Nanci Carol Ruby, MFA Nanci.Ruby@gmail.com 310-270-3470 EDUCATION Master of Fine Arts Theatre Performance The Theatre School, formerly known as The Goodman School of Drama, DePaul University, Chicago, IL Bachelor of Arts Communication Arts Georgetown College, KY MEMBERSHIPS Actors Equity Association (AEA) Women in Film (WIF) California Faculty Association (CFA) ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT Chapman University, Dodge College of Film & Media Arts, Orange, CA, (Present) Courses Taught: Directing for Television Acting for Television Workshop Azusa Pacific University, Department of Theatre, Film and Television, Azusa, CA Adjunct Faculty ( 11-Present) Courses Taught: Acting Shakespeare Voice I Introduction to Acting Creative Process Acting for the Opera Singer Director of Main Stage Productions Chapman University, Department of Theatre, Orange, CA Interim Artistic Asst. Professor, Yearly Contract ( 15-17) Courses taught: Building a Character Business of Acting Styles of Acting Acting Fundamentals Introduction to Acting BFA Showcase Course Director of Main Stage Season Productions Director and Coordinator of BFA Showcase, Falcon Theatre
Nanci Carol Ruby Vita 2 ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT (CONT D) California State University Fullerton, Department of Human Services, Fullerton, CA Adjunct Faculty ( 14- Present) Course Taught: Integrating Acting & Psychodrama Techniques Chapman University, Dodge College of Film & Media Arts, Orange, CA, Visiting Lecturer (2017) Screen Acting in Production Workshop California State University, Fullerton, Department of Human Services, Visiting Lecturer ( 13-14) Developing the Counselor s Voice Theory & Practice of Group Counseling The Theatre School, formerly known as The Goodman School of Theatre, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, Adjunct Faculty ( 99-06) Courses taught: Acting Technique Performance Workshop Scene Study Northeastern Illinois University, Department of Communications, Media & Theatre; Chicago, IL Adjunct Faculty ( 04-06) Courses taught: Voice & Diction Introduction to Theatre DIRECTING/PRODUCING THE WOMEN by Clare Boothe Luce, coming November 2018 Nanci Carol Ruby, Director Azusa Pacific University s Black Box Theatre DESDAMONA, A PLAY ABOUT A HANDKERCHIEF by Paula Vogel ( 18) Nanci Carol Ruby, Director Waltmar Theatre, Chapman University Organized Post-Show Discussions with faculty, production staff, cast and audience to discuss play s content and its potential impact within the campus community Played in rep with Shakespeare s Othello directed by Tom Bradac THE GOOD WAR collaborative adaptation of Studs Terkel s prize-winning novel ( 17) Nanci Carol Ruby, Director, Azusa Pacific University s Back Box Theatre Collaborated with veterans, faculty, and production team to direct devised piece Played in rep with Waiting for the Parade by John Murrell, directed by Dr. Rachel Tracie
Nanci Carol Ruby Vita 3 DIRECTING/PRODUCING (Cont d) DOG SEES GOD by Bert V. Royal, Chapman University, Main Stage Season ( 16) Nanci Carol Ruby, Director Produced in repertory with Good Kids by Naomi Iizuka, directed by James Gardner Organized Post-Show Discussions with faculty, production staff, and cast to discuss play s content and its potential impact within the campus community, successful, sold-out run BFA ACTOR SHOWCASE, Falcon Theatre, Chapman University Department of Theatre Nanci Carol Ruby, Producer/Co-Director -Producer: duties include marketing, promotion, production supervision, box office, catering, house management, post-production research and analysis, post-production marketing of student talent -Co-Director of Production: duties include selecting, directing and creating brief, entertaining promotional pieces to showcase actors work on stage and on screen Producer, Co-Directed with John Badham (2015, 2016) Producer, Co-Director with Rachel Goldberg (2017) Showcase 2017-574% increase in Industry attendance since 2014, from 23 to 132 Showcase 2017 - Two or more industry contact requests for 88% of students participating Positive growth over three year period, likely stems from location, quality of show content and talent as well as a personal approach to box office and post-production Sample Feedback from Industry Attendees: Great Showcase better than Yale and USC! - Mavrick Artists Agency I want to say that your showcase was light years ahead of the majority I saw this year. - Prestige Talent "The Chapman show was really good - inventive format (mix of live and filmed content) it makes a difference to those of us who are doing a lot of these to see something different!" - Stein Entertainment The showcase was beautifully produced. - Steven Nash, Arts & Letter Entertainment I enjoyed the showcase immensely. The website is very well put together and has proven helpful. Thanks again! CBS Casting TEMECULA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, YOUTH FILM CAMP Nanci Carol Ruby, Co-Director with Allan Goldstein Two week experience, taking a dozen teens from inception through pre-production, production and post-production to one-minute films, culminating in all twelve student films screening at the film festival
DIRECTING/PRODUCING (Cont d) Nanci Carol Ruby Vita 4 THE WAITING ROOM by Lisa Loomer, CenterStage Theatre, Northeastern Illinois University Nanci Carol Ruby, Director Interdisciplinary cast including professional actors, NEIU faculty and students Sold out performances led to the maximum extended run allowable in the space Organized Post-Show Discussions with faculty from Women s Studies, Counseling, Nursing, Psychology, and Gender Studies to discuss the play s content and its potential impact within the campus community ACTING STAGE (Full List Available Upon Request) CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, Mae, Apple Tree Theatre, Eileen Boevers, Director Starring Tony Award Winner Deanna Dunagan (Best Actress, Osage County) SPITFIRE GRILL, Effie, Apple Tree Theatre, Eileen Boevers, Director Starring Chicago Icon Mary Ann Thebus WORKING, Rose/Housewife/Ensemble, American Theatre Company, Brian Russell, Director Mark Elliott, Musical Director, Studs Turkel, Consultant FILM/TV (Full List Available Upon Request) WASHED UP, Officer Rathmore, Web Series Pilot ( 17) Dodge College of Film Karoline Ribak, Producer PARA MATAR A UN ASESINO/TO KILLA KILLER, Psícologa/Psychiatrist, Thriller Ricardo Isla, Director; Released by Polychrome Pictures, WB subsidiary CHICAGO, Myra, Spanish Language Novella Pilot Episode, Ricardo Isla, Director COMMERCIAL WORK (Full List Available Upon Request) Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Toyota, Ale 8 One, State Farm of Illinois, Stoess Manor Shoppe, Hallmark Cards, *Care Center 24 (Clio Award Nominee) CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT California State University, Fullerton Wrote Curriculum for Integrating Acting & Psychodrama Techniques Bachelor of Sciences in Human Services
Nanci Carol Ruby Vita 5 CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT (CONT D) California State University, Fullerton Wrote Curriculum for Acting for Screenwriters, MFA in Screenwriting The Theatre School, formerly known as The Goodman School of Theatre, DePaul University Wrote Curriculum for: Performance Workshop Scene Study Undergraduate Theatre Studies General Education Electives GRANTS & FUNDING Chapman University, Student Government Association secured $1,800 to fund Showcase Film Scene production for Theatre Performance Seniors DePaul University Faculty Grant secured $2,500 to create a comprehensive guide for students connecting them to multicultural scripts WORKSHOPS & PRESENTATIONS Peer Reviewed Global Improvisation Initiative Symposium, University of California, Irvine (2017) Training Clinical Counselors Using Improvisation and Acting Techniques Western Association for Counselor Education & Supervision, Anaheim, CA (2014) Using Improvisational Acting Exercises in Counseling and Counselor Education California Association of Alcohol & Drug Educators, Los Angeles, CA (2014) Utilizing Improvisational Acting Techniques in Addictions Counseling APU Writers Read, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, California (2013) Seeing Red, short story inspired by Japanese Nesei in post WWII America California Counseling Association Annual Conference, Long Beach, CA (2008) Utilizing Improvisational Acting Techniques in Family Counseling
Nanci Carol Ruby Vita 6 WORKSHOPS & PRESENTATIONS (Cont d) Non-Peer Reviewed/Invited Henry Kemp Blair Shakespeare Festival, Chapman University (2017, 2016) First Folio Acting Technique Students Against Substance Abuse, AASA, East Los Angeles College (2014) Utilizing Improvisational Acting and Psychodrama Exercises in Counseling Across The Arts Cultural Experience, The Theatre School, DePaul University (2005) Signing Shakespeare (American Sign Language) PEER REVIEWED RESEARCH Ruby, J.R., Ruby, N.C. (2009). Improvisational acting exercises and their potential use in family counseling. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 4, 152-160. PRESENT RESEARCH EFFORTS Ruby, J.R., Ruby, N.C. (2017). Student impacts of participation in a human services psychodrama course. Journal of Human Services, (revise & resubmit). Ruby, N.C., Ruby, J.R. (2017). Born Creative, an exploration of the development of creativity and how parents can prepare a family environment that fosters the imagination WRITING The Good War, stage adaptation of Studs Terkel s Pulizer Prize-winning novel Full Production mounted by APU Theatre, November 2017 Motherload, screenplay short for Chapman University Theatre & Dodge College of Film Actor Showcase, screening at the Falcon Theatre May 2017 Comic Book University, screenplay short for Chapman University Theatre & Dodge College of Film Actor Showcase, screened at the Falcon Theatre May 2016 A Soldier s Debt, one-act Civil War period piece produced at Mt. Vernon Academy, Atlanta, GA One-Act Play Festival, Georgia Independent School Association *Winner, Regional Competition Good Question, a one act production at Lexington Children s Theatre & Tour, Lexington, KY Spaghetti Wars, The Musical, workshop at DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Nanci Carol Ruby Vita 7 WRITING (Cont d) Imaginaries, young readers chapter book, completed, preparing for submission Alicia in Wonderland, in process, stage script, inspired by AB540 Students (Dream Act) weaves a fictional narrative with digital video, music, dance and verbatim text SERVICE Chapman University Faculty student admissions committee member 2015-2016, 2016-2017 Volunteer tasks include viewing approximately 75 student video audition submissions, attending committee meetings, working in collaboration with Department of Theatre Performance Faculty to run on-campus auditions on Saturdays and extended holiday weekends. ~50-60 hours of service/yr. Post-Show Audience Discussions for DESDEMONA, A PLAY ABOUT A HANDKERCHIEF by Paula Vogel, Spring 2018 and for DOG SEES GOD by Bert V. Royal, Fall 2016 Organized Audience Talkback Discussions bringing faculty from Chapman Departments of Theatre, English, History, Counseling, Social Sciences, Religious Studies, and Psychology to discuss each production s content and its potential impact within the campus community. Panther Days, 2015-2016, 2016-2017 Attending Chapman Panther Days as Department of Theatre Faculty, co-leading breakout sessions with fellow faculty and fielding questions from prospective students and parents. CoPA representative to the Mark Taper Forum College Day Event, LA, February 2016 Ran Chapman table to promote all of CoPA s degree programs to prospective students at the Mark Taper Forum College Arts Fair Adopt-A-Chapman Student, 2013-2016, Program Lead, 2017 Participant Created and operated the service program, Adopt-A-Chapman Student. Each student connected with a local family receives support, the occasional meal and a snack bag for final exam weeks. Adopt-A-Chapman-Student Program was designed to increase student retention by increasing local connection.
SERVICE (Cont d) Nanci Carol Ruby Vita 8 Azusa Pacific University Vocal coaching provided for student cast of The Seagull, directed by Dr. Rachel Tracie, 2012 Acting Coach for APU OperArt, staged scenes (2014) Rossini s Il Barbiere di Seviglia (The Barber of Seville) Mozart s Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) Presentations to students on crossing the bridge from academia to professional life (2012, 2013) DePaul University Participant in the St. Vincent DePaul Days (clothing drives, beach cleanups, etc.), 1999-2006 AWARDS Faculty Appreciation Award Nominee, Lighting the Way Chapman University, 2017 65 th Assembly District Woman of Distinction, 2013, Orange County, CA For tremendous and positive impact upon our community through the arts After Dark Award, Best Ensemble, Chicago Jeff Citations, Godspell, by Stephen Schwartz produced by Centerlight Theatre for the Deaf, Northbrook, IL and Chicago, IL Winner, Regional Competition, One-Act Play Festival, Georgia Independent School Association Playwright for Soldier s Debt, produced by Mt. Vernon Academy, Atlanta, GA Care Center 24 (Clio Award Nominee), Actor, Super Bowl Commercial, Thomas McMann Advertising, Lexington, KY SKILLS Dialects (IPA), Linklater Voice Technique, American Sign Language (ASL), Basic Spanish, Shakespeare First Folio Acting Technique, Yoga, Stage Combat (hand-to-hand) Singer, Vocal Music Coach, Pianist, Agent-Recommended Screen Actor Coach REFERENCES: For full reference list, please send request: Nanci.Ruby@gmail.com