Tim Quinn, 68, has been an instructor in the Theatre Department at Fresno City College for 33 years. He has directed plays, taught abroad, and helped design the FCC theatre in the 1970s.  Quinn was responsible for the design of both the costume shop and makeup areas. He also helped develop the utilization plan and was on the committee that hired the first theatre manager of the new building. This coming May will be his eight year as a retiree, but his love for teaching and warm attitude makes it difficult to let him go.

Quinn was born raised in Marquette, Michigan in the 1940s and 1950s “In those days we listened to the radio,” said Quinn. Growing up in an Irish American family, he attended Catholic school with “real nuns” and grew up playing cowboys and Indians like many young boys. “In the winter we made snow forts and froze our arses off.”  Quinn said. When he was 11 years old his family made a drastic change in their life by moving to Long Beach, CA. His younger brother, who is a professional dancer, was a major influence in his appreciation for the arts.

“The first show I was in, ‘Hook Line and Sinker,’ I loved every aspect of theatre, without it I would have never gotten through university,” he said.

There he attended CSU Long Beach where he accomplished one of his major goals in life and finished his MA degree in Theatre. That opened many opportunities.  He began teaching when he was 26 at Colorado State College at Greeley, which is now the University of Northern Colorado. “It was long enough to realize I didn’t like the snow and cold weather,” said Quinn.  He was informed of a new theatre and job offer at Fresno City College, “Warmer weather and closer to the family, it was a no brainer.” Of the plays he has directed, his most memorable are “How I learned to Drive,” “Streetcar Named Desire,” “All my Sons,” and “Sylvia”. But Tim enjoyed working with the playwright on new plays such as “People Become Real” and “The Color Burse,”

“They were challenging and great fun,” said Quinn.  

His favorite part of being a Theatre Arts instructor are his student actors. “There are many who are teachers now and are working in TV, the cinema and in the legitimate theatre,” said Quinn. He still stays in touch with many of them on Facebook and has worked on projects with others recently in the Reader’s Theatre presentation of “Medea,” which took place last Sunday afternoon as a fundraiser for the department. He also has great admiration for the rehearsal process. “Seeing the play come off the page,  so to speak, to be that audience of one chooses, what the paying audience is going to see truly keep me young… at heart anyway,” said Quinn.

Debra Shapazian was a student of his in the 1970s and is now an instructor in the Theatre Arts department at FCC She was hired by Quinn in the spring of 1975 to be a student aide in the costume shop of the Old Administration Building.

“The theatre students were actually afraid of Tim because he had a bit of an Irish temper, what they don’t know is that he is the kindest man in the whole world and wouldn’t hurt a fly,” says Shapazian.  He is admired by many in the Theatre department and is always giving a hand and valuable advice to all.

“He is the department’s favorite Dad! He has taught me to be patient and not take myself very seriously, and if you’re passionate about something then it is worth the fight,” said Debbie.  Another admirer is Ms. Walker, who is currently a student of Quinn’s in Theatre Appreciation, said, “he is very old fashion and funny in his own ways; we are always reminded in his class that you should do what makes you feel happy.” He also encourages those who doubt themselves aboutt pursuing a career in theatre “Go for it! It can be a most satisfying way of life, you may never make a lot of money, but you’ll be doing what you love and that’s what’s important.”  

Tim Quinn is currently teaching two classes a semester and hopes to stay for as long as he can while hoping to direct more productions; he has already directed four since he retired.  He also had a few words about the current Theatre Art instructors at FCC “They’re a talented, creative and dedicated group of artists that have brought recognition to the program of late.”