Rachel Parker Bishop

Professional Information

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Rachel has a Bachelors degree in Theatre & Media Arts with an emphasis in Stage Management from Brigham Young University and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Arts Administration from SUU. Rachel has worked in all types of arts organizations, including The Utah Shakespearean Festival and Braithewaite Fine Arts Gallery in Cedar City,The Utah Symphony & Opera and Sundance Film Festival in Salt Lake, Inter-Borough Repretory Theatre Ensemble in New York City, The Nevada Arts Council in Carson City, and Mountain Playhouse in Pennslyvania. She has stage managed professionally for several theatre companies, including the Tony Award-winning National Theatre of the Deaf. When not teaching at SUU, Rachel works as a consultant for non-profit arts organizations and is the Senior Managing Editor for the website www.TheTwoCents.com. She lives in Cedar City with her husband (a fellow SUU faculty member) and two small children.

EDUCATION

• Master of Fine Arts in Arts Administration, May 2006 [Southern Utah University - Cedar City, UT] 
• Named Outstanding Graduate Scholar
• Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Media Arts, May 2003 [Brigham Young University - Provo, UT]
• Emphasis in Stage Management , working on such shows as Playing for Time (Regional ACTF Winner), Of Mice and Men, Prodigals, Prisoner (National ACTF Winner), Henry V, The Christmas Box, 100 in the Shade, The Importance of Being Ernest, and Rags

EXPERIENCE

• Development Consultant, The Neil Simon Festival (NSF); Cedar City, UT [November 2009 – January 2010]
• Consulted with the Board of Directors on the fundraising efforts to support NSF’s programs, including the writing of several grant proposals and the cultivating of funding relationships
• Grant Writer and Editor, Gephart Resource Development (GRD); Carson City, NV [September 2006 – December 2009]
• Wrote and edited grants for non-profit organizations, bringing in more than $1 million in grant monies
• Assisted the Executive Director of GRD in the areas of grants management and compliance
• Provided computer application assistance to employees of GRD  
• Community Arts Development Assistant, The Nevada Arts Council (NAC); Carson City, NV [May 2006 – August 2006]
• Planned and coordinated 12 Nevada Arts Town Meetings
• Provided administrative assistance during seven NAC Grant Panels
• Supported the Community Arts Development Director in all areas of community assistance
• Performed an audit of the Nevada Circuit Rider Program materials and website
• Master of Fine Arts Fellowship Program, Southern Utah University, Cedar City, UT [August 2004 – May 2006]
• The Utah Shakespearean Festival (USF)
• Development
• Aided the Development Director in researching grants for several USF projects and departments
• Prepared the 2007 National Endowment for the Arts grant application for the 2007 Season
• Wrote numerous letters of inquiry and assisted in the USF Annual Campaign drive    
• Production Management
• Coordinated four recruiting and audition tours
• Cataloged the production management files, including daily rehearsal and performance reports
• Marketing
• Wrote and distributed press releases for the education department’s touring production
• Assisted with the marketing of USF community activities
• Organized the annual Volunteer Appreciation Night
• The Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery
• Gallery Assistant
• Organized the Friends of the Gallery Banquet and the annual Art Auction
• Entered all past Friends of the Gallery member information into a newly acquired collection software, Past Perfect
• Southern Utah University, College of Performing and Visual Arts(CPVA)
• Marketing
• Promoted the CPVA Department of Theatre Arts and Dance student production series, Stage II
• Registration Coordinator, Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival; Cedar City, UT [May 2005 – February 2006]
• Designed and maintained the 2006 Region VIII festival website
• Coordinated all registration activities, including the registration of over 1,100 participants
• Oversaw the registration and information desk during the festival, managing 40 volunteers   
• Production Stage Manager, Cedar City Community Theatre; Cedar City, UT [September 2003 – November 2003]
• Staged Managed a community production of Little Mary Sunshine
• Music Department Administrative Assistant, Southern Utah University; Cedar City, UT [August 2001 – July 2004]
• Worked in all areas of academic office administration, including scheduling, planning of recitals and concerts, recruitment, and retention
• Ticket Sales Representative, The Utah Symphony and Opera; Salt Lake City, UT [May 2000 – May 2001]
• Organized the University of Utah Student Outreach Program
• Assisted with subscriptions sales and the Community Outreach Program
• Box Office Manager, Inter-Borough Repertory Theatre Ensemble; New York, NY [March 2000 – April 2000]
• Managed ticket sales and ushers, and acted as an American Sign Language interpreter for this premiere performance of The Tempest off-Broadway
• Production Stage Manager, The National Theatre of the Deaf; Chester, CT [July 1998 – July 1999]
• Acted as stage manager for three national tours of this Tony ® award-winning theatre company [The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Shakespeare Unmasked,  and The Christmas That Almost Wasn't]
• Booked the touring performances and planned all travel
• Assistant to the Producer, Mountain Playhouse – Gristmill Productions; Jennerstown, PA [May 1998 – July 1998]
• Assisted the producer of this summer stock theatre in all areas of production
• Oversaw the negotiation and adherence of the Actors Equity contracts
• Box Office Assistant, The Sundance Film Festival, Park City, UT [January 1998 – February 1998]
• Worked in the call center for pre-festival package ticket sales of this world-renowned festival
• Acted as a liaison between the box office and select filmmakers during the festival