“There is something incomparably intimate and productive in the work with the actor entrusted to me. He must be attentive and confident and free, for our labor is to explore his possibilities to the utmost.” – Jerzy Grotowski
2014-Present
- THEA 100: Introduction to Theatre
An introductory survey of the history, aesthetics, and literature of the theatre, and the various areas of theatrical production. - THEA 111: Acting I
This course will develop ideas surrounding the staging of dramatic text in theatrical space. It will consider the many choices facing the actor or performer when delivering text, and will introduce students to contrasting approaches to performing text. Special emphasis is placed on giving and receiving constructive feedback and on the art and craft of collaboration. - THEA 120: Voice & Movement
An introduction to expressively engaging the entire physical instrument in life and performance. Coursework focuses on a variety of techniques designed to develop an increased range of physical and vocal expression. The course features experimentation in a studio setting and practical/creative application through rehearsal and performance. - THEA 193: FYS – Theatre & Social Change
This First-Year Seminar is an investigation into the history, aesthetics, and literature of the live theatre and includes the various areas of theatrical production with an eye toward social action. We will explore myth, ritual, performance, story, comedy, tragedy, word, movement, idea, transformation, justice, and collaboration. All of these are vital to us as humans and to the development of strong communities, and they are wrapped up in the nature and purpose of theatre. - THEA 193: FYS – Dangerous Drama
This course blends reflective and creative practices to explore Greek tragedy and the powerful, societal and communal effects theatre can have on both performers and spectators alike. We will begin in ancient Athens, with classical Greek tragedies – ritually performed in religious and political contexts – and follow their legacy to our modern day. We will pay special attention to the use of these historic plays to create community, facilitate emotional healing, and to galvanize political action. We consider if and how live theatre can continue to create meaningful change in our own world and how the arts might reclaim the sacred and the future in our complex and rapidly shifting world. - THEA 216: Acting II
The course focuses on character development in psychological realism and other modern forms and is intended to expand the actor’s range with both scene and monologue work, as well as to expand skills in voice/body integration and script analysis. - THEA 240: Theatre for Young Audiences
Theatre for Young Audiences (aka Creative Dramatics) is an introduction to the artistic, pedagogical, and entrepreneurial methods for producing theatre for youth. Coursework features practical rehearsal and performance, a survey of major TYA plays, applied theatre techniques, and curriculum development. This class is intended for students seeking to become teachers (inside and outside of theatre arts classrooms) and those interested in performing for K-12 audiences. - THEA 253: Directing I
The fundamental techniques of play analysis, actor communication, and composition are introduced and applied to model plays. Organizational and leadership skills are developed as students audition, cast, and rehearse chosen scenes from the realistic repertoire for performance. - THEA 280: Shakespeare in Performance
An introductory study of contemporary acting methods used to perform Shakespeare’s plays. Emphasis is placed on balancing Elizabethan language and staging conventions with today’s psychological realism. The course focuses on character development, physical and vocal techniques for the actor, use of verse and prose, delivery of soliloquies, and script analysis. Students will engage with both scene and monologue work. The course is intended to expand the actor’s range as well as the reader’s understanding of Shakespeare’s work for the live stage. - THEA 293: Devised Performance
This studio course offers students hands-on experience in creating new theatrical work within a collaborative and supportive ensemble environment. The course will explore established and emerging devising methodologies practiced by Double Edge Theatre (U.S.), Polish Lab Theatre (Poland), SITI Company (U.S.), and Odin Teatret (Denmark), among others. The course will take on new production objectives and interdiciplinary collaborations with each iteration. - THEA 354: Directing II
With a foundation in play analysis, actor communication, and design, student directors will create a vision for a short play, audition, cast, and work with a design team on realizing the play in a public performance. - THEA 432: Philosophy in Performance
Devoted to creating a student written, produced and performed adaptation of a classical text of the Humanities (Sp23 Plato’s Symposium, Sp25 Nietzsche’s Thus Spoke Zarathustra), Philosophy in Performance allows members to 1) explore the philosophical theories of a foundational text while providing students with the tools to 2) transform it into an original stage production. Each student applies their own diverse interests, concerns, and talents to the creative process, building a community of thinkers committed to bringing “philosophy/humanities to life.” This represents a nonhierarchical, artistic, and intellectual mode of pedagogy known as “distributed creativity,” focused on conducting interdisciplinary research, wherein students activate the transformative power of the liberal arts.
2012-2014
- SLU Adirondack Semester – Wilderness Site Specific Performance Workshops – Sept-Nov 2013
A series of performance workshops with students living and learning at Arcadia, the SLU yurt village in the Adirondacks, during the semester-long wilderness emersion program. An opportunity for students to discover the difference between merely seeing and really looking at nature. Students experience a deeper, more visceral sense of knowing the natural environment through the creation of individual site specific performances. The workshops explore a variety of physical theatre and journaling techniques equipping students to read and express the various textures, smells, sounds, and movements found in their particular sit-spots in the wilderness.
- Performances of Living
This advanced performance and communication course pushes the boundaries of traditional learning to focus on life experience as an educational tool. Much of the specific content of the course will be designed collaboratively with the course community, as both faculty and students consider what is needed to explore questions of identity, positionality, and performance. Throughout the course, students will be pushed to (1) discover, own, communicate, and hone their opinions, beliefs, and positions, (2) identify the consistent self, (3) diversify and express life experiences through performance and other media, and (4) interrogate the boundaries of performance. Syllabus
- Connectivity & Performance
YOUARENOWHERE. You are nowhere. You are now here. This course investigates the boundaries and possibilities of live performance in a hyper-connected world and features a combination of performance, theory, and experimentation. The course explores digital technologies, site specific performance, ritual/participatory performance, and devised performance methodology. The semester culminates in ensemble created new performances. Syllabus
- Major Assignments
- Characterization
An intensive study of the acting process building on skills developed in Beginning Acting. The course focuses on character development in psychological realism and is intended to expand the actor’s range with both scene and monologue work, as well as to expand skills in voice/body integration and script analysis. Syllabus
Other Courses (pre-2012):
- Theatre History I & II
- British & American Film Studies
- Oral Interpretation of Literature
- Public Speaking
- Literary Stylistics
- U.S. Cultural Studies
- Oral English for Non-Native Speakers