Meet the Theater Faculty
Andy Christensen
Assistant Professor of Theater, Directing
Andy Christensen is a fiercely curious artist-educator who specializes in emergent forms of immersive and site-informed theatre that explore the intersection of place and time. In his practice, he builds egalitarian ensembles that create interdisciplinary, research-driven, and process-shaped performances that put audiences at the center of artistic experiences and contextualize performance within community.
After receiving his M.F.A. in theatre directing from the Lir Academy of Trinity College in Dublin and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Andy returned to the United States to invest in emerging artists in the Pacific Northwest. He is a founder of Cascadia Art Project and a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. He has mentored artists in many regional high schools, George Fox University, Pacific University, and most recently at Whitworth University where he was recognized for outstanding integration of vocation in the classroom.
Phillip Ray Guevara
Adjunct Faculty - Movement & Performance
Phillip Ray Guevara is a professional actor, director, and fight choreographer, with an M.F.A. in Acting from The University of Washington and a B.F.A. in Acting from Texas State University. He has worked professionally on stage and on-screen in New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, and various other parts of the country over the last fifteen years. He has studied with the Royal Shakespeare Company during his time in undergrad, and with The International Stunt School during his grad school days.
Currently, Phillip works primarily on camera all over the Pacific Northwest. Favorite regional credits include: The Play That Goes Wrong (Seattle Rep & Portland Center Stage co-production), The Hombres (Artist’s Rep), The Three Musketeers (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park), Native Gardens (Intiman Theatre), and Julius Caesar (Titan Theatre Company).
Larry Larsen
Professor of Theater Design
This is Larry’s 30th year of teaching at the University. He has been involved with theater since 5th grade when he played Schroder in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. He teaches courses in Scenic and Lighting Design, Scenic Painting, Film Studies and Visual Art. He has served the department as theater program director and chair, and just completed 6 years of service as an Academic Associate Dean for the College of Arts and Sciences.
Recent shows he has designed at the University include last years productions of Everybody, The Wolves and Twelfth Night. He has designed over 100 shows in his time at UP. Larry also works as a professional designer for many local theaters. Recent shows include Arsenic and Old Lace and Blithe Spirit for Lakewood Theatre Company, Snapshots and Don’t Hug Me for Broadway Rose Theatre Company. He is the resident scenic designer for the Portland Revels a post he has held since 2001. He has also designed shows for Artists Repertory Theatre, Oregon Children’s Theatre, Northwest Children’s Theatre, Third Rail Repertory Theatre, Portland State’s Opera Program, and Summer Repertory Theatre in Santa Rosa CA. He served as the producer for Mock’s Crest Productions which presented a summer operetta on campus every June until 2020.
Prior to his work at the University he was the design associate for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival – Portland. He has an MFA in Theater Design from University of Washington, and when not at UP he is hanging with his wife Caren, his son Mac and his puppy Milo in lovely Northeast Portland.
Tyler Smith
Scene Shop and Production Manager
Tyler Smith is an award winning designer, technical designer, and project manager with a variety of experience in the education, experiential marketing, regional theater, and custom fabrication industries.
Tyler earned his MFA in theater technology from the University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign in 2001 and has taught at many large university theater programs including University of Arizona, University of Central Florida and his alma mater, UIUC. He has also served as a LORT Technical Director for Studio Arena Theater and the Milwaukee Rep. His background includes Project Management in the construction industry building performing arts centers, theaters, cafetoriums, concert halls and upgrading safety systems for roller coasters.
Most recently he has been refining his design skills in the custom fabrication industry creating all manner of scenery, interactive games, custom vehicles and trade show displays. These projects were for a variety of experiential marketing events with the top brands in the technology, automotive, and sportswear sectors. He also has built giant weddings in the woods and refurbished a very large, historic lumberjack.
Tyler's work has earned many awards including: Themed Entertainment Association Award for Outstanding Achievement, Brand Experience CES - The Google Assistant Ride, A Clio Sports Silver Award - Gatorade X Jordans, MLS Activation of the Year 2018 - Portland Timbers Goal Dust, the Verge's Most in Show CES 2018 - Google Connected Devices and Oregon Restoration Demuro Award 2018 – Paul Bunyan.
Tyler spends his free time with his wife Tracey and their three nearly feral cats Oso, Raven, and Tesla.
