top of page

MINDY WOODHEAD

mindywoodhead at gmail dot com

702.235.2702

Statement of Purpose

I am interested in providing students the tools and resources they will need as professional actors. Through the decade I spent in conservatory style training, I have studied every major genre of pedagogy in classical and contemporary theatre. Since completing my MFA from Harvard and the Moscow Art Theatre, I have spent 15 years performing on stage, as well as directing and teaching, around the world. I am a consummate professional and collaborator. Passionate about my craft, I am loved by students and fellow faculty alike.  

Education

Masters of Fine Arts – Acting

Harvard University and the Moscow Art Theatre                                                        2003

at the American Repertory Theatre

Acting:            David Mamet, Robert Woodruff, Scott Zigler, Thomas Derrah, Jeremy Geidt, Roman Kozak,

Will Lebow, Andrei Serban, Marcus Stern, Janos Szaz, Oleg Tabakov, Yuri Yeremin

Voice:              Nancy Houfek

Movement:    Andrei Droznin, Ann Bogart and the SITI Company

Dramaturgy: Robert Brustein, Anatoly Smeliansky, Arthur Holmberg

Achievements:

  • 60 hours of classroom training a week
  • Class President 
  • Lived/Studied/Performed in Cambridge, Russia, and Italy

  • Traveled solo throughout Eastern and Western Europe

 

Bachelor of Arts – Acting

California State University, Fullerton                                                                           2001

Acting:            Evelyn Chase, Svetlana Efremova, Jim Taulli, Madonna Young-Magee, Lynn Wood

Voice:              Joan Melton

Movement:   Marika Bekz

Various:         Antonia Smolen, Joe Arnold, Larry Jasper, Larry Peters, Abel Zeballos

Achievements:

  • Graduated Cum Laude

  • Maintained 28 units/semester

 

Certificates

Ann Bogart’s SITI Company Viewpoints and Suzuki training- Saratoga, New York

Stanislavsky 12-week training course – Moscow Art Theatre - Moscow, Russia

Commedia Dell’arte training at the Diego Fabbri Theatre - Forli, Italy

 

Qualified to teach

Acting Methods: Acting for the Camera, Improvisation, Stanislavski, Uta Hagen, Meisner, Stella Adler, Lee Strasberg, Shakespeare, Restoration, Absurdism, Ancient Greek Tragedy and Comedy, Practical Aesthetics (David Mamet & William H Macey), Meisner, Commedia Del Arte, Masks & Physical Theatre, The Business of Acting, Auditioning  & Memorization

Theory: Theatre: History, Acting History

Directing: Preparation, Analysis, Leadership, Aesthetics for the Stage

Voice & Speech: Intro to Fitzmaurice, Standard American Speech/ IPA & Dialects

Movement Methods: Viewpoints, Suzuki, Russian Biomechanics and Acrobatics, Fencing, Rhythm, Period Movement, Stage Combat, Michael Chekhov, Outside-In Practicum.

Yoga: Ashtanga, Power, Vinyasa, Hatha, Kripalu, Yoga for the Performer, the Athlete & for Seniors

2010 - present

2010 - present

Experience

Actor                                                                                                           

Theatre (Partial List)

EQUITY

Cockroach Theatre                             Grounded                                              The Pilot               Andrew Pru

Nevada Conservatory Theatre         Venus in Fur                                          Vanda                   Chris Edwards

Rose Rabbit Lie                                   Vegas Nocturne                                    Beverly (U/S)        Darren Weller

The Smith Center                               The Tempest Pre Prod Workshops            Miranda                Aaron Posner/ Teller

Shear Madness Theatre, Las Vegas   Shear Madness                                    Barbara                Bruce Jordan

*Cockroach Theatre, Las Vegas       Flu Season                                             Woman                 Levi Fackrell

The Kennedy Center                           Shear Madness                                    Barbara                Bob Lohrmann

Roundhouse Theatre (“Kitchen”)   My Name is Rachel Corrie                     Rachel                   Lise Bruneau

Florida Repertory Theatre                 The Rainmaker                                     Lizzie                     Robert Cacioppo

Florida Repertory Theatre                 Enchanted April                                   Lady Caroline       Bari Newport

Baltimore Shakespeare Festival       Midsummer Night’s Dream               Titania                   Laura Hackman

Florida Repertory Theatre                 Middle Ages                                          Elanore                 Bari Newport

Kentucky Repertory Theatre             Macbeth                                                Lady Macbeth      Robert Brock

Kentucky Repertory Theatre            Importance of Being Ernest               Gwendolyn           Scott Stroot

**Performance Network, Ann Arbor     Summer and Smoke                            Alma                      Tony Caselli

Actors Theatre of Louisville              Christmas Carol                                   Belle                       Frazier Marsh        Actors Theatre, Kentucky Rep                      Midsummer Night’s Dream               Helena                   Robert Brock

Kentucky Repertory Theatre            Steel Magnolias                                   Shelby                    Robert Brock

Florida Repertory Theatre                 All My Sons                                          Ann                        Mareen Heffernan

Tennessee Repertory Theatre           Dracula                                               Lucy                       David Grapes

American Repertory Theatre            La Dispute                                           Adine                     Anne Bogart

American Repertory Theatre            Othello                                                 Bianca                   David Wheeler

NON-EQUITY

American Repertory Theatre            Aftermath                                             Adrianne               Mercedes Murphy

American Repertory Theatre            Baal                                                       Johanna                  Mercedes Murphy

Diego Fabbri Theatre (Italy)              Phaedra 4.48                                       Phaedra                 Robert Woodruff

St.Aarchangelo Theatre Fest (Italy) Piove Sul Deluvio                                Goddess                 Isabel Ramos

Moscow Art Theatre (Russia)           Phaedra 4.48                                       Phaedra                 Robert Woodruff

Moscow Art Theatre (Russia)           Rhinoceros                                           The Waitress         Roman Kozak

American Rep  Institute                    House of Yes                                        Jackie-O                  Scott Zigler

American Rep  Institute                     Measure for Measure                       Isabella                   Scott Zigler

6 Chairs Theatre Company               Barefoot In The Park                         Cory                         Heather Christianson

6 Chairs Theatre Company               Dancing at Lughnasa                         Agnes                     Michael Serna

**6 Chairs Theatre Company          SubUrbia                                               Sooze                     Michael Serna

6 Chairs Theatre Company              Durang Festival                                    Lead                       Kristina Leach

Empire Theatre, Santa Ana              October (World Premiere)                 Betty                      Brook Stowe

***Morgan-Wixon, Santa Monica Tribute                                                   Sally                       Tony Torrisi

McCallum Theatre, Palm Desert      Snow White                                         Snow White         Wendy Willson

*Las Vegas Tony ~Outstanding Actress in Las Vegas, 2010-2011 Season- The Review Journal  **Best Dramatic Actress- OPIES, Michigan Best Actress- Subscribers Choice Awards, MI Best Dramatic Actress -Detroit Free Press nom. Best of 2005 Ann Arbor News ***Best Ensemble- Los Angeles Theatre Guild Award ****Best Supporting Actress - Los Angeles Theatre Guild Awards Nom 

Film/TV

Sunset Strip                                             Featured                                                  20th Century Fox
Man On The Moon                                 Featured                                                  Miramax
Time Of Your Life                                  Supporting                                              Sony Pictures
The Practice                                             Featured                                                  David Kelley Prod.
Freaks and Geeks                                    Featured                                                  Dreamworks Television

Dick (A Richard Nixon Story)                Body Double                                           Paramount

 

Instructor                                                                                                   

College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV                    2011- 2014         

Adjunct Professor

  • Designed and taught various sections of Acting, Directing, and Intro to Theatre both on campus and online
  • Assessed individual students needs, provided honest feedback on strengths, weaknesses and class performance and implemented personalized paths for success 
  • Advised students about personal and professional goals, career paths, the classes they should take and how to achieve their goals through personal and professional development
  • Taught assigned class material in accordance with learning objectives developed by the department 
  • Received excellent scores from student reviews and online professor rating systems
  • Actively sought out other adjunct and fulltime professors to identify the needs of shared students to optimize their individualized learning experience
  • Curated, organized, marketed, mentored, mounted and managed play festival every semester
  • Independently spearheaded the creation of a virtual and physical performing arts library used by faculty and students to identify on-campus and web-based resources for research and study
  • Created a directing program from the ground up
  • Successfully mentored over 65 directing students by training them on play production in the classroom, then guiding each of them through the casting, rehearsal, and mounting of a play as part of a student-director play festival performed in front of a public audience
  • Independently conceptualized, created, and executed an awards program, voted on by the theatre patrons, to acknowledge the work of my student directors and actors
  • Coordinated a collaboration with the theatre department, film department, and culinary department in a symbiotic event each semester
  • Mentored students in the creation of a performing arts campus club 
  • Successfully mentored and taught students who were studying for a degree or a certification or were taking classes to improve their knowledge or career skills
  • Mentored students needing additional help to identify and utilize on-campus resources for tutoring and counseling
  • Maintained accurate and complete course records
  • Excelled at incorporating technology inside the smart classroom and on the course’s web-based class boards
  • Created and maintained social media communication opportunities for past and current students and faculty
  • Utilized preferred institutional technology to facilitate learning and to access data, maintain records, generate reports, and communicate with others

  • Successfully coordinated a skills-transfer cooperative among adjunct faculty members

  • Worked with the Office of Diversity, Cultural Affairs & Community Initiatives to create a better student experience for recent immigrants enrolled in our college
  • Worked with the Office of Diversity, Cultural Affairs & Community for outreach to various student populations to increase involvement for novice performers in departmental productions
  • Served on the Assessment Committee through the Office of Assessment & Accreditation
  • Partnered with the retention office to identify and assist at risk students
  • Participated in the development and support of the theatre department by selecting new books and materials, revising curricula, and coordinating unified syllabi

  • Worked with my supervisor to modify the curriculum for the Theatre Arts Associates Degree

 

University of Las Vegas, Nevada                                              2012 – 2014   

Workshop Instructor

  • Taught a series of workshops to the MFA Student in the training methodologies of Suzuki and Viewpoints
  • Worked with existing faculty to interweave new methodologies within the existing pedagogical track
  • Created curriculum for the courses taught
  • Developed and managed syllabus materials
  • Coordinated courseware and curriculum with academic supervisor
  • Performed class instruction beyond the expectation of supervisors
  • Evaluated student performance promptly and accurately based on departmental rubrics
  • Maintained records of student attendance, involvement, and progress
  • Utilized a variety of instructional strategies in order to engage students, including cooperative and experiential learning
  • Presented prepared materials and supervised organized activities
  • Surveyed students in order to obtain information about their wants and needs
  • Communicated with students outside of class to provide supplementary instruction and individualized learning strategies

  • Created supplementary materials for distribution in class

 

MAC Entertainment Management Firm, Las Vegas          2012 – 2014     

Acting Instructor                   

Beginning Acting for the Camera

Intermediate Acting for the Camera

 

Agadir University, Morocco                                                        2008- 2009 Advance Acting

                                               

 

American Language Institute, Agadir, Morocco                   2008- 2009     Acting

Improvisation

Physical Theatre

Playwrighting

 

 

American Embassy, Nairobi, Kenya                                                    2008

Cultural Liaison/ Instructor                            

Movement and Storytelling Workshop (with Lynn Nottage)
 

Bella Faccia Studios, Washington, DC                                                2007     

Character Development Workshop for Aeralists

Physical Theatre Workshops                                            

 

Taffety Punk Theatre Company, Washington, DC                          2007   

Viewpoints Workshop Series

Dance-in-Storytelling Workshop Series

 

Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY                         2006     Suzuki & Viewpoints

 

Belmont University, Nashville, TN                                                      2006    

Advance Movement

Yoga for the Actor             

 

Nashville Arts Council                                                                            2005

Professional Actor Training                                    
Advanced Acting  Techniques

Viewpoints Workshops      

 

Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI                                      2004

Business and Marketing for Artists

 

Florida Gulf Coast University                                                               2004

Intermediate Acting; Suzuki & Viewpoints

 

Florida Repertory Theatre, apprentice program                           2004

Improvisation

Viewpoints

 

Diego Fabbri Theatre, Italy                                                                  2002

Shakespeare 

Voice

 

California State University, Fullerton, CA                                       2001

Getting into Grad School- Seminars
Audition Workshop

 

 

Acting, Movement & Shakespeare for Youth                                   

Fern Adair Conservatory of the Arts                                                                                             2011

Acting, Movement, & Speech for 4-16 year olds

 

American Language Institute, Agadir, Morocco                                                                        2007-2008

Acting, Improvisation, Voice, Poetry, Dance for 6-17 year olds

 

Morocco Ministry of Youth Summer Camp, Agadir

Director of Theatre/ Dance Program for 12-15 year olds

 

Kentucky Rep’s Summer for Youth Program                                                                               2006

Acting, Voice, Shakespeare, Viewpoints for 10-16 year olds

 

Children’s Playtime Productions: After school and summer camps                                   1997-2001

Movement and Acting for 6-12 year olds

 

Imagination Station through McCallum Theatre: Summer Camp

Movement and acting for 6-14 year olds

 

Director                                                                                                     

2010- 2014

College of Southern Nevada

7 One Act Festivals (Mentoring 7 - 16 Directors Every Semester)

 

2012

Baobob Stage, Las Vegas, NV

Red Dress

The Affair Play

 

2011

Fern Adair Conservatory of the Arts

Alice in Wonderland

Aladdin

Camp Rock

 

2010

Insurgo Theatre Company, Las Vegas

Holding  for a Hero

 

2009

American Language Center, Agadir, Morocco

The Wives’ Dilemma

Christopher Durang One Acts

 

2006

Actors Theatre of Louisville

Solo Mio - Intern Showcase

 

2005

Kentucky Rep’s Summer for Youth Program

Like A Bird (Original Work)

Hamlet for youth

Macbeth for youth

 

2001

Six Chairs and a Couple of Artists Theatre Company

One Night Stand

 

2000

Children’s Playtime Productions

Goldie Locks & the Three Bears (original work)

Christmas Spectacular (original work)

 

1999

College of The Desert

Importance of Being Ernest

Foreplay or the Art of the Fugue

 

1998

Palm Desert High School

Into The Woods

You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown

 

Choreographer                                                                                            

2009

American Language Center, Agadir, Morocco

Summer Arts Intensive Performances (6 dances)

Massa Boys and Girls Club

Girl Empowerment Workshop

 

2008

Youth Ministry Summer Camp, Agadir, Morocco

Summer Camp Performances (3 shows total)

 

2007

Kennedy Center, Millennium Stage

Phoenix and the Turtle

 

2006

Actors Theatre of Louisville, Apprentice Program

Joyeux Noel Crisis Incarnate

Kentucky Repertory Theatre

Government School Alum Showcase

 

2005

American Repertory Theatre - (Assistant)

Phaedra 4.48

 

2002

Santarchangelo Theatre Festival           

Piove Sul Deluvio                      

 

1998

McCallum Theatre- (Assistant) Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Palm Desert High School- (Assistant) Anything Goes

 

Yoga Instructor                                                                                             

  • Yoga Sanctuary, Las Vegas (Vinyasa, Prana Flow, Ashtanga)

  • Fisher Technical Services, Inc. (Corporate Restorative Flow)

  • Results Gym, Washington, DC (Vinyasa, Kripalu, Pilates)

  • LA Sports Club, Washington, DC (Ashtanga, Power, Vinyasa)

  • Tenley Health Club, Washington, DC (Yoga for the Athlete, Senior Yoga)

  • Joy of Motion, Washington, DC (Hatha, Vinyasa)

  • Robert Sherman’s F.I.T., Bethesda, MD  (Ashtanga)

  • Belmont University, Nashville, TN (Yoga for the Performer)

  • Tadasana Studios, Palm Springs, CA (Teacher Training-Master Workshop)

 

Volunteer Service

Peace Corps                                                                            2007-2009

Business Development Specialist

  • Grassroots mentorship for entrepreneurs and groups on strategic planning, business development, product design, supply chain, and quality control for sustainable business practices

  • Consulted with local businesses and conducted seminars on starting a business, organizational development, financial management, marketing, tourism development, merchandising, and succeeding in a competitive workforce

  • Mentored small enterprise development

  • Helped identify sources of program funding and other support and assisted with grant proposal preparation

  • Developed and wrote project funding proposals and assisted with microfinance programs

  • Trained rural groups and local leaders to build organizational capacity through improved leadership and communications skills

  • Created sustainable businesses with several indigenous female artisan groups

  • Mentored women on personal, academic and professional pursuits to strengthen their economic participation

  • Helped local entities with strategic planning, program assessment and promoted active community participation

  • Developed business education curriculum and designed training materials

  • Assisted with the creation and control of project budgets

  • Worked with municipalities to strengthen infrastructure and encourage economic opportunities in communities

  • Assessed the impact of planned activities for economic and environmental development in communities

  • Assisted local and regional governments in planning and implementing economic development strategies

  • Worked with entrepreneurs and business owners to develop and market their products

  • Developed several sets of curriculum for multi-year training systems

  • Trained teachers on execution of new training system

  • Developed and executed focused arts curriculum for the Ministry of Youth

  • Taught basic computer skills and helped communities take advantage of technologies such as career building opportunities and distance learning

  • Monitored projects, submitting quarterly progress reports to headquarters

  • Counseled early-career and mid-career host country nationals on resume creation and career development

  • Advised and taught basic business concepts to junior achievement organizations

  • Mentored college seniors on career planning in a depressed economic landscape

 

North Star Ranch                                                                               1997- 1999

Education and Outreach Coordinator

  • Cared for 22 horses

  • Created and ran an equine therapy program for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients

  • Taught leadership & sustainability with horses to disadvantaged, single-parent families

  • Successfully spearheaded marketing and community outreach that increased program attendance by tenfold

 

San Francisco Suicide Prevention & Child Abuse Hotlines      1994-1997

Counselor

  • Successfully completed 50 hours of classroom training

  • Honored for excellence

  • Successfully provided crisis management

  • Provided support and guidance in a non-judgmental manner

  • Empowered callers to weigh options and make their own decisions

  • Provided information and referrals for behavioral support in the community and beyond

  • Skillfully conducted outreach to neighborhoods and schools

  • Acted as spokesperson with the speakers’ bureau

  • Advocated for funding

 

San Francisco Children’s Zoo                                                           1994-1996

Mentor

  • Conducted outreach to “at risk” families

  • Taught sustainability in day-long and week-long workshops

  • Cared for all the animals and their living quarters

  • Oversaw public visitation

 

AIDS Walk San Francisco                                                                   1996

Assistant to the Logistics Coordinator

  • Assisted Community Managers in organizing teams

  • Organized and managed logistics

  • Found volunteers for the event

  • Developed and facilitated the execution of creative, targeted, and measurable marketing campaigns for our sponsors

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

 

 

bottom of page