Putting the H in heart: Theatre Director’s Passion Sets the Stage for Student Success

Over the past eight years, H. Russ Brown and his team have grown the College of the Mainland Theatre program into a nationally recognized, distinguished program cherished by students and the community alike. And while that work is impressive, Brown’s ultimate goal is simple – to foster a community college learning experience where students can unlock their unique strengths and talents on stage and beyond.

“I love teaching community college because we provide the important foundational training that will serve students the rest of their career,” Brown said. “Students leave here having a solid sense of who they are as an artist.”

In the short timespan that Brown has held his role as Head of Theatre and Artistic Director, he has already grown the program from one theatre major in 2015 to about 50 over his eight-year tenure – proof positive of Brown’s success.”

When he first arrived, he quickly began cultivating relationships with local high school theatre programs by offering services for free such as hanging lights and choreographing fight scenes. That relationship building has been a key element in Brown’s recipe for program success.

“Once you can get in the high school and meet the kids, the only thing that matters is that relationship,” Brown said. “Teachers want to know they will be passing along their students to someone who will invest the same time into their future that they did, and they know that now because of the relationships we’ve built.”

Through a collaborative effort with COM Theatre’s design team, the program has consistently won national awards through the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), beating out colleges from around the country. More recently, Brown was recognized as the Educator of the Year in Higher Education by the Texas Educational Theatre Association, Inc. which celebrates theatre educators and their meaningful contributions.

“Although it’s not why I do what I do, it’s nice when other people notice how hard you’ve been working,” he said.

But for Brown, the true mark of success goes far beyond awards and accolades. As he explains, the real prize is building genuine, long-lasting connections with students along the way.

“We call ourselves the COM Theatre family because we’re teachers for a while, but mentors for life,” Brown said. “We are here for our students and their individual journey.” 

Whether it’s a high school student beginning their college journey or a seasoned adult learner discovering a new passion for acting, Brown works diligently to ensure that the College of the Mainland Theatre program offers a comprehensive curriculum to serve all students by tailoring the learning experience to each student’s individual needs. And this tailor-made approach is evident through the personalized care and highly specialized resources that students receive from the moment they walk in the door.

The program offers its students an array of courses and services to support them as they refine their craft. From stage combat skills certification classes and musical theatre dance training to website development and headshot services, Brown is committed to nurturing student talent as they prepare to enter the thriving performance industry.

“I get really excited about those ‘aha!’ moments where they lock in on a concept suddenly,” Brown said. “I love seeing the trajectory of their talent and the growth is immense.”

And in terms of growth, the transformation doesn’t only lie within the talent of students.

Because of the exponential growth of the program and to better serve the needs of students and the community, College of the Mainland will soon be welcoming in a newly renovated Fine Arts Building which is slated for completion this spring. Made possible through the 2018 bond program, the building is a welcome upgrade for students and the community alike. Some of the building’s special features include a new black box training/performance space, a dedicated classroom for technical theatre and theatre appreciation courses, larger dressing rooms and a first-time green room.

“We’ll be able to do more studio shows for our students, and we’ll do the summer musical and our season opener in the new space,” Brown said.

While the transformation Brown has seen during his tenure has been immense, he looks forward to seeing what the next chapter holds for COM Theatre. As for his students, Brown’s ultimate measure of success is seeing his students transform into their best selves, not only as thespians, but most importantly as people.

“We train people on how to be better human beings. Collaborative, empathetic, generous human beings.

To learn more about COM Theatre, visit com.edu/theatre-arts.