CONTACT INFORMATION

PROFILE

I started in professional theater as a performer, but studying dance and theater with extraordinary teachers inspired me to teach. I've served on the faculties of Antioch College, SUC of NY at Brockport, UMass/Amherst, Boston University, and Emerson College. Focusing on theater for youth, I formed companies with professional and student actors to tour schools. I still find it thrilling to transform gyms and cafeterias into theater spaces.

Some of the hard work of writing plays I did at The MacDowell Colony, Virginia Center for Creative Arts, and Cummington Center for the Arts, in many elementary and secondary schools and in rehearsals with the actors. I now live in downeast Maine where I work on conservation issues, community theater, local history – and writing, when time permits!

SCRIPT RECOGNITION:

• Aurand Harris Playwriting Award: CULLY'S GOLD; RIDING THE WIND: STORY PLAYS FROM OLD CHINA
• Bonderman Playwriting Festival: CULLY'S GOLD, semifinalist; ON THE LINE, semifinalist
• New Visions/New Voices: BABA YAGA AND THE BLACK SUNFLOWER (nee, MARYUSHKA AND BABA YAGA)
• NYU's New Plays for YA: RIDING THE WIND
• Boston Children's Museum: IF I WERE A KID BACK THEN…, bicentennial exhibit
• PLAYS FROM AFRICAN FOLKTALES' individual scripts have appeared in Cricket and reading texts published by Harper and Row, McGraw-Hill Ryerson, Scott Foresman, and Houghton Mifflin Riverside. Scribner's original hard cover editions of PLAYS FROM AFRICAN FOLKTALES and SILLY SOUP are in libraries across the country.

RIDING THE WIND: Story Plays from Old China. Folk melodies arranged by Shu-Hui Chen Available from Playscripts, Inc. Yulan's Search for Beauty, The Mysterious Stranger, Li Chi and the Serpent, and The Khan's Daughter. Playing time: one hour. An ensemble of 14, or 6 using puppets, could play the many characters. Opportunities for music, percussion, dance, martial arts. Scenery: suggestive props only. Costumes: simple or elaborate. Appropriate for elementary age and family audience, adult or child performers

PRECIOUS JADE Score for 16 songs by Shu-Hui Chen Available from Dramatic Publishing Precious Jade, through her wits and recollection of advice and stories from a beloved grandmother, wins over the members of her new family, including the heart of her reluctant husband. Based on a 19th-century Chinese story. Playing time: 75 minutes. 8m, 7w (or 4&4 with doubling) Simple staging. Costumes: simple or elaborate. Appropriate for middle school, high school, and family audiences or actors

ON THE LINE Available from Dramatic Publishing A participation play about the Lawrence textile strike of 1912, aka The Bread and Roses Strike, The Singing Strike. 3m, 3w can play the 21 roles and lead audience participation. Large cast could play it as presentation drama. Many labor and ethnic songs. Playing time: one hour. Period costumes. Setting: arena staging; sketches provided. Study Guide available. Appropriate for middle school, high school, and family audiences and actors.

BABA YAGA AND THE BLACK SUNFLOWER A musical play. Score by Scott Wheeler, CD available. Available from Dramatic Publishing Maryushka is drawn to the mysterious crone Baba Yaga in this script and score based on Russian tales and music. Ensemble singing. 6 characters sing solo. 3 sing parts in harmony. Score for clarinet, bass clarinet, violin, mandolin, percussion. Opportunities for movement, masks, puppets, and fanciful design. 18-plus roles for ensemble of 14 or as few as 5 with puppets and masks. Scenery: unit set with simple changes by ensemble. Playing time: 70 minutes.

PROGRAMS

Playwriting, performance, and directing are disciplines I have practiced and taught for many years. When teaching in any of these areas, I create a plan in consultation with its sponsors to specifically address the goals for the group and the age and experience of participants.

Sample lengths of sessions:

• 45-minute mini-introduction
• 90–120 minute workshop
• 20-hour three-day weekend retreat
• Weeklong class of five two-hour sessions
• Semester-long class of fifteen four-hour weekly sessions (or two-hour biweekly sessions)

Topics:

• Playwriting
• Acting: Scene Study and Monolog
• Improvisation
• Stage Movement
• Directing

Please contact me for schedule and fee information.

USA PLAYS FOR KIDS!
is a project of the Drury University Department of Education.

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