It’s ‘All in the Timing’ for new theater instructor

Angelique Flores

With one production at Golden West College already under his belt, the

college’s new theater instructor eagerly dove into his new position.

Tom Amen, the college’s first new theater instructor in more than 15

years, directed his first Golden West play, “All in the Timing,” in

December and is gearing up to overhaul and invigorate the department.

“He brings wonderful skills, practical background and tremendous

potential,” said David F. Anthony, dean of creative arts at the

Huntington Beach community college.

Though he has also done his share of acting and producing, Amen

prefers to sit in the director’s chair. Beginning his theater studies at

Saddleback College, the 36-year-old thespian received his bachelor’s

degree in acting from UC Irvine, where he graduated with honors in 1992.

Amen then earned his master’s degree in directing from the University of

Utah, where he also taught acting.

Amen’s career includes more than 45 productions in California, Arizona

and Utah. In 1996, he was named artistic director of the Vanguard Theatre

Ensemble in Fullerton, where he produced nine plays in a single year.

He maintains his position as artistic director of the Ground Zero

Theater Company in Laguna Beach, where he lives.

Amen is in his ninth year teaching, having started while in graduate

school. His position at Golden West is his first full-time gig, “and

hopefully the only one, for a while” he said.

After several years of teaching part time at Cypress, Orange Coast,

Irvine Valley, Riverside and Mira Costa community colleges, as well as

Orange County High School of the Arts, Amen said he is glad to have one

home and excited to exert all his energy in one place.

“I don’t get to contribute as much as I’m capable of, and I can’t give

all my dedication and one allegiance to one place,” Amen said of working

several part-time positions. “I’m grateful and excited that I have a

home.”

He is equally excited to be at the Huntington Beach college, among the

students and its extensive facilities.

“It’s exciting. This is where dreams begin,” he said.

Believing that “art is the soul of the society, not just

entertainment,” Amen puts his own soul into his work.

Over the next six months, Amen will direct three Mainstage Theater

productions at Golden West and hopes to start planning full seasons at a

time.

Amen is looking forward to building the theater department. The

college has already seen an increase in its production schedule, and Amen

hopes to boost it even more with plans to develop the technical side of

the stage and engage more students in directing, casting and writing

plays.

“We’re excited and enthused with the program that he’ll put together

here at Golden West,” Anthony said.