Staff
The Indian River Theatre of the Performing Arts has a talented and experienced staff working with students and performance groups at the Indian River Central School District.
Kristie Farr: Theatre Teacher & Director
Kristie L. Fuller has been a Theatre teacher at Indian River High School since 1998. Since starting there, she has developed a sequenced program in Theatre, directs 2-3 productions per year and coordinates the Thespian Troupe and Honor Society. Some of her favorite directing credits include: Mamma Mia, Who Will Carry the Word, As You Like It, Hairspray, The Yellow Boat, Bocón, Once on this Island, Seussical, Arsenic and Old Lace, The Miracle Worker, And a Child Shall Lead, Doors, You Can’t Take it with You, The Women of Lockerbie, Almost Maine, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Laramie Project and The Diary of Anne Frank. Several of her productions have received Awards of Excellence in Directing from the Theatre Association of New York State and Awards of Excellence for Outstanding Production at the Michael J. Harms Theatre Festival. She has enjoyed teaming with Third Eye Theatre to provide a variety of ASL interpreted productions for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in her community.
Kristie has been an adjunct instructor in the Theatre and Dance Department at SUNY Potsdam for the last 11 years specializing in Theatre Education Methods courses as well as Play Analysis and Theatre History courses. In addition, she has taught for NYSUT/Cazenovia College focusing on CTE courses in Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment and Classroom Management. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at SUNY Potsdam and holds the following teaching certifications: Theatre Certification (K-12) Professional Performing Arts – Drama (9-12) Permanent, Speech/Drama Certification (K-12) Permanent.
For over 20 years, Kristie has been the New York State Theatre Education Association (NYSTEA) Curriculum Chair working with Theatre standards revision, curriculum development, assessment and certification. She is currently the Chair of the Arts Content Advisory Panel and the Theatre Chair for the IAAP Committee at the NYS Education Department. She has been part of EdTA’s Lesson Plan Project (2020) Model Curriculum Project (2018, 2019) and Theatre Teacher Evaluation Workbook committee. Her Theatre program was recognized as the Educational Theatre Association’s Outstanding School in 2007. In 2012 she was awarded the National Reba R. Robertson Award for Outstanding Theatre Teacher and won the 2017 NYSTEA Rod Marriott Lifetime Achievement Award. She was thrilled to have been a part of the American High School Theatre Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2013 and looks forward to returning again in 2021.
Current Committees:
Selected for the EdTA Lesson Plan Project (2020)
Selected for the EdTA National Model Curriculum Project (2018, 2019)
Committee Chair for the Arts Content Advisory Panel: The New York State Education Department (2017 to present)
Theater Chair for the New York State Arts Standards Revision committee: The New York State Education Department
Curriculum Chair and Board Secretary: The New York State Theatre Education Association
Theater Teacher Evaluation Workbook Team: The Educational Theatre Association
Subject Matter Expert for Theatre Content Specialty Test: NYS Teacher Certification
Committee Chair for the Revision of the Theatre Resource Guide: The New York State Education Department/NYSTEA
Committee Member, Item Reviewer, Scorer for the ASSETS Theatre Arts Assessment, The New York State Education Department
Content Advisory Committee for the Theatre Content Specialty Exam including Item Review, Marker Response Review, Passing Score Review, NES
Joshua Wilson: Theatre Production Technician
Joshua Wilson has participated in backstage crews since he could climb inside cupboards. He has been performing in musicals and plays since his early childhood and has since grown into crew and all it offers. He has worked as Production Stage Manager for SUNY Potsdam’s The Marriage of Figaro, and before that worked as the Assistant Stage Manager for multiple operatic productions, including the world premier of Mayo by Tom Cipullo. He has also won a TANYS Excellence in Acting award for his role as Schroeder in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
Joshua has lived the majority of his life in the North Country and has been a part of Watertown Lyric and Little Theater for a good chunk of that time. He’s seen plenty of the stage and plenty of the backstage, and now is culminating his experience in a role and life that sees him happily seated between the two.
Amanda Morrison: Assistant Director & Stage Crew Advisor
Amanda Morrison has been seen participating backstage, on production teams, and with set construction for many shows for Little Theatre of Watertown and Watertown Lyric Theater. “Doubt,” her directorial debut for LTW, received several TANYS Awards and ultimately took home Best Long Performance at the 2017 TANYS Festival. She is glad to be a part of the staff for the Performing Arts Department at Indian River High School, where she is able to push students to grow in theatre and performance arts. Currently serving as President on the LTW Board of Directors, she continues to wear many hats for the organization and its productions. Prior to joining the Performing Arts staff at Indian River High School, she was lead photographer at the Watertown Daily Times, serving the community as a photojournalist for 8 years. She has won multiple state and international awards and honors for her photojournalism work, being internationally recognized for her talents, and has been selected as an attendee for several workshops including the prestigious Kalish Workshop for photo editing and layout.
Kathi Frans - Performing Arts Teacher Assistant
Kathi Frans has a background in Film and Production. She graduated from Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida in 2019. Since graduation she has lived all over the world, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Maryland and now New York. She has worked on many different movies and tv shows such as; Bad Boys for Life, 90 Day Fiance, Married at First Sight, Generations, I Still Believe, Ghost Loop, American Housewife, and many more. She has traveled all over the world working closely with different Directors and Producers. She is excited to be expanding her horizon and working with the Indian River Theater Department.