David Baecker, M.F.A.
Professor of Theatre
Managing Director, Theatre Institute at Sage
David Baecker is an Associate Professor of Theatre at Russell Sage College. He is also a communications coach with the New York State Defenders Institute and teaches for the Arts Center of the Capital District. Past Sage productions include Twelfth Night, Nymph Errant, Noises Off, The Threepenny Opera, Nickel and Dimed, Stop Kiss, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Boston Marriage, Anton in Show Business, Proof, The Turn of the Screw, The Visit, Whose Life Is It Anyway? and Cell Cycle. Locally, David has directed a staged reading Jack Casey’s The Trial of Bat Shea for the Rensselaer County Historical Society, Humble Boy for Theatre Voices, a staged reading of Silence in a Circular Rainbow for NYSTI and a cabaret for the Rensselaer County Republican Party. He has also acted as producer for Leigh Strimbeck’s production of MIRROR MIRROR and director for Byron Nilsson’s Mr. Sensitivity at the New York Fringe Festival. For the Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School in Colorado, David has directed Nickel and Dimed, The Laramie Project, Mad Forest, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, The Overcoat, Peter Pan andThe Wind in the Willows. As an actor, David has worked with the New York State Theatre Institute, Theatre Voices, the Asolo Theatre Festival, New York Stage Originals and Actors Theatre of Louisville. David has an M.F.A. in Acting from Florida State University and a B.A. in Theatre from Washington University in St. Louis.
Heather Hamelin
Education & Intern Program Coordinator
Heather Hamelin is the coordinator for both the internship program and Theatre Institute at Sage Education programs. A professional stage manager with The New York State Theatre Institute for 17 years she stage managed more than 60 productions and toured productions to London, Sweden, Italy and NYC. Some of Heather’s favorite productions include: 1776, Magna Carta, A Wonderful Life, American Enterprise, Orphan Train and Alice in Wonderland. Prior to stage management, Heather worked production regionally with companies including Capital Repertory Theatre, The College of St. Rose, Park Playhouse and the University at Albany
Michael A. Musial, M.M.
Edith McCrae Professor of Fine Arts, Professor of Music
Michael Musial is past Chair of the Creative and Performing Arts Department as well as the coordinator of the Musical Theatre and Theatre Programs at Russell Sage College. Music directing credits include Candide, Children of Eden, The Secret Garden, A Chorus Line, Into the Woods and Sweeney Todd. He music directed A Tale of Cinderella for NYSTI’s 2001 New York State tour and was musical director for their 2002 world premiere production of Magna Carta. A member of the duo-piano team Musial and Musial, he is also the director of the Sage Singers.
Lynne Roblin
Teacher / Artist-in-Residence, Costume Designer
A graduate with a BA from Kenyon College, Lynne Roblin worked in various theatre positions in Dallas, Texas for 2 years after graduation before moving back east to New York State. She was a member of the New York State Theatre Institute company for 26 years as a costume technician, wardrobe supervisor, and teacher. Some favorite NYSTI productions include: A Tale Of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, A Wonderful Life, Sherlock’s Secret Life, King Of Shadows, Alice In Wonderland, Ladies Of Song, Arsenic and Old Lace, and A Christmas Carol. Most recently, Lynne was an adjunct professor of costume technology and assistant to the costume designer for Fifth Of July and Great Expectations at SUNY Albany and spent the last 2 summers as a costume technician at HSRT in Holland, Michigan. She also worked in the Sage costume shop for The Heiress and Seussical and designed the costumes for The Medium.
Eileen Schuyler
Adjunct
Eileen Schuyler is a professional actor, whose work has been seen at Capital Repertory Theatre, WAM Theatre, Stageworks/Hudson, Queens Theatre in the Park Fulton Opera House, Studio Arena Theater and Theatre Company at Hubbard Hall, as well as 25 roles with the New York State Theatre Institute. She directed Our Townat Russell Sage College. Artistic Director of Theater Voices, now in its 32nd season, Eileen directed The Road to Mecca, A Cheever Evening, The Rainmaker, Arms and the Manand Candida for the company. She taught acting for nine years at the University of Albany, as well as serving for many years as a communications coach with the New York State Defenders Institute. Eileen developed and directed original stage adaptations of Spoon River Anthologyat Siena College and A BINTEL BRIEF: Sixty Years of Letters from the Lower East Side to the ‘Jewish Daily Forward’at The Yiddish Book Center, Amherst and The Arts Center for the Capital District. She received her BA from Suffolk University and her MA from SUNY-ESC. An AUDIE winner, she’s a proud member of Actors’ Equity and SAG/AFTRA.