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Intellect

Discerning truth topic for BYU forum address by Barta Lee Heiner May 13

Barta Lee Heiner, a Brigham Young University professor of theatre and media arts, will speak on discerning the true from the artificial in her forum speech “Counterfeits: A Mess of Pottage” on Tuesday, May 13, at 11:05 a.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall.

The devotional will be presented live on BYU Television, KBYU TV, KBYU FM and byubroadcasting.org. For rebroadcast information, visit byubroadcasting.org.

Heiner is the head of the undergraduate acting program at BYU, where she teaches acting and directs productions during the theatre season. She received her bachelor’s degree in theatre from BYU and her master’s degree in acting from the American Conservatory Theatre. Upon completing her academic degrees, she acted professionally with the Denver Centre Theatre while both teaching and directing for the National Theatre Conservatory in Denver.

A member of the Screen Actors Guild and Actor’s Equity Association, Heiner has performed more than 100 roles and directed more than 40 productions. Some of her favorite roles include Lettice in "Lettice and Lovage," Abby Brewster in "Arsenic and Old Lace," the title role in "King Lear," Mrs. Lovett in "Sweeney Todd" and Mary Whitmer in "The Fourth Witness."

Her services as an acting and dialogue coach and consultant are also in high demand, and she recently worked on the films “The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd” and “Emma Smith, My Story.” Most recently, she has been involved with a student-mentored film project called "Diantha’s Crossing," a project inspired by her great, great aunt, Mormon pioneer Diantha Farr Clayton.

Writer: Marissa Ballantyne

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