Academics

Jan M. Gompper
Professor of Theatre
Director of Theatre

Education

  • B.S. Elementary Education, Dr. Martin Luther College; New Ulm, Minn. 1980
  • M.F.A. Acting, Mankato State University; Mankato, Minn. 1991

Additional Education

  • Audition Techniques with Claire Simon Casting & Erica Daniels (Steppenwolf Theatre), 2005
  • Acting Shakespeare Workshop with Angela Iannone, 2002
  • Musical Theatre Belting - National Association of Teachers of Singing, 2001
  • Film Acting Workshop with Molly Benson from Los Angeles

Professional Memberships

  • Actors Equity Association (AEA)
  • Screen Actors Guild (SAG)
  • Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE)
  • Christians in Theatre Arts (CITA)
  • International Visual Christian Media (ICVM)

Research Interests

  • Composing & Lyric/Script Writing for Musical Theatre
  • Screenplay Writing
  • Stage and Film Acting
  • Commercial & Voiceover Work
  • Actor coaching
  • Dialect coaching

Current Courses

  • Acting in Commercials
  • Audition Techniques
  • Musical Theatre Performance
  • Principles of Acting
  • Principles of Directing
  • Scene Studies in Acting
  • Stage Makeup
  • Styles in Acting
  • Survey of American Musical Theatre
  • Voice and Dialects

Sampling of Commercial/Television Work

  • Co-Host - Time of Grace - WB18
  • Aurora Health Care
  • Walgreens
  • Fleet Farm
  • Fox 6 News
  • Mr. Metal
  • Steinhafels
  • Lutherans for Life

Sampling of Recent Film and Stage Work

Film

  • Honey Colored Boy - Fran Kaplan Productions, August 2009
  • The Penny - Filmweavers LLC, November 2008

Stage

  • Almost Maine - The Boulevard Theatre, February 2008
  • Always, Patsy Cline - Archangel Productions, July 2004
  • Agnes of God - Stage West-Milw., January 2004
  • Merrily We Roll Along - Windfall Theatre, May 2003

Sampling of Voiceover Work

  • Neurospine Center of Wisconsin
  • Ebeneezer Childcare Center
  • City of West Allis Beautification Awards
  • Festival City Symphony
  • Body Ritual Tattooing
  • Village Furniture
  • Ho-Chunk Casino

Sampling of Recent Theatrical Work

  • Always, Patsy Cline - Archangel Productions, July 2004
  • Agnes of God - Stage West-Milw., January 2004
  • Merrily We Roll Along - Windfall Theatre, May 2003

Published Papars

"Making Every Piece Fit: An Encouragement for Better Arts Programming." Lutheran Parent, Sept/Oct. 2001.

Presentations

  • Acting Workshops for ATHE, CITA and WHSTF (Wisconsin High School Theatre Festival)
  • Play Reading Workshops for ATHE and ICVM