. She earned her degree in English from Governors State University and has studied at California State University Chico and American River College. Some of her favorite PLT costuming credits include: Dancing at Lughnasa, Moon Over Buffalo, Singin' in the Rain, Oh! What A Lovely War, Equus, and Hay Fever. Married for over 30 years to her husband, Chuck, she is the mother of two grown children, and resides in Joliet.

Dave Pomatto

Assistant Technical Director
1971, B.A. º£½ÇÉçÇø

Dave Pomatto returns to Lewis where his theatre career began with Joliet Drama Guild and Lewis productions at the Studio Theatre. From 1976 to 1983, Dave Pomatto was a stage manager, technical director, and lighting designer for the Chicago Ballet and The Nutcracker Ballet at the Arie Crown Theater and dance performances at Chicago Civic Opera House, Seattle Opera House, Portland Civic Auditorium, Oakland Paramount Theater, and UNLV Performing Arts Center. He was the technical director, lighting and sound designer, and maintenance supervisor for Candlelight Playhouse and Forum Theater from 1974 to 1994. He was also the building manager, project coordinator, and special effects consultant for Production Plus Technologies, Inc. from 1994 to 2009. He has been the Events Facility Coordinator, providing all infrastructures on site for temporary events headlined by The Eagles in 2008, Paul Simon in 2005, Elton John in 2003, and Bette Midler in 2001. Dave was the recipient of the Joseph Jefferson Award for Sound Design for the Little Shop of Horrors at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse and was nominated for the Joseph Jefferson Award for Lighting Design for Nine, also at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse.