Asst. Director of Theatre

Originally from Fresno, California Mr. Becker is a graduate of Roosevelt School of the Performing and Virginia Commonwealth University (MFA in Theatre Pedagogy). In 2005 Mr. Becker began his tenure at Appomattox Regional Governor's School for the Arts & Technology (ARGS) in Central Virginia, first as Chair of the Musical Theatre Department and then as Chair of the Theatre Arts Department in 2008.

Before that Mr. Becker was Adjunct Faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University where he established the Found Theatre Ensemble with the intent of producing plays in non-theatrical settings. Since then FTE has produced well received productions of It Only Took..., The Pool of Bethesda, Keely & Du, and the How To Succeed in Central Virginia Without Really Trying.  Additional directing credits include work for ARGS, Aspen Theatre in the Park, Stage Door Players, Out of the Woods Theatre Company, Short Pump Players, and In-Step Theatre.

As a performer Mr. Becker was a frequent artist at Swift Creek Mill Theatre from 2005-2010. Favorite roles include Matthew in Altar Boyz (2009 Richmond Theatre Critics Circle Nominee: Best Ensemble), Frankie in Forever Plaid/Plaid Tidings, and Bill Shorter in There Goes the Bride. Other credits include performances with Barksdale Theatre, HBO Comedy Festival, Promise

Valley Playhouse, Aspen Theatre in the Park, Four Rivers Musical Theatre, and the world premiere of Bill C. Davis� musical Austin�s Bridge at the Firehouse Theater Project. Mr. Becker was also an Irene Ryan Nominee for his performance of Banquo in Shozo Sato's Kabuki MacBeth.

From 1996-2002 Mr. Becker freelanced as a professional dancer, choreographer and instructor around the nation including seasons with the Richmond Ballet and as a founding member of the Aspen (now Aspen/Santa Fe) Ballet. His works have been commissioned by the Richmond Ballet, Ballet Tech Ohio, Ballet West Conservatory, and Rockingham Ballet Theatre among many others. He has choreographed numerous shows for Swift Creek Mill Theatre including Urinetown (2008 Richmond Theatre Critics Circle Award: Best Choreography) and his work has also been seen at Fort Lee Playhouse, Promise Valley Playhouse, Aspen Theatre in the Park, and Aspen Community Theatre. Mr. Becker's show choirs have earned several Best Choreography awards and under his direction ARGS' show choir garnered many superiors and first place finishes. Mr. Becker was on the faculty of SPARC (School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community) for many years. He has taught dance for several studios including Chesterfield School of Ballet and Pilates Dance & More and master classes throughout the nation. Mr. Becker has presented papers with the Association for Theatre in Higher Education and the Southeastern Theatre Conference, including portions of his thesis "The 4C Method: A System for Staging Musical Theatre and Theatre Choreography". Mr. Becker is a current member of The National Association for Music Education (MENC), Voice & Speech Trainers of America, and The Association for Theatre Movement Educators.

Contact: brandon_becker@dpsk12.org