Faculty and Staff

Laura Hope joined the faculty at Whitman College as chair of the Department of Theater and Dance in 2020. She has a doctorate in performance studies from the University of California, Davis. Her primary research interests are in new play and musical development, directing, dramaturgy and Irish theater.

Barbara DeLauter is a mentor, organizer, process improver and theater enthusiast.

Annaliese Baker is a theater artist with 20 years of professional and postsecondary work, nationally and internationally. As a “multi-hyphenate”, Baker explores performance in multiple facets: directing, the design of over 100 performances in live theater and film/television, and theatrical management.

Christopher Petit is a director, performer and teacher. He holds an MFA in directing from Columbia University and a BFA in acting from Rutgers University.

Daniel Schindler is a theater designer and scenic painter. He is a member of United Scenic Artists #829 and has designed professionally at the Toledo Repertory Theatre, the Arvada Center in Denver, Colorado, and the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts.  

Nate Tomsheck has spent over 15 years teaching and serving as a technical director in a small liberal arts setting. Prior to coming to Whitman, Tomsheck served as the resident scenic and lighting designer at LaGrange College.

Kevin Walker brings 25 years of theatrical building experience to Harper Joy Theatre. Walker has a B.A. from Humboldt State University, a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Oregon and a MAT from Willamette University.

Renée Archibald is a dancer and choreographer. She has performed throughout New York City, the United States and internationally. Her choreographic work has been presented at NYC venues including The Brooklyn Museum, The Chocolate Factory, Danspace Project, Dance Theater Workshop, and The Kitchen. She has received choreographic residencies through the Brooklyn Arts Exchange, Movement Research, and Yaddo and has taught at Barnard College, University of Illinois, the Yard, and White Mountain Summer Dance Festival.

A physical practitioner first, Peter de Grasse grounds his work in an ongoing investigation of popping, waving and street styles, which he first saw during raves of the late '90s and early 2000s. Since the close of his concert career, he has built on these formative experiences through intensive one-on-one study with Robin Rojas, Slick Dogg and Megaman.