B.A. East Texas Baptist College, M.A. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ph.D. Louisiana State University.

Dr. Don Sandley has contributed to over a hundred theatrical productions in his career as a director, actor, and professor. His areas of research and interest are contemporary Irish theatre, English theatre, playwriting, theatre history, and criticism. Dr. Sandley has made numerous research trips and teaching expeditions to England and Ireland and continues to write academic and creative works when not engaged in a directorial project.

Dr. Sandley will direct Richard III and Thoroughly Modern Millie for the 2009 - 2010 season.

At home, Don enjoys cooking, gardening and spending time with his wife Lynette Sandley and their daughter Caitlin. Lynette is a member of the Samford faculty in the Core Curriculum.

B.A. University of Montevallo, M.F.A. University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Mr. Olson earned his B.A. in 1972 from the University of Montevallo where he majored in Business with a minor in Theater and Philosophy. He went on to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and earned his M.F.A. in Stage design in 1974. Eric Olson is a Member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829, New York City: Scenic Design Category.

Since receiving the M.F.A. in 1974, Eric Olson has created scenic, costume and/or lighting designs for over 200 productions in the worlds of theater, opera, ballet, concert and television, working in venues from London to Las Vegas. Since 1974, he has been faculty designer at Samford University. In Fall, 1993, he served as an assistant in the production offices of London's Royal National Theatre. Mr. Olson has also designed Scenery for Six Flags over Georgia's music revue This Is America! , and designed the main news and weather set for WBRC-TV, Fox 6, in Birmingham.

Mr Olson specializes in scenic, costume and lighting design at Samford University, and also teaches theatre appreciation, professional competency reading, set design, costume design, stage management, and scenic art and theatre in London.

"Mr. O" believes that the educational process in theatre, especially in the design and technical areas, takes place as much in the backstage and in the scenic studio as the classroom. Skills that students master include more than sculpting, painting and draping. Teamwork, organization, imagination and ingenuity are all part of the process of putting a set on stage and clothing the characters. When lights come up on the finished setting on opening night, everyone who worked to make the visual production a reality can feel a sense of pride.

B.A., Theater, State University of New York-Geneseo, M.F.A., Design/Production, University of Memphis

Mrs. Butcher joins the Theatre Department as Assistant Professor, Technical Director and Supervisor of the Scene Shop. She has extensive professional experience, having worked in a variety of business and theater settings. She most recently was employed as Production Manager with Pook, Diemont, and Ohl, Inc., a contracting firm specializing in theaters, sounds stages, and architectural installations, with responsibilities for coordinating all manufacturing and distribution of products, field support, purchasing, and safety.

In the fall of 2006, Samford Theatre produced Restoreth My Soul, written and directed by Mrs. Butcher. This play was based on the events of September 11, 2001, and the ensuing reconstruction of the Winter Garden Atrium, as lived by Mrs. Butcher and her husband.

Renee and her husband, Scott, are parents of a two girls, Madison and Jordan, and a son, Elijah.

BA with Honors in Drama, University of Leeds, UK; MFA in Theatre, University of Memphis

Mark Castle is an Assistant Professor in the Theatre Department, teaching in the areas of acting, directing and design. Originally from England, he attended Drama School at the Arden School of Theatre in Manchester. He received a BA (Honors) degree in Drama from the University of Leeds, focusing on Scenography. During this time he spent a semester at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR where he met his wife, Starla. Before coming to live in the States he worked professionally as a Designer and Stage Manager at several theatres in England. He earned his MFA in Theatre from the Univesity of Memphis, TN in Directing, and has worked as an actor, stage manager and designer at Greenbrier Valley Theatre in West Virginia. Mr. Castle performed in Samford's 2006 production of "The Secret Garden" and continues a performace career with Birmingham Festival Theatre and Muse of Fire Productions.

He enjoys playing soccer and cricket with his children, Sean and Charley.

B. A. in Dance, Birmingham-Southern College, M.A. in Elementary Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Lisa Gibbs is a professional dancer with Southern Danceworks, a professional modern dance company, directed by Teri Weksler, former member of the Mark Morris Dance Group. Since joining the company in 1994, she has performed repertory programs and school shows in Birmingham and throughout Alabama. Through her work with Southern Danceworks, Lisa has performed several solos and duets, and has worked with several gifted choreographers and world renowned dancers. Lisa has also performed with the Alabama Ballet under the direction of Wes Chapman. Lisa has taught modern classes at Birmingham-Southern College and Exclusively Ballet, and ballet classes at Children's Dance Foundation. To further her own education, she continues to take classes in ballet and modern, and attends as many workshops as possible.

Mrs. Gibbs continues a performance career with two emerging companies: Sanspointe, a modern dance company, and Arova, a contemporary ballet company.  Visit www.sanspointe.com or www.arova.org for performance information.

In the fall of 2002, she was hired by Samford University to teach ballet and modern. In the fall of 2005, she joined the Samford Theatre staff full time. Ms. Gibbs now provides secretarial assistance to the professors, oversees the box office, assists with publicity and coordinates the summer theatre camp in addition to teaching technique classes in ballet and modern, as well as dance history and choreography. Ms. Gibbs is a member of the Alabama Dance Council and the National Dance Educators Organization.

Lisa and her husband Charles have two children and two cats. They live in Bluff Park and enjoy camping and hiking. Lisa's goal is to one day hike at least a part of every mountain range in the United States.