EDUCATION
University of Washington: Master of Fine Arts - Directing, 1996
Thesis Production: Stevedore by Paul Peters and George Sklar
Thesis Advisor: M. Burke Walker
College of the Holy Cross, Worcester MA: Bachelor of Arts – Sociology, 1981
EMPLOYMENT
University of Washington School of Drama, Seattle, 1998-present: Associate Professor/Head of MFA Acting & Directing
Courses Taught:
All levels of graduate and undergraduate directing including performance skills, text analysis, theory and production courses and seminars
Undergraduate acting – Intermediate and Advanced Acting, Monologue Performance Practicum, African American Scene Study
African Movement
Black Women Playwrights 1920 to the Present
Acting Shakespeare
Intro to Theatre
Contemporary History of Ideas: Memory Identity and Reconciliation.
Administrative Responsibilities: Head of Acting & Directing
Workshops: Teaching Institute-Interactive Drama for the Classroom, Early Fall Start, Self-Producing, Arts 150
A Contemporary Theatre, Seattle WA 2004- present: Artistic Associate and Artistic Director of the Hansberry Project – Responsible for the development and oversight of an African American Theatre lab. The Hansberry Project presents classic plays and develops/produces new work; creates community outreach opportunities and provides an artistic home for black theatre professionals. Major activities included: Directing, Season planning, Grant writing, Marketing, Community Engagement and Resource management.
UW Ethnic Cultural Theatre, Seattle WA 1995-98: Artistic Coordinator – Responsible for producing a season of artistic events.
Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle WA 1996-1997: Resident Teaching Artist - In collaboration with middle school teachers, used Seattle Rep productions to introduce students to theatre and theatre production.
Simon Fraser University, Vancouver BC 1997: Guest Lecturer on Black Women Playwrights
Purdue University, Lafayette IN, 1997: Guest Lecturer on Contemporary Trends in Black Theatre
The Performing Ensemble Inc, Hartford CT: Artistic Director, 1987-93; Board Member, 1982-87
RESEARCH:
Directing (for professional credits see DIRECTING webpage):
EDUCATIONAL THEATRES:
Ethnic Cultural Theatre 1993-Present:
To Be Young, Gifted and Black by Robert Nemiroff, 2000; Joe Turner’s Come and Gone by August Wilson, 1999; Santos & Santos by Octavio Solis, 1997; Chain by Pearl Cleage, 1996
University of Washington, Seattle WA 1993-Present:
The Last Days of Judas Iscariot by Stephen Adly Guirgis, 2010; Wild Black Eyed Susans by Kara Lee Corthron, 2008; Our Lady of 121st Street by Stephen Guirgis, 2007; The Water Children by Wendy McCloud, 2007; Execution of Justice by Emily Mann, 2005; The House of Blue Leaves by John Guare, 2004; Sleep Deprivation Chamber by Adam & Adrienne Kennedy, 2001; The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window by Lorraine Hansberry, 2000; Balm in Gilead by Lanford Wilson, 1998; Twilight by Anna Deveare Smith, 1997; Wedding Band by Alice Childress, 1995
Panels and Presentations:
Panelist: “Women of Color in American Theatre” for Southern Repertory Theatre, New Orleans LA 2011
Panelist: “The Future of Black Theatre” for The August Wilson Center, Pittsburgh PA 2009
Panelist: “Northwest Town Hall on Place/Community/Theatre” for University of Oregon/Eugene OR 2009
Presenter: “The Hansberry Project – A Case Study” for Americans For the Arts, 2009
Pre-Lecture Speaker for the Seattle Arts and Lecture presentation of Suzan-Lori Parks, 2007
Panel: “African American Theatre” for Seattle Rep, 2007
Panel: “Ethnically and Gender Specific Theatre” for Theatre Puget Sound, 2007
Panel: “The State of Seattle’s Black Arts” - Central District Forum For Arts & Ideas, Seattle WA 2005
Panel: “Sister Outsider” – Mid Atlantic Theatre Conference, Chicago IL 2004
Panel: “Women in American Theatre” – The Lysistrata Project and Actors Theatre of Louisville, 2003
Panel: “Legacy, Lies and Games” – in conjunction with Topdog Underdog, Seattle Repertory Theatre, 2003
Moderator: “An Uneasy Alliance: Police and Communities of Color”, University of WA, 2001
Presenter: “Genres of Reconciliation” University of WA, 2001
Panel: “Theatre and Communities of Color” – in conjunction with Culture Clash, Seattle Rep 1999
Panel Moderator: “American Studies Versus Ethnic Studies”, University of WA, 1998; “The State of Black Theatre”, University of WA, 1997; “The Oral Tradition In African American Theatre”, Hartford Stage Company, 1992
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS/RECOGITION
UW Distinguished Teaching Award, 2011
Donald A. Petersen Fellowship, 2007- present
Artistic Associate – ACT Theatre, 2005 to present
Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation: Sir John Gielgud Directing Fellowship, 2001
National Endowment for the Arts/Theatre Communications Group:
Career Development Program for Directors, 1997 – 1999
UW Presidential Faculty Development Fellowship, 2001
Arts Patron Magazine - Artist to Watch 2001
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Seattle Arts Commission: Panel Reviewer
Seattle: NAACP - ACT-SO Evaluator/Tutor
Seattle Rep/Hedgebrook Women’s Playwright’s Festival: Nominating Committee
Rockfeller Foundation/MAPFUND - Evaluator
Hartford: Leadership Greater Hartford Class of 1991
Hartford: Connecticut AIDS Residence Coalition Board of Directors 1991-1993
References available on request.
