FACULTY
Our faculty are practicing professionals and dedicated educators
MICHAEL BUCKLEY
PROFESSOR, TECHNICAL THEATRE
MFA, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES
Professor Michael Buckley shows exceptional leadership as he instructs students in the art and craft of Technical Theatre Design. A master in scenic, lighting, and property designs, he has designed some 40 productions at Southwestern College. Michael is also a resident artist at Lamb's Players Theatre, where he has designed over 200 productions. Other theatres who have featured his designs are San Diego Rep, The Laguna Playhouse and SDMT. Recent favorites include The Explorer’s Club, Beau Jest, and Shadowlands here at Lamb’s and American Idiot at Southwestern College, where he teaches design and scriptwriting. Also a playwright, his romantic comedy The Hit had an extended run at Lamb’s and then the Horton Grand Theatre and his set earned Mike his fifth Patte Award. As an actor, Mike has appeared in many shows at Lamb’s, including The Nerd, Beau Jest, Johnny Pye and the Foolkiller and Boomers.
RUFF YEAGER
PROFESSOR, PERFORMANCE AND ACADEMICS
M.A., MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
Professor Yeager has been guiding students at Southwestern College since 2009, directing over 40 productions, including A Midsummer Night's Dream, Six Characters in Search of an Author, The Crucible, On Your Feet!, Rent, In the Heights, You Can't Take it With You, Simply Maria or The American Dream, and American Idiot.
His courses include Acting I, Acting 2, Audition Techniques, Play Analysis, and Introduction to the Theatre.
He was awarded Outstanding Faculty Member by his full-time peers for the 22-23 academic year, and the Outstanding Team Faculty award for the 24-25 academic year.
His has acted professionally for The Utah Shakespeare Festival, San Diego Musical Theatre, The San Diego Re;pertory Theatre, and many others.
SANDRA CORTEZ
ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR
M.A., SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
Sandra Cortez recently directed "Oedipus El Rey", "Blood Wedding", "Anna in the Tropics", and "In the Time of the Butterflies" for the Theatre Arts Dept. An adjunct instructor at SWC for 20 years, she enjoys sharing her expertise in the areas of acting, academics, and stage management with the students of Southwestern College.
OMRI SCHEIN
ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR
MFA, SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
Omri Schein is half of the musical theatre writing team of Lincoln and Schein of which their musicals include The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, The Remarkable Mister Holmes, Making Melrose, Grecian Burns, Fintastic Finn, and the upcoming musical My French Whore based on the novel by Gene Wilder. Other writing credits: Mambo Italiano, Withering Heights and Gary Goldfarb: Master Escapist (2013 NYMF Award Best Lyrics). Recent directing credits include How To Succeed...., Jekyll and Hyde, Fiddler On The Roof, and Anything Goes for San Diego Musical Theatre, Psycho Beach Party at Southwestern College, The Mousetrap at Grossmont College, and Beau Jest at North Coast Rep. As a performer: Peril In The Alps and Murder On The Links, Baskerville, Babette’s Feast, All In The Timing, A Funny Thing…ForumX3, Persuasion, Noises Off, The Explorer's Club, Beau Jest, Laughter On the 23rd Floor, Around The World in 80 Days, The Underpants, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeX3, Five Course Love, The Big Bang, When Pigs Fly, Disney’s Beauty and The Beast, Dear World, The People Vs. Mona (Off-Broadway/Cast Recording), Hell’s Belles, Henry V, Grease (tour) and When You’re in Love, The Whole World Is Jewish. www.omri-schein.com.