Faculty & Staff Directory

Ms. Robin Reese

Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts
Office: 126 Misciagna Center
Phone: 814-949-5350
E-mail:

Robin Reese, assistant professor of Theatre Arts at Penn State Altoona, is a professional actor, director and playwright. She holds her masters of fine arts degree from the Actors Studio Drama School/New School University where she was the Teaching Fellow and received voice and acting scholarships. She is a recipient of new theatre and performance grants from the DIA Center for the Arts, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Bread and Roses Community Fund. She served as a Panelist for the PA Council on the Arts, Inter-Disciplinary. Robin is a proud member of Actors Equity Association and has appeared off-Broadway, off-off Broadway and in regional theatres, playing classical, contemporary, musical theatre and experimental roles. She has traveled the United States and Italy performing her own written performance pieces. Her company affiliations include: Executive Artistic Director of The Women's Ensemble Theatre Company in Philadelphia, Co-Founding Director of New York's Drunken Lotus Productions and Managing Director for New Legends Productions. As a director, Robin is a recipient of Merit Awards for Distinction in Directing from The Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival for both her Penn State Altoona productions, The Tempest and Medea. New York City directing credits include: Othello, Troilus and Cressida and Rosemary with Ginger as well as the New York City Actors Studio premiere workshop reading of her own play The Inquisition, with Tony Award winning actress Carlyn Glynn. Most recently, Robin directed The Persians for New York City's Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute/New York University. Robin is also a successful playwright and screenwriter. In 2007, she was selected as one of five playwrights competing in The Cardboard Box Collaborative's SPEED THE MUSE competition, and her new play will be performed in September at The Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Previously, Robin served for two years as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Grand Valley State University where she directed, choreographed, fight coached, and side coached on Henry the Fourth, part i, Measure for Measure, Danny In the Deep Blue Sea, Dutchman, and A Day of Absence. In the fall Robin will direct Moliere's The Learned Ladies at Penn State Altoona.

Ms. Marlene A. Liszka

Instructor in Theatre Arts & Technical Director
Office: 100 Misciagna Center
Phone: 814-949-5371
E-mail:

Marlene received her MA in Theatre from the University of Michigan, and was the technical director of the Mishler Theatre for nine years. She specializes in all aspects of technical theatre, especially theatrical lighting, and is a member of the professional union for stage hands: The International Alliance of Stage Employees.

Ms. Selena Ambush

Instructor in Theatre Arts

Selena Ambush has been on, behind or in front of a stage since the seasoned age of six. She has worked as actor, director, and instructor at professional and municipal theatres throughout Central Florida and is a recipient of the Gulf Coast Arts Council’s "Distinguished Artist."

Selena spent a season at Meadow Book Theatre in Detroit, Michigan’s largest professional theatre, and nearly a decade in New York City as a theatre professional. Off-Broadway, Selena has directed several new and established works with many reputable companies including Yankee Repertory, WOW Café Theatre, Sanguine Satellites, Actor’s Studio Playwright-Director Workshop, Little Spoons Productions, Bank Street Theatre, The Ukraine and the New York City Fringe Festival. She holds an MFA in Directing from the Actor’s Studio Drama School at New School University.

Selena’s articles as a freelance writer of theatre previews and reviews have been seen in such publications as "The Village Voice," "L," and "Pod Magazine." She has been on the faculty at Bronx Community College, part of the City University of New York, and The College of New Rochelle. At present, Selena is a member of the theatre program faculty at Penn State Altoona and directed last year’s production of "SkyLines" by 2008-09 Emerging-Writer-in-Residence David-Matthew Barnes.

Mr. Laurencio C. Ruiz

Instructor in Theatre Arts
Resident Scenic Designer
Office: 101M Elm
Phone: 814-949-5747
E-mail:

Laurencio Carlos Ruiz is an instructor of Theatre Arts and resident scenic designer at Penn State University Altoona . He holds an M.F.A. in Scenic Design from PSU, and a B.A in Graphic Design from the UAM of Mexico, where he also studied visual arts and industrial design. His experience as a multi-disciplinary artist and designer includes sets, costumes, props, puppets and masks for cabaret, theatre, and television; as well as photography, installation, and performance art in United States, Germany, Japan and Mexico.

Ms. Eleanor H. Feeley

Theatre and Gallery Manager
Office: Misciagna Center Box Office
Phone: 814-949-5451
E-mail:

Noel oversees the administration and programming for a 400-seat theatre, two small gallery spaces and conference space. She serves on the Board of the Pennsylvania Rural Arts Alliance, the Altoona Community Theatre, and the Altoona Art Advisory Board for the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art. In the past, Noel has worked as a lighting designer, a grants program specialist for the National Endowment for the Arts, Dance Program, Managing Director at Allegheny Highlands Regional Theatre and as a museum arts administrator for Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art in both Altoona and Loretto.