TEACHING HISTORY
Department of Theater Studies, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 2001 – present
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THEA 120: Acting Fundamentals
Introduces basic acting technique through group and individual exercises; weekly assignments, including reading/writing assignments; journal entries; production attendance; and prepared scene work.
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THEA 100: Introduction to Theater
Surveys the practice of collaboration in theater through use of assignments, exercises, readings, live theater events, and conversations with professional working artists. Satisfies General Education Requirement.
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THEA 389: Taller de Teatro en Español – Theater Workshop in Spanish
Through basic acting technique, and using contemporary and classical Spanish plays as source material, students develop and enhance Spanish proficiency, gaining both language confidence and cultural understanding.
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THEA 389: Improvisation in the Theater
Using Action Theater by Ruth Zaporah as source material, students expand their vocabularies of expression, physically and vocally, through disciplined exploration of group and individual improvisational exercises.
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“Side Car” Course – Identity Stories
Students learn and explore Storytelling Techniques as they tell stories of their own identities, exploring cultural, gender, religious, sexual, and other identifiers. Native Languages are encouraged. Course culminates in final storytelling performance, open to campus.
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‘Side Car” Course - Micro Theater or, ‘Theater in a Cup’
Students learn the essential elements of Micro Theater, as they explore short, dynamic scenes in unconventional settings. Course culminates in performance at a local coffee shop.
Department of Humanities, Oxford College, Oxford, GA 2003 – present
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THEA 120: Introduction to Acting
Introduces basic acting technique through group and individual exercises; weekly assignments, including reading/writing assignments; journal entries; production attendance; and prepared scene work.
Candler School of Theology/Emory University
2012 – 2014
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P613: Oral Interpretation of Scripture and Sermon
Students expand vocal, physical, and imaginative ranges as speakers of text. Through group and individual exercises, text analysis, class improvisations, basic theater techniques, and the use of video, students practice the skills of communicating scripture and sermons.
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TATTO Workshop, Emory Graduate School, Emory University 2010 - present
Tailored for the graduate student and first-year college instructor, this workshop helps students gain comfort in the classroom setting as they find and develop their unique teaching voice and style. Using theater skills and drawing on each participant’s strengths, students gain confidence and mastery in their classroom presence. This workshop has also been given on-demand across campus.
Alliance Theatre, Atlanta, GA
1998 - 2000
Responsibilities included teaching Beginning and Intermediate-acting classes to adult students, with emphasis on physical and vocal training, characterization, and scene study.
Alumni School of Emory University, Atlanta, GA
1996
Responsibilities included leading theater camp for Emory Alumni and introducing students to basic acting techniques through the use of improvisational games and exercises
EDUCATION HISTORY
2020 Advanced Playwriting, Joseph Skibell, Emory University
2013 Writing Fiction, Linda Clopton, Emory University
1990 – 94 Writing Fiction, Carol Lee Lorenzo
1979 – 1982 Apprenticeship and Master Classes, Frank Wittow, Academy Theatre, Atlanta, GA
1980 Magna Cum Laude, Georgia Southern University, BA Psychology, Minor in Speech
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
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Actor's Equity Association
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Screen Actor's Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
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Dramatists Guild / Professional Member
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Working Title Playwrights
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Playwriting Affiliate, National New Play Network, New Play Exchange
GRANTS
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2022 LINC Project Recipient – Learning Through Inclusive Collaboration - coordinated course links between Spanish/Theater/Biology, Spring semester 2022. $2000 funded through Emory University Institute for the Liberal Arts
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2020 MAP Grant awarded through Synchronicity Theatre for the development of play in Journalism/Theater style on the subject of Women’s Work.
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2019 Emory University Center for Faculty Development and Excellence Grant.
$1,000 awarded to develop and co-teach a “sidecar class,” in Micro Theatre, or Microteatro: Theater in a Cup - a concentrated form of close and intimate theater, resulting in short, dynamic scenes performed at a local coffee shop.
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2017 Emory University Integrity Project/Faculty Course Grant from Center for Ethics. $300 awarded to bring Juan Pinilla, renowned Flamenco artist, to Theater 389, “Taller de Teatro y Español.” Mr. Pinilla and his guitarist performed alongside students in a staged reading of, “Bodas de Sangre,” by Federico Garcia Lorca.
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2016 Emory University Center for Faculty Development and Excellence Grant. $1,000 awarded to develop and co-teach a “side car class,” combining stories of identity with techniques of storytelling. The course involved weekly attendance at storytelling events, and culminated in a live storytelling performance of students’ original work.
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2015 - 16 Emory University Center for Creativity Grant. $200 awarded for enhanced learning in, “Taller de Teatro y Español,” Emory University’s first class combining Spanish Language and Theatre techniques. Funds used for guest artists and speakers.
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2015 -16 Alliance Theatre Reiser Lab Grant for New Work. $10,000 awarded for the writing and performing of original one-woman show, KNEAD. As lead artist, responsibilities include assembling creative team, and readying script for public workshop performance, May 2017.
ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
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2022 Honors Thesis Committee Member for Caroline Stewart, senior majoring in Playwriting.
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2020 Workshop for Language Teachers, Emory College Language Center, Theater in the Language Classroom: An Interdisciplinary Workshop on Using Theater Techniques in World Language Classes.With Elva Gonzalez, Emory Spanish Professor, a demonstration of theater teaching tools we have developed for Second Language Learning.
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2018 Honors Thesis Committee Member for Jolie Blair, senior double majoring in Human Health and Theater Studies.
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2017 Selection Committee for Brave New Works, Theater Emory’s biennial workshop for new plays and Curator of all Spanish/Latinx plays. Liaison between Alliance Theater and Mark Valdez, Brave New Works participant and writer of Road to a Dream, a play exploring the history of Buford Highway.
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2017 Faculty host for Richard Blanco, Inaugural Poet, who visited the Side Car class. Ongoing discussion with Blanco in support of adapting his poetry and novels for the stage and also in support of lending his papers to Emory University Library.
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2017 Facilitator for Theater Workshop in Spanish for Cross Keys High School Spanish students, many of them ESL students.
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2016 - 2018 Organizer of Emory student Field trips to Teatro Aurora in Lawrenceville, Georgia, Aurora Theatre’s Spanish Language Theatre.
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2016 Coordinator of campus visit from Rubén Gonzalez of El Teatro Campesino. Gonzalez visited classes, conducted a writing workshop for Theater students, and presented the program, “Teatro Campesino - Fifty Years in the Making,” at Casa Emory.
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2015 Director and Organizer of, “La Casa De Bernarda Alba,” a staged reading involving Theater and Spanish students from across campus. This project launched the inter-departmental class, “Taller de Teatro en Español,” the first of its kind at Emory University, in which theater techniques are used to teach language facility.
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2014 Attended National Spanish Language Theater Conference, El Encuentro, in Los Angeles, California, representing Theater Emory.
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2010 Emory Theater representative for Oxford College Connections Day/Oxford Campus.
REFERENCES
Dr. Michael Evenden Elva Gonzalez
Professor of Theater Professor of Spanish
Emory University Emory University
mevende@emory.edu egonza3@emory.edu
(404) 727-4662 (404) 727-1053
Celise Kalke Lisa Adler
Managing Director Artistic Director
Synchronicity Theatre Horizon Theatre Company