He is a professional director, with over 30 full-length professional and university level productions. His professional credits include work with Salem Repertory Theatre in Salem, OR, Lancaster Opera in Lancaster, PA, Lord Leebrick Theatre Company in Eugene, OR, and The Neighborhood Playhouse in Atlanta, GA. He has also worked as a dramaturg, most recently with Sojourn Theatre in Portland, OR. At WOU, Dr. Phillips teaches Theatre History, Dramatic Literature, and Directing.

She has worked as a professional costume designer all over the United States, including productions at Tygres Heart Theatre in Portland, Oregon, Salem Repertory Theatre in Oregon, and George Street Playhouse in New Jersey. Other regional costume credits include the Portland Opera, Utah Shakespeare Festival, and Syracuse Stage in New York. She has also worked extensively with Michael Curry Studios on many projects including the The Lion King on Broadway, Aladdin at Disney, and as Head Milliner for The Cat in the Hat, the live action movie with Mike Meyers. Some of the over 100 productions she has designed include The Liar, Reefer Madness, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Romeo and Juliet, The Inspector General, and A Company of Wayward Saints, and Cabaret.

Mr. Grim has designed numerous theatrical productions outside of WOU, including Leach Theatre in Missouri, Highlands Playhouse of North Carolina and Pentacle Theatre. A number of his designs have been included in the United States Institute for Theatre Technology International Design Archive. He has served as Technical Director at various institutions for over 14 years.

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She has directed “More Fun than Bowling” and “Baby with the Bathwater” for Western Oregon University. She has also directed for Theatre 33 at Willamette University and for Salem Repertory Theatre. As a teacher, she has taught stage and film acting for both children and adults. 

As a stage actress in the Pacific Northwest she has worked at several regional theatres including Artists Repertory Theatre, Willamette Repertory Theatre, Portland Repertory Theatre, New Rose Theatre, Triangle Productions, Storefront Theatre, Portland Civic Theatre, Salem Repertory Theater and Laughing Horse Theatre.

Raissa studied acting with Doug Patterson and D. Scott Glasser at Willamette University. Additionally, she studied dialect and voice with Rocco Dal Vera at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts; film acting with Loren Bivens; monologue work with Allen Nause and Dennis Bigelow; and dance and movement with Vincent Martinez.

Recent acting roles include the one woman show, “In the Body of the World” by Eve Ensler for Triangle Productions and the new play staged reading of “More of You” in the role of Miriam for Theatre 33 at Willamette University.  She portrayed Aemmon in the U.S. premiere of “The Half Life of Love” by Gail Luow for Verona Studios. She has also appeared as Nat in “Rabbit Hole” and Pattie in “Kimberly Akimbo” for Salem Repertory Theatre along with a four-person version of “Christmas Carol”.  

Her film and television career includes Mean Creek, Nearing Grace and Foxfire, Don’t Cry for Me, Dead by Sunset, The Ann & Abby Story, Fifteen and Pregnant, Nowhere Man, The Fugitive, Medicine Ball, Terror in the Towers, Two Babies Switched at Birth, Under Suspicion, Promise, Night Ride Home, Good Cops-Bad Cops, and Offsides.

She is the original voice of Regal Cinemas, Roller Coaster Video.

Raissa enjoys paddling and racing with a cancer survivor dragon boat team. She also loves to garden.

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In addition to her work at WOU Laura is a teacher, music director, singer, songwriter, choreographer, dancer, and actress, who graduated with a Masters of Music in 2017, focusing on American Vernacular Music at Western Oregon University. Laura has worked with Valley Shakespeare Company for two seasons as the music and vocal director. She works as a music director and costumer for Enlightened Theatrics in Salem, serves on their education and season selection committee, and teaches as a camp director for STAGES theatre camp in Corvallis. She founded Meadowlark Music School in 2018 to help students achieve their goals of performing, creating, and building confidence.