Faculty Highlight - Ed Swidey

Ed Swidey, Snow’s new Asst. Prof. of Theatre, aims to help students explore the theatrical arts. 

November 30, 2021 –Ephraim, UT – Snow College’s newest addition to the theatre department is already making a splash both in and out of the classroom. A graduate of Boston College and the University of Delaware, Ed Swidey has worked as a professional actor, mentor, and director, and looks forward to sharing his expertise with the students at Snow College. 

Before coming to Snow, Swidey served as Acting Artist-in-Residence at Missouri State University’s Department of Theatre & Dance, teaching acting, voice, and movement courses while also directing department productions. Further, he served as actor-mentor to MSU performance students in the world premiere of Oklahoma! In Concert, directed by MSU’s Robert Westenberg, and the short film Between The Creag and the Sky, directed by MSU’s Kurt Heinlein.

In addition to his other work at MSU, Swidey also played the part of the father in Between The Creag and the Sky. The film has received many accolades, including Swidey’s win of the Best Actor award at the Green Mountain International Film Festival. Swidey also won the Best Acting Duo award at the Los Angeles International Film Festival along with co-star Kathryn Harter, one of his students at MSU.

While Swidey appreciates every acting opportunity he’s had, one honor stands above the rest. In 2015, Swidey received the prestigious Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship, which honors 10 of America’s best regional theatre performers each year. Swidey was subsequently cast by his Lunt-Fontanne mentor Phylicia Rashad in her award-winning production of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Mark Taper Forum).

When asked about his approach to theatre, Swidey cited Theodoros Terzopoulos who said, “There is no Ithaca … only the road to Ithaca.” Swidey explains that, “Theatre is about the journey, the search, not the destination. I am thrilled to help Snow College theatre students on their journey of exploration."

 

More information about the film, please see Between The Creag and the Sky
For more information about Snow College theatre, please see snow.edu/theatre