Professor Susan Berkompas Founder of American Coast Theater Company and Department Chair of Vanguard University discusses the theater program and upcoming performances.
Originally from Great Falls, Montana, Susan K. Berkompas wrote her first play, ‘Seamore the Dolphin‘, in fourth grade. A couple of dozen years later, Berkompas holds a B.F.A. and M.F.A. in Acting and Directing, earned her memberships in SDC, SAG, and AFTRA, the founder of American Coast Theater Company and is also the Chair of the Theatre Department at Vanguard University, where she teaches courses like Acting I-III, Directing, Character Acting for Comedy, Improvisation, Movement & Voice, and Playing Shakespeare. She has received the KCACTF Excellence in Education and Gold Medallion awards and is an alumnus of Directors Lab West. Berkompas has studied Shakespeare with Sir John Barton at the British American Drama Academy and worked extensively with MICHA on the Michael Chekhov Technique.
In a recent conversation, we joked about theatrical shows we’d like to see retired (one of which, the film adaptation air the day after our interview on TCM) and discussed upcoming productions, including ‘Footloose‘, offering a glimpse into Berkompas’ evolving vision for the program, along with being able to keep productions, “Christian Friendly” as Vanguard University is an Assembly of God, Pentecostal affiliated university.
Berkompas’ American Coast Theater Company, which is housed at Lyceum Theater on the campus on Vanguard University, has directed productions such classics like ‘Othello‘, ‘The Boys Next Door‘, ‘Metamorphoses‘, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream‘, ‘The Crucible‘, ‘Kiss Me, Kate‘, ‘Bullshot Crummond‘, ‘Life Without Parole‘, ‘25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee‘, ‘Lord of the Flies‘, and ‘Around the World in 80 Days‘. On stage, she has portrayed roles including Blanche in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire‘, Eleanor in ‘The Lion in Winter‘, Kate in ‘Taming of the Shrew‘, Joy in ‘Shadowlands‘, Rhetta in ‘Pump Boys & Dinettes‘, Gertrude in ‘Hamlet‘, and Edith/Edi in ‘Grey Gardens‘.
To learn more about the Theatre Arts program at Vanguard University, visit: https://www.vanguard.edu/academics/academic-programs/undergrad/theatre-arts.
For more information about American Coast Theater Company, visit: https://americancoasttheater.com/.
To purchase tickets for ‘Footloose‘, visit: https://ci.ovationtix.com/.
Vanguard University’s next musical, ‘Footloose‘ directed by Adjunct Professor Nicole Snelson, will debut on Thursday, February 20 and runs through March 9, 2025.
Vanguard University is located at:
55 Fair Dr.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
