TDF Adjunct Faculty, Academic and Production Staff

Aaron Andrade
Adjunct Faculty
M.F.A, Rhode Island College

Aaron Andrade is a multi-lingual, Cape Verdean-American actor from Providence, RI.  He studied at Rhode Island College, receiving degrees in Political Science and Theatre Performance, and an MFA in Performance in Society: Using performance to promote social change. He teaches and directs theatrical productions (Boston Casting, Rhode Island College, Franklin School for the Performing arts, Dean College) He is also a voice over artist, having sent his voice all over the country for commercials, animation, and more. Aaron also works in television (Dexter, Defending Jacob) and film (Confess, Fletch, Being Dead), and in national and local commercials. Email Aaron.

John Garrity
Adjunct Faculty
M.F.A., Catholic University

John Garrity has been affiliated with Providence College since 1969. Following his undergraduate studies at PC he was accepted to the graduate directing program at Catholic University of America where he was awarded a Master of Fine Arts degree. Mr. Garrity has worked at the Nantucket Stage Company, Olney Theatre Center in Maryland, Off Broadway at the MCC theatre in New York, and with The Rhode Island Playwright’s Theatre. He joined the faculty of Providence College and served as an Associate Professor, departmental administrator and director of many main stage productions during a long career. He was instrumental in shaping the design and development of the Smith Center for the Arts and was the recipient of the Providence College Alumni Association award for exemplary service in administration. In 2006 the Masterpool Foundation established a theatre scholarship fund at Providence College in Mr. Garrity’s name. Since retiring from the fulltime faculty in 2021 he has returned to the college to direct William Shakespeare’s Macbeth in 2022 and the Music Department’s production of the opera Dido and Aeneas in 2023. Email John.

Rachel Giron
Adjunct Faculty
M.A., University of Rhode Island

Rachel Giron holds a Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies from the University of Rhode Island. Her background and areas of focus include, Public Speaking, Rhetoric, and the link between Education & Communication Studies in Higher Education, specifically Cogenerative Dialogue in entry level courses. Rachel has previously assisted students in preparing for Public Speaking for the Rhode Island Decathlon and was the Assistant Director at the Speaking Center at URI. In the 2016/2017 Eastern Communication Association conference, she presented her work on Rhetorics of Mortification in cohesion with work of theorist Kenneth Burke. She has also previously worked as an account manager, gaining knowledgeable experience in the field of business & interpersonal communication. In 2014, she received the Teaching Excellence Award from the University of Rhode Island, where she was previously an adjunct member. Email Rachel.

Rana Hassan
Adjunct Faculty
Ph.D., University of Northampton, UK

Rana Hassan is an adjunct professor at the University of Rhode Island and Roger Williams University. She teaches at the Departments of Communication and Media Studies of URI and RWU courses that include International Communication, digital communication in a global context, social marketing, video production, and presentation, as well as fundamentals of communication. Holding a PhD from the University of Northampton, UK, Rana’s academic journey spans continents, enriched by her role as a lecturer in Media Studies and Strategic Communication in Qatar and Egypt. Her research, spans themes of new media and its impact on political and social issues in addition to analysis of media and cultures. resonates with her rich experiences in the Middle East, UK, and the USA, further demonstrating her commitment to embracing diversity and shaping inclusive communication narratives. Email Rana.

Ann Ditmars Huyck
Adjunct Faculty
M.F.A., Tisch School of the Arts

Ann Ditmars Huyck holds an MFA in Dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and a BA in English, with minors in Dance and American Studies, from Princeton University. She currently teaches ballet at Providence College and at AS220 in downtown Providence. Ann has previously taught and choreographed for an international pre-professional program at the American Academy of Dance in Paris, at Princeton Ballet School, and at JUMP! Dance Company in Providence. She has also worked in New York City Ballet’s Education Department, teaching students, educators, and audiences about ballet and its history. Ann has performed classical and modern works with American Repertory Ballet Ensemble, the Second Avenue Dance Company, and the Lehigh Valley Ballet and has danced in new works by Violette Verdy, Deborah Jowitt, Alan Hineline, and Alexi Ramov. Her own choreography has also been presented by the Providence College Dance Company, by Princeton University, and at the Youth America Grand Prix. Email Ann.

Robin James
Adjunct Faculty
M.A., University of Rhode Island

Robin James graduated in 2016 with a Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies from the University of Rhode Island after receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Counseling Psychology from Johnson & Wales University in 2014. She was awarded an assistantship during her graduate studies and continues to teach Communication Fundamentals, Public Speaking, and Advanced Composition at colleges in Southern New England. In addition to her teaching, she advocates for domestic violence awareness. She speaks to individuals and groups on the topic of her master’s thesis and continued research on the account-making by victims of intimate partner violence and the effectiveness of utilizing this tool when working with victims of trauma. She has successfully introduced, cultivated, and assessed diverse programs throughout her professional and educational experience, and is practiced in developing training and curriculum for employees and students based on aptitude, language, and cultural differences. Email Robin.

Jennifer Madden
Adjunct Faculty
Ph.D., Brown University

Jennifer Madden earned her Ph.D. in Theatre and Performance Studies from Brown University, where she works as a public speaking coach for several programs, including the Summer Leadership Institute, the Executive Master in Technology Leadership, and the Masters in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship. Additionally, she was part of the faculty for Brown’s Executive Master in Cybersecurity program.

Additionally, her work as a public speaking consultant in the private and non-profit sectors spans five continents. It includes the Madeleine Albright Institute at Wellesley, the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Emerge Massachusetts (a training program for Democratic women pursuing public office), the “Woman Leaders: Good to Great” seminar at MIT and Persuasive Communication/Negotiation training for members of the African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) in Zambia and Namibia in conjunction with USAID and the Southern African Trade and Investment Hub. She worked with Dynamic Communication, providing effective communication training for Microsoft/Bing sales executives throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia.

Professor Madden is a faculty member in Providence College’s Theatre, Dance, and Film Department and at Wheaton College in Massachusetts, teaching courses in Public Speaking, Theatre History, Dramatic Literature, and Global Performance. Email Jenn.

Michael Jennings Mahoney
Adjunct Faculty
M.F.A., Brown University/Trinity Rep Acting Program

Michael Jennings Mahoney is an actor, director, and writer who originally hails from the great state of Michigan. His work has been seen across the US and Canada. He attended the University of Michigan receiving his BFA in Musical Theatre with high honors. He has shared concert stages with Sandi Patty, Michael W. Smith, Debbie Reynolds, Jeremy Irons, Brian Stokes Mitchell and others. As an actor he has appeared on many New York stages as well as some of the best regional theatres in the country. He received his MFA in Acting from Brown University/Trinity Rep, where he was the Stephen Sondheim Fellow. Email Michael.

Marcel Mascaro
Adjunct Faculty
M.F.A., Brown University/Trinity Rep Acting Program

Marcel Mascaro is a local bilingual theatre maker. Marcel acts, directs and is a theater educator. Acting credits include; Sotto Vocce at the Asolo Prep. , Tiny Beautiful Things, Fuenteovejuna at Trinity Rep, Strange Undoing of Prudencia Heart, among others.  As a director credits include “The Wolf”  and “We’re Going to Die” at the Wilbury Theatre Group, as well as ” Romeo and Juliet” and “Alguien Mas” at RILA/Trinity Rep’s Teatro en Verano series . Marcel is a resident artist at the Wilbury Theatre Group and has worked with RILA, ECAS, Central Falls, YASI and other programs as a teaching artist throughout Providence. Specializes in acting, voice training, Shakespeare and dramatic structure. Email Marcel.

Neal Mercier
Adjunct Faculty
M.F.A., Emerson College

Neal Mercier is an independent filmmaker, visual media artist, and educator based in Southern New England. While his primary interest is fictional storytelling, his work spans both format and genre. In 2014, Neal began operating under the moniker Huxley Pictures, and since 2016 he has expanded the name outwards to produce a combination of personal, commercial, and freelance work. Two of his narrative short films – Amaryllis (2015) and Divine Providence (2023) – were screened as Official Selections at the Oscar-qualifying Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival.

A Rhode Island native, Neal holds a B.A. in Mathematics with minors in both Film and Writing from Providence College, as well as an M.F.A. in Film & Media Art from Emerson College. He currently teaches at Providence College, the University of Rhode Island, and Rhode Island College. Email Neal.

Kevin Olson
Adjunct Faculty
M.F.A., University of Minnesota

Kevin Olson is Adjunct Faculty at Providence College in the Theatre Dance and Film Department and also teaches at URI, and CCRI. His courses include Film, Popular Culture, Communication, Public Speaking, Intro to Theater and Acting. He founded and is the Artistic Director of FirstHand Theatrical where he creates, produces and directs original plays based on family and cultural oral histories. His latest plays were produced at the Piven Theatre in Evanston, Ill., AS220 in Providence, and at the Mark O’Donnell Theatre in Brooklyn. He holds an MFA in Directing from the University of Minnesota and a B.S. in Speech and Theatre from SUNY Oneonta. Email Kevin.

Katrina Z Pavao
Adjunct Faculty
MFA, Boston Conservatory at Berklee

Katrina Pavao – Class of ’16 – This is her first-year teaching at Providence College. In the past, she has hosted a variety of workshops for the college, from “Marketing the Actor” to “Musical Theater Dance.” Before working at the college, Katrina worked with Kidstock! Creative Theater as the Outreach and Artistic Director. She graduated with her MFA from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee and has worked as a professional actor and teacher in the Boston/RI area for over 8 years. Email Katrina.

Noah Putterman
Adjunct Faculty
M.F.A., Boston University

Noah Putterman (he/him) is a theater artist and educator currently based in Boston. He received a BFA in Acting and BA in Psychology from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and MFA in Directing with a certificate in Arts Management from Boston University. From 2013-2018, Noah was the Director of Theatre for Youth at Casa Mañana Theatre in Fort Worth, Texas and is currently an adjunct at Providence College and Boston University. Professional credits include The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, Casa Mañana Theatre, The Acting Company (NYC), Guthrie Theater, North Carolina Theatre, Theatre Raleigh, Circle Theatre (Fort Worth), Alpine Theatre Project, and Hope Summer Repertory Theatre. Noah is a member of Actors Equity Association and an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Email Noah.

Dave Rabinow
Adjunct Faculty
M.F.A., Rhode Island College

Dave Rabinow is a playwright and performer based in Rhode Island. He is a graduate of the Trinity Rep Conservatory and a founder of the Elemental Theatre Collective, which will produce his one-woman play GHOST STORY in February 2016. He teaches at PC, the Gamm Studio, and at Trinity Rep’s YASI program. He also works for the Manton Avenue Project and the ArtReach program at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, and performs monthly with Improv Jones and the Empire Revue. Email David.

Ben Sweeney
Adjunct Faculty
M.F.A., Boston University

Ben Sweeney has been working in documentary production for over 20 years, primarily for Providence Pictures, a Rhode Island based production company. In that time he has produced films for The History Channel, PBS, Discovery, and over a dozen episodes of WGBH’s long-running science program NOVA. His most recent project was the second season of Native America for PBS. Ben graduated from Providence College with a BA in Film and Video Studies and earned an MFA in Film Studies from Boston University. He has taught classes on film studies and production at Boston University, University of Rhode Island, and Providence College. Ben teaches History of Film, Analyzing Film, American Film Genres, and Fundamentals of Screenwriting at PC. Email Ben.

Erica Tortolani
Adjunct Faculty
Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Amhearst

Erica Tortolani is an adjunct professor at universities including Providence College and Clark University (in Worcester MA).  In 2021, she completed a PhD in Communication with a concentration in Film Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  Together with Martin F. Norden, she has published the edited volume ReFocus: The Films of Paul Leni (Edinburgh University Press).  Her work has also appeared in publications such as the journals Monstrum and Short Film Studies, to name a few, as well as the edited volume Bloody Women!.  Email Erica.

Karen Tulli
Adjunct Faculty
M.A.T., Sacred Heart University

Karen Tulli is an adjunct faculty member at Providence College, URI, and CCRI, teaching Oral Communication, Fundamentals of Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Public Speaking, and Composition I. In 2019, she received the Teaching Excellence Award for an adjunct faculty member at CCRI. Karen was also the CEO of WhoDunnit Murder Mystery Theater, where she assumed multiple roles in the production of shows throughout Rhode Island from 2004-2007. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Sacred Heart University and a B.A. in Philosophy and Communication from Rhode Island College. Email Karen.

Patricia Tulli-Hawkridge
Adjunct Faculty
M.F.A., The George Washington University

Patricia Hawkridge holds an MFA in Dramatic Arts with a concentration in Acting & Speech from The George Washington University. She is the founder/artistic director of LaVoce: Theatre That Speaks as well as a RI Teaching Artist through the RI State Council on the Arts. Pat has served as the Dean of the Arts at TAPA: Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts and at Beacon Charter High School for the Arts and as an Associate Professor and Chairperson of the Theatre Arts Department at Salve Regina University. As an actress & director, Pat has worked with the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Horizons Theatre, Silver Spring Stage and Round House Theatre all in the Washington, DC area and OUTLOUD Theatre, Barker Playhouse, Gamm Theatre, NewGate Theatre, URI Providence Campus Cultural Arts Department, Rhode Island College, RI Stage Ensemble (RISE) all in Rhode Island. As an educator, Pat has taught theatre and speech classes for Providence College, Salve Regina University, Brown University, University of Rhode Island, Community College of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, Wheaton College and the George Washington University. Pat has also served as a speech coach for area colleges, high schools, local theatres and businesses in RI, including the Rhode Island Department of Education’s Center for Teacher Certification and Excellence. Email Pat.

Rodney Witherspoon II
Adjunct Faculty
M.F.A., Brown University/Trinity Rep Acting Program

Rodney Witherspoon II is an actor, writer, director, and educator. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, he holds a BA in Theatre and Performance Studies from the University of California, Berkeley and an MFA from the Brown University/Trinity Repertory Company Program in Acting. His play Tidwell, or the Plantation Play is published by Concord Theatricals. As a performer and director, he has worked with various companies across the country, including Trinity Repertory Company, Huntington Theatre Company, Front Porch Arts Collective, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Gamm Theatre, SpeakEasy Stage Company, Mixed Magic Theatre, Wilbury Theatre Group, Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, and Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. Email Rodney.

Ali M. Boyd
TDF Academic Program Coordinator
Theatre, Dance & Film Academic Office
B.A., Providence College

Ali Boyd has been a part of the Providence College community, as a student and staff member, since 1989. Her professional background includes legal and academic environments. She graduated from Providence College with a B.A. in Studio Art, Printmaking.  She is writing, directing and producing a documentary, The Man is Dead, about the life of singer-songwriter, Peter Kelley. Ali also creates work in other disciplines, including limited edition polymer sculpture series, writing and illustration. If you have questions about TDF majors or minors, registering for classes, applying to PC as a TDF major or minor, applicant events and opportunities including auditions for Nagle Scholarships for incoming theatre majors, SlideRoom submissions in CommonApp, or other academic related questions, contact Ali. Email Ali.

Tonnesha Butler
Administrative Coordinator
Production Office

Born and raised in New Orleans, Tonney Butler earned a certificate in human resources from CCRI and gained professional experience working in banking, human resources, customer service and retail. She loves to paint and travel. If you need assistance with TDF Productions, theatre spaces, or crew experience, theatre, dance concerts, and film festivals and auditions, production photography, video and program archives, purchasing tickets to a show, reserving a theatre rehearsal or performance space, production administrative support, box office, or publicity related questions, contact Tonney. Email Tonnesha.

Trevor Elliott
Technical Director
Angell Blackfriars Theatre
B.F.A., Rhode Island School of Design

Trevor Elliott joined the production staff of PC in the spring of 2017. Before that, he was a freelance set designer/builder for local theaters including 2nd Story Theatre in Warren and New Bedford Festival Theatre at the Zeiterion. Trevor was the technical director at Roger Williams University from 2004 to 2011. He is a current member of the I.A.T.S.E. local 481 Studio Mechanics building scenery for movies filmed in New England. He served as mill foreman for the movie Stronger which shot in 2016. Trevor is a graduate from Rhode Island School of Design with a degree in illustration. Email Trevor.

Gabriel Luxton
Assistant Technical Director
Angell Blackfriars Theatre
B.A., Eastern Connecticut State University

Gabriel Luxton joined the production team at the ABT in the fall of 2019. Before coming onboard officially he served as Sound Designer for several of PC’s recent musicals including, Bat Boy, Spelling Bee, and Into The Woods. He has worked locally at ATR Treehouse and Trinity Repertory Company as a production and audio technician, in addition to freelance sound design work at various regional theaters. Gabe is a graduate of Eastern Connecticut State University with a degree in Theatre and History. Email Gabriel.

Maxine Wheelock
Costume Shop Supervisor

Since 2006 Maxine has been the Costume Shop Supervisor in the Department of Theatre, Dance & Film at Providence College. In that time she has built and/or coordinated costumes for all theatre and dance productions, working with many different designers and choreographers. Prior to coming to PC she served as principal dressmaker at Foothills Theatre and costume designer at the Forum Theatre, both regional theatres in Worcester, Massachusetts. She was principal dressmaker for Wood & Poplyk, whose design work for “Showboat”, aired on the PBS series “Great Performances”, and was nominated for an Emmy. In recent years, she has enjoyed designing productions for Providence College, including Our Town (fall 2016), Hamlet (January 2018) and Batboy, the Musical (fall 2018). Her work on Batboy earned a Motif Award nomination. In spring, 2017, she co-designed and built costumes for the premier production of Snow White for Providence Ballet Theatre. This past summer she worked as cutter/draper in Pompano Beach, FL at Costume World, the country’s largest theatrical rental houses. Email Maxine.