Christopher Keene, MFA

Christopher R. Keene, MFA, is an Associate Professor of Technical Theater at LU. He has worked professionally as a Scenic Designer, Propmaster and Makeup Artist in theater, dance, opera and live entertainment for regional and national productions.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Technical Theatre from California State University, Long Beach and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Design & Production: Stage Properties from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

He has worked professionally in Los Angeles, Nashville and North Carolina as a Makeup/FX Artist, Prop Master and Scenic Designer. He was a makeup artist for Knott’s Berry Farm’s Scream Team and a prosthetic and prop sculptor for Six Flag’s Magic Mountain. From 1987-1994, he served as an Elder and Associate Pastor for Sanctuary Church in Redondo Beach, CA. His work with the church included leading outreach and evangelism teams, drama and arts ministries and providing missionary training in the dramatic arts. In 1994, he relocated to Nashville where he toured and trained mission teams with the mime team “All The World’s A Stage.” His Tennessee credits include Opryland USA’s “Howl-O-ween,” the Nashville Opera, Tennessee Repertory Theatre, Nashville Shakespeare Festival and Christ Church’s annual Easter Spectacular Passion Play. In North Carolina he worked on productions for the Piedmont Opera, North Carolina Shakespeare Festival and the NC Black Repertory Company.

From 2002-2012, he served as teaching and design faculty at Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina and from 2012-2025 at Azusa Pacific University in California. He received an Award for Meritorious Achievement by the KCACTF for his Set Design for The Seagull and his design work has been featured in issues of Southern Theater and American Theatre Magazine.

Professional Memberships

• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, local #635 (IATSE)
• United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT)

Courses Taught

• Theatrical Sets and Properties
• Performance and Production
• Theatrical Makeup
• Introduction to Stage Management
• Stagecraft
• Introduction to Theatrical Design
• Senior Capstone