Teaching
Professional CV
EDUCATION
Master of Fine Arts, Acting - The University of Alabama
Bachelor of Arts, English major/Theatre minor - The University of Alabama
UNIVERSITY TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Professor of Practice, Indiana University Bloomington
Acting I (Fundamentals), Acting II (Scene Study), Acting III (Modern Realism), Acting IV (Shakespeare)
Director: The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
Only Child by Aaron Ricciardi
Little Women from the novel by Louisa May Alcott (IU Summer Theatre)
Tiger Beat by Kaela Mei-Shing Garvin
Intimacy Choreographer for departmental productions and student-produced plays
Instructor of Theatre, University of Arkansas
Acting II, Acting for the Camera, Theatre Appreciation, Honors Theatre Appreciation, Careers Capstone, Online Theatre Appreciation
Director: Talking Pictures by Horton Foote
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
The Metal Children by Adam Rapp
Instructor of Acting, Oklahoma City University
Acting I, Acting II
Director: Talking Pictures by Horton Foote
Actor: Marya Vasilyevna in Uncle Vanya, directed by Professor Lance March
Coordinator: Chicago Professional Showcase
Audition Techniques: Seminar on living and working in Chicago
Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Alabama
Beginning Acting, Voice and Diction
Guest Artist, Wabash College, Crawfordsville IN
Careers Tutorial: a seminar with undergraduate liberal arts students (theatre majors and minors as well as arts generalists) concerning the viability of a career in theatre. Explored regional theatres in the Midwest, teaching options, and using theatre training in careers outside the arts.
Guest Artist, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre
Individual Coaching: one-on-one intensive work with members of the Acting Intern Program to prepare monologues for auditions within the Rep’s season and in the broader theatre community.
Guest Artist, Indiana University
Careers Tutorial: a seminar with undergraduate theatre majors and graduate level master’s candidates to identify resources available to them as professional actors and directors. Explored industry websites, agents, networking opportunities, and apprenticeships.
SAMPLE STUDENT EVALUATION COMMENTS
"I would just like to take this time to say Jenny McKnight has been the best professor and role model I ever had. She has helped me grow in my talent. She believes in me and always supported me in everything we have accomplished."
"Ms. McKnight was an absolutely amazing teacher. She gives constructive criticism, and I loved reading her comments on my work. She is the reason that I am thinking about minoring in theatre."
"Jenny is the best acting teacher I have had at the University of Arkansas. She wants her kids to learn and to understand, and she also wants you to become a great actor! She is very supportive of all students and she is always willing to help everyone out."
"It was an enjoyable and very enriching class. The assignments were super helpful to understand concepts better. And I felt proud of myself being able to write a short play!"
"Previously, I was not very familiar with the theatre, but Ms. McKnight has done a fabulous job of keeping the class interesting and intriguing. For a class I normally may not have chosen, Ms. McKnight's class has been my most enjoyable class I am taking this
semester."
"It was nice to have such a relaxed class environment. Even though it was a class of 100+ students, which could easily turn such a class into a very different scenario, it kept a calm learning environment."
"I learned a lot of new things about theatre and enjoyed going to see plays in Fayetteville."
"She's always available to talk and honestly believes in everyone and works to bring out the best in them."
"My favorite aspect of this course was the inclusion of games and activities. I was very comfortable with being in front of everyone and felt like the classroom was a safe haven among friends."
"Your teaching was very effective and I was truly fascinated you sharing your experiences as a professional actress. Thank you for making the course more about the application of theatre rather than having us take notes and memorize information for a test."
"It was easy to stay on top of the work but I still felt like I was learning. I also found out that I truly do love theatre!"
"Professor McKnight made this class full of hands-on assignments that were enjoyable and made sure she gave the best opportunity for every student to succeed."
"I really enjoyed having this class online because it allowed me the freedom to do the work on my own schedule while still learning the material. I really appreciated how well I was able to communicate with the professor because I never felt like I didn't know what was going on!"
"I love how [Ms.] McKnight was always enthusiastic in her lectures, but mostly I love how she cares about her students."
"Great teacher AND actor! I was able to see the play she was in and everything we have learned in the class was reflected in the play!"
"I really enjoyed this class. It not only taught us about theater, it allowed people to step out of their comfort zones and gain a little self-confidence, which is so important! It allowed us to flex a little creative muscle!"
"Ms. McKnight was always quick to respond to emails and questions students had."
"Ms. McKnight is a fantastic instructor who appreciates the creativity of her students. She explains things thoroughly and makes the material interesting. I loved taking this class."