Theater professional trains budding thespians

Our column this month continues to highlight a member of our adjunct faculty at the Community College of Southern Nevada's Pahrump Center.

Mary E. Wilson, who brings a strong background in both the professional and academic fields of theater arts, is once again offering a fundamentals of acting course.

She began performing at age 5, and continued during her school years. As a student at California State University, Fullerton, she was a co-founder of the Medieval Festival, and was instrumental in funding the guest artist program. She also appeared in two world premieres of Ray Bradbury stage plays.

Using the stage name of Ramy Wilson, her professional career began in the mid '70s. She was co-founder of the Lilliput Players, a touring company that performed in schools throughout Southern California, and of L.P. Repertory, a dinner theater company. She retired from the stage in 1985, after more than 3,000 performances in more than 60 stage shows, a few films, TV shows and commercials.

Having been advised by one of her instructors to pass on her knowledge to others, Wilson began teaching acting in the early '80s. She was excited to join the faculty at CCSN Pahrump after a seven-year hiatus from teaching, and has been teaching since 1997.

Wilson holds a bachelor's degree in theater arts from Cal State Fullerton, with education credits from Cal State Long Beach.

Kelcy Thompson is the manager of the CCSN Pahrump Center.