Deborah Mogford earned her bachelor’s degree in theater from Trinity University, San Antonio Texas, and her master of fine arts in acting/directing from the Dallas Theater Center, Dallas Texas. For 20 years, Ms. Mogford taught voice and acting technique to both graduate and undergraduate students at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, preparing them for professional careers and advanced studies in all aspects of the performing arts. Her students are found in the top graduate programs in the United States and in England, including Harvard, Yale, American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, Cal Arts and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. They have graced the stages of some of the most prestigious regional theaters, including Houston’s Alley Theater, Dallas Shakespeare, Seattle Repertory, The Guthrie in Minneapolis, Minn., Atlanta’s Alliance, Southern Repertory in New Orleans, The Goodman in Chicago and The Old Globe in San Diego. They have been seen in the Edinburg Theater Festival, London’s West End, the New York International Fringe Festival, the National Theatre of Great Britain and on Broadway both in front and behind the curtain. Her students have also found success in front of the camera, on TV in commercials, sit-coms, miniseries and in Feature and Independent Films.

Ms. Mogford is herself an accomplished actress and sought after director. She has won awards throughout the South for her innovative productions which are marked by naturalist acting and great attention to detail. She has directed throughout the South including Oklahoma Shakespeare, After-Dinner Players in Houston—where her production of The Importance of Being Ernest won awards for Best Play and Best Direction—and The Out-Of-The-Loop Festival in Dallas, Texas. As a director, she believes in the total vision of a work where all aspects perform together in a collaborative manner to enhance the overall impact of the theater. Her unique work in theater and education has been sought after by universities in Ecuador and Hong Kong. Currently, she has been heading an international team to develop the Paul Baker Idea Institute. This new institute is dedicated to infusing the integration of the arts and arts-based knowledge into the business, education and civic components of a community. This is an effort to develop more creative thought in today’s business and industry. The workshops and seminars demonstrate the international success that has been made by employing the innovative teaching techniques of theater pioneer, Paul Baker to the business, educational and civic entities. The purpose is to develop new ideas and directions for solving 21st century problems while fostering collaboration between artists, educators and CEOs of some of the world’s top companies.