Amy Ressler (born June 9, 1962 in Epworth, Iowa) is a gifted storyteller, playwright, camp counselor and director. She currently lives and operates in Shullsburg, Wisconsin.

Position

Director of Theatre Arts, Academic Staff in Fine Arts, Artistic Director

Degrees and Schools

M.F.A. in Theatre from Arizona State University

M.A.T. in Secondary Education from National-Louis University

B.A. in Drama from Clarke College

Teaching responsibilities

Direct productions and teach Acting, Directing, Theatre History & Literature coursework, Methods of Teaching Theatre, Costume Design and Set Construction.

The director

Founding artistic director of the Great Midwestern Educational Theatre Company, Amy Ressler leads the company with over 20 years of experience working with children, in education and theatre. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Child Drama from the Arizona State University, 1988. Originally from Iowa, Amy cultivated her theatre talents in Chicago where she was an associate professor of theatre and education at National-Louis University for 12 years. Amy also worked at the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian Discovery Theatre in Washington, D.C., Phoenix Children’s Theatre and Mesa Youtheatre in Arizona, and in Chicago with the Illinois Theatre Association, Chicago Children’s Theatre, North Park Opera, Light Opera Works, CUBE, Wild Onion Storytelling Festival, Betty Weeks Storytelling Conference, Kohl McCormick StoryBus and many prestigious others. In the Wisconsin Tri-State area, Amy is known for her work with the Grand Opera House in Dubuque, Iowa, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Heartland festival, Fly-By-Night Theatre and Shullsburg High School.

Writings

Amy Ressler has written several original productions as well as worked with the authors of multiple children's stories in order to transfer them into a stage production format. Her works have garnered the attention of local medias.

Operas

(1998) Spreading the News, a 1-act opera, written by Amy Ressler, composer Philip Seward

In Spreading the News,

Musicals

(2007) The Picklepatch Bathtub, musical tour show by Amy Ressler, Karen Beuchele, Francis Kennedy

In The Picklepatch Bathtub, it’s 1925 and Donna Delle Philp’s legs have grown too long for the family’s old washtub. But with her parents busy making ends meet on the farm, it’s up to Donna to find a solution. After months of toil—and some help from her brother and sisters—she earns enough money to buy the family a real bathtub.

(2005) New Friends for the Big Bad Wolf, participatory musical play by Amy Ressler, Jasmin Cardenas

In New Friends for the Big Bad Wolf,

(2004) Imagine and Make It Real, musical by Amy Ressler, Kevin Wall, Noël Ferguson

In Imagine and Make It Real, chilredn renact famous american literature including: jabberwak, Calvin and Hobbes, Mark Twain, as well as Plato.

(1994) Pinnocchio, musical tour show by Amy Ressler, composer Kevin Wall

In Pinnocchio, one of puppet-maker Geppetto's masterpieces comes magically to life. This puppet, Pinocchio, dreams of becoming a real boy someday. In order to accomplish this goal he has to learn to act responsibly and goes on a grand adventure in the process.

Plays

(2005) Tadpoles and Tales, musical story-telling show by Amy Ressler and Bob Ressler

In Tadpoles and Tales, the storytellers use participatory telling techniques, songs, and creative drama to involve the audience. Family storytelling, appropriate for audiences ages 3-7.

Puppet Shows

(2003) The Safety Play, musical tour show by Amy Ressler

In The Safety Play,

Overall, Amy Ressler's projects have earned her the respect of local schools and media outlets. Her prolific stories and writing capabilities are considered fresh and inviting to those she presents them to.

Upcoming projects

Amy Ressler and her husband, Marc Muehleip, are currently renovating the Copeland Opera House in Shullsburg, WI. This Opera House will be the official home of her theatre company, the Great Midwestern Educational Theatre Company. (Opening: 2008-2011 AD)

Amy Ressler is also working on opening a Fair-Trade Gift shop and Gallery entitled The Flutterby Boutique which will also be located in Shullsburg, Wisconsin. This store will help fund future projects of the Great Midwestern Educational Theatre Company. (Opening: 2006 AD)

Awards and Other

The 2005 Creative Drama Award from the Illinois Theatre Association

External links

http://www.greatmidwesternetc.com/index.htm (Company Homepage)

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/gmetc/Vitae 11.01.05.doc (Amy's Detailed Vitae)

http://www.storybus.org/ (Kohl McCormick StoryBus)

http://www.thegrandoperahouse.com/ (The Grand Opera House Homepage)

http://www.uwplatt.edu/finearts/theatre/ResslerAmy.htm (UWP Résumé)

http://www.tristatewoman.com/cacheese1103.htm (Brief article on her)