Acting Commons^™

Lights, Camera, Acting! A Collaborative, Interdisciplinary Approach To Basic Filmmaking, Jessica Maloney, Chris Nelson

Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal

No film studio? No problem! This activity is designed to introduce basic concepts of filmmaking across disciplines such as theatre and communications, but could be used by either. It includes an emphasis on acting as well as the technical processes and procedures on set. We have geared this activity specifically towards use in a cross-listed class in Communication and Theatre Arts.

The Boys From Syracuse, Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, George Abbott

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of The Boys from Syracuse with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart, and the book by George Abbott.

Performed April 23-26, 2026 in the Mitchell Theatre at Taylor University.

The Boys from Syracuse by Rodgers and Hart is based on the play The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare, likely written in the late 16th century. As is common for many Shakespearean plays, he adapted an older story, Plautus' Menaechmi, into his classic farce about two sets of twins, separated by a tragic sea accident, who find each other after many …

Eurydice, Sarah Ruhl

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl.

Performed February 20-22, 2026 and February 27-March 1, 2026 in the Mitchell Theatre at Taylor University.

Eurydice, written by Sarah Ruhl, retells teh familiar myth of Orpheus - but this time, the story unfolds from Eurydice's perspective. That shift matters. Instead of centering heroic rescue, the play centers interior experience: grief as it is felt, memory as it flickers, love as it is complicated by loyalty, doubt, and longing. By allowing Eurydice to be the narrative voice, the play asks us to inhabit loss from the inside rather …

Shrek: The Musical, David Lindsay-Abaire, Jeanine Tesori

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of Shrek: The Musical with book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori.

Performed November 20-22, 2025 in the Mitchell Theatre at Taylor University.

Shrek is, on the surface, a whimsical fairy tale full of comedy, color, and charm. But beneath the humor lies a story about seeing and being seen—about belonging, forgiveness, and the quiet courage it takes to live authentically in a world that too easily labels and excludes. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am …

Investigating The Relationship Between Noun Classes And Plant Folk Taxonomy In Chasu Language Of Kilimanjaro Region In Tanzania, Peter Rabson Mziray

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The current study investigates the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu (G 22). The study focuses on two objectives: the first objective is to describe the plant folk taxonomy in Chasu and the second objective is to determine the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu. Data were collected from rural villages in Same and Mwanga districts by using free listing, field interviews (jungle-walk-and-identify), and written texts containing Chasu plant names. The findings reveal that Chasu folk taxonomy reflects different ethnobotanical categories; including a unique beginner which is mmea/mimea ‘plant(s)’, and three life …

The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams.

Performed September 25-28, 2025 in the Mitchell Theatre at Taylor University.

At its heart, The Glass Menagerie is a story about the grace that vulnerability makes possible. The Wingfield family—Tom, Amanda, and Laura—are fragile, flawed, and fiercely human. Their lives are marked by disappointment and desire, yet Williams invites us to approach them with tenderness. Laura’s glass animals, so delicate and beautiful, are not just a metaphor for her own inner world but for the human spirit itself—easily broken, but capable of reflecting light in ways that …

Guys & Dolls: A Musical Fable Of Broadway, Damon Runyon, Jo Swerling, Abe Burrows

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of Guys & Dolls: A Musical Fable of Broadway based on a story amd characters of Damon Runyan and a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser.

Performed April 25, 2025 at 8:00pm, April 26 & May 2-3, 2025 at 7:30pm and April 27 & May 4, 2025 at 2:00pm in the Mitchell Theatre at Taylor University.

Set in the colorful, fictional world of Damon Runyon's New York City, Guys and Dolls is a musical comedy that intertwines two distinct love stories among the city's gamblers and …

Sense And Sensibility, Kate Hamill, Jane Austen

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of Kate Hamill's Sense and Sensibility based on the book by Jane Austen.

Performed on February 20-22, 2025 at 7:30pm and February 22-23 2025 at 2:00pm in the Mitchell Theatre at Taylor University.

Kate Hamill's adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility is a witty and fast-paced theatrical production that condenses the original novel's plot while emphasizing its comedic and satirical elements. The play follows the Dashwood sisters, the pragmatic Elinor and the romantic Marianne, as they navigate the challenges of love, loss, and societal expectations after their family is left in poverty. Hamill's …

An Attitude Of Openness: Adapting Body Neutrality For Performers, Kerstin A. Vaughn, Emily Baird

Feminist Pedagogy

For performers, specifically dancers and actors, the body constitutes the vast majority of focus and training. It is what we present onstage, share with audiences, and contract to casting directors and choreographers. Our bodies, the way they look and move, directly influence the amount and quality of work we make. The concept of body neutrality, then, poses an interesting challenge for performers and those of us who train them. How do we balance a healthy relationship with the body while also thinking critically about all of the ways our bodies carry meaning in performance? How do we, as educators, promote …

Theatre Education At The University Of Montana: Providing Innovative Solutions To A Complex Problem, Natalie Renk

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

This paper is part of a larger project that aims to provide solutions to assimilate the University of Montana’s theatre education program with those across the United States by providing budget conscious innovations. The focus of this paper will be the creation of two methods courses: THTR 438: Content for Secondary Theatre Education and THTR 439: Skills for Theatre Education, this paper discussing the former. The latter was designed by my research partner, Ren Shepherd. This course would offer comprehensive coverage of theatre practitioners, both historical and modern theatrical texts, hands on design and budgeting experience, as well as teaching …

The Madwoman Of Chaillot, Jean Giraudaux, Maurice Valency

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of The Madwoman of Chaillot by Jean Giraudoux and adapted by Maurice Valency.

Performed on November 8-9, 2024 at 7:30pm and November 10, 2024 at 2:00pm in the Mitchell Theatre at Taylor University.

Jean Giraudoux's The Madwoman of Chaillot, adapted by Maurice Valency, is a poetic and satirical fable that critiques capitalism and greed. The play is set in Paris, where a group of greedy businessmen plans to tear up the city to drill for oil. Their plans are discovered by Countess Aurelia, the titular Madwoman, a wonderfully eccentric and idealistic woman who …

Will We Ever Be Well?, Ris Bland

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of Will We Ever Be Well? by Ris Bland in collaboration with Tracy Manning.

Performed September 12, 2024 in the Butz-Caruth Recital Hall at Taylor University.

Will We Ever Be Well? is a play based on the true crime stories of Dr. Helene Knabe, Alice Martin, Mollie Starbuck and the twins who were possibly born to Mr. & Mrs. Frank McNally.

With Love, ; An Interdisciplinary And Intersectional Look At Why Creativity Is Essential, Theo Starr Gardner

Whittier Scholars Program

My Whittier Scholars Program self-designed major, Teaching Creativity, is a mixture of Art, Literature, and Education classes. My research and praxis classes have been focused on the ‘how?’s and 'why?’s of creativity, so it felt only right that my project should be a constructivist, generative project. The project I have been working on throughout my time at Whittier, and that has just fully come to fruition on April 11th, 2024, was a solo art gallery/open mic event entitled ‘With Love,’. With Love, was conceptually inspired by the research I’ve conducted on creativity and creative arts education over the past few …

Bedeviled Beauty: My Journey Through White American Theater Institutions, J'Aila C. Price

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Game console: Oculus Quest

World: American Theater Institutions

Player: Minority

Place: United States

Level: “Ain’t no way.”

This thesis explores the contrast between the Westernized philosophies ingrained in my education and my identity as a Black female artist. It sheds light on the difficulties of pursuing higher education in the arts and the gaps that arise from limited exposure to culturally diverse Black resources, revealing the systemic issues in Western performance education. The paper also discusses the insights gained from my journey as a Black female artist, focusing on my thesis performance of Blood at the Root, which is …

Disney's Newsies:The Musical

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of Disney's Newsies:The Musical. Book by Harvey Fierstein. Music by Alen Menken. Lyrics by Jack Feldman.

Performed April 26-28 & May 3-5, 2024 at the Mitchell Theatre.

Disney's Newsies is a vibrant and inspiring musical based on the 1992 film and inspired by the real-life Newsboys Strike of 1899 in New York City. The story follows Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy who dreams of a better life. When newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer raises the prices that newsies must pay for papers, Jack and his fellow newsboys form a union and organize a strike to …

You’Re Invited! Collaborating With Faculty And Students To Create A Successful Library Event, Laura Semrau

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

To celebrate the 400^th anniversary of the printing of Shakespeare’s First Folio, the Baylor University Libraries hosted a three-day celebration; “Shakespeare 400” drew faculty members from six academic departments and leveraged the talents of both graduate and undergraduate students. The four main events drew a cumulative crowd of over 200 people. Graduate students contributed to the events through music performance, a dramatic reading, enthusiastic promotion, and engaged participation. This presentation will explore key take-aways for including graduate students in library events.

The success of Shakespeare 400 was largely due to collaborations between the library, faculty members, and graduate …

All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of Robert Fulghum’s All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten adapted by Ernest Zulia and composed by David Caldwell.

Performed February 23-25, 2024 at the Mitchell Theatre.

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten is a musical adaptation of Robert Fulghum's book, brought to life by Ernest Zulia and David Caldwell. The play captures the essence of Fulghum's essays, which reflect on the simple yet profound lessons learned in kindergarten, such as sharing, playing fair, and living a balanced life. Through a series of vignettes and musical numbers, …

Everybody

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.

Performed September 14-17, 2023 at the Mitchell Theatre.

Everybody is a modern adaptation of the 15th-century morality play Everyman. The story follows a character named Everybody, who is summoned by Death to embark on a journey to account for their life and choices before God. As Everybody seeks companionship for this final journey, they encounter personifications of abstract concepts like Friendship, Kinship, Stuff, Mind, and Love. The play uses a unique casting lottery system, where roles are assigned randomly at each performance, symbolizing the unpredictability of death. Through …

Whatever It Takes: A Literature Review Exploring The Psychological Cost Of Actor Training And How Drama Therapy Can Help, Kelsey Burke

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This review examines the literature as it relates to the psychological and emotional impact of professional training programs for student-actors. Special attention is paid to student-actors’ developmental stage, mental health and trauma history, possible exposure to sexual harassment in rehearsal or classroom settings, specific acting techniques taught, and power dynamics between student-actors and acting teachers. Also examined is data on the potential effects that the application of trauma-informed drama therapy approaches could have on this population. This is followed by a proposed outline for a supervision-style class for student-actors led by a drama therapist intended to introduce drama therapeutic principles …

Macbeth

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of Macbeth by William Shakespeare.

Performed February 24-26 & March 3-5 2023 at the Mitchell Theatre.

Macbeth is a tragedy that delves into themes of ambition, power, and guilt. The play follows the rise and fall of Macbeth, a Scottish nobleman, who is driven by a prophecy from three witches and the manipulative encouragement of his wife, Lady Macbeth. After murdering King Duncan to seize the throne, Macbeth's reign is marked by paranoia and tyranny, leading to further bloodshed and his eventual downfall. The play explores the psychological effects of ambition and the moral …

White Christmas

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of White Christmas. Book by David Ives & Paul Blake. Music & lyrics by Irving Berlin.

Performed November 11-13, 18, 20 & December 2-4, 2022 at the Mitchell Theatre.

White Christmas is a heartwarming musical based on the 1954 film of the same name, with a book by David Ives and Paul Blake, and music and lyrics by Irving Berlin. The story follows two World War II veterans, Bob Wallace and Phil Davis, who have become successful song-and-dance performers. They team up with a sister act, Betty and Judy Haynes, and travel to Vermont …

The Birds

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of The Birds by Conor McPherson adapted from the short story of Daphne Du Maurier.

Performed September 15-18, 2022 at the Mitchell Theatre.

The Birds is set in an isolated house where two strangers, Nat and Diane, seek refuge from relentless attacks by flocks of birds. As they struggle to survive with limited resources and no electricity, their fragile sanctuary is further disrupted by the arrival of a young woman named Julia. The tension inside the house mirrors the chaos outside, as paranoia and fear take hold. McPherson's adaptation delves into the psychological and …

"My Two Ears Can Witness": Feminist Pedagogy From Rehearsal Hall To Classroom, Ben Long, Noah Long, Laura Grace Godwin

Feminist Pedagogy

Given that university rehearsal halls are a natural home for feminist pedagogy, this paper addresses professors across campus under the contention that the signature pedagogy of theatre offers a model for faculty in other disciplines. The essay adapts a series of rehearsal hall techniques for traditional classrooms as efficient ways of fostering subjectivity, empowerment, community, and reflection in service of socio-cultural ends. The original teaching activities outlined herein do not require theatrical performance, but they nevertheless draw upon the power of live witnessing and interactive response that make theatre a powerful pedagogical tool. The authors conclude with an illustration of …

Meet And Run, Gia M. Binner

Theses and Dissertations

A defense for Gia Binner’s MFA Thesis, Meet and Run, argues that accessible art, known in this paper as commercial dance, is a meaningful vehicle for social change and that it has the ability to dismantle the outdated, European concert dance dominance by modeling the interdependency of both worlds.

Annie

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of Annie with book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse and music by Martin Charnin.

Annie is a beloved musical with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and a book by Thomas Meehan.The musical is set during the Great Depression and follows the story of a young orphan named Annie. Living in a miserable orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan, Annie's life changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas with the wealthy Oliver Warbucks. Despite various challenges and schemes by Miss Hannigan, Annie's optimism and determination lead to a …

To Kill A Mockingbird

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, dramatized by Christopher Sergel.

Performed February 18-20 & 25-27, 2022 at the Mitchell Theatre.

To Kill A Mockingbird is a dramatization by Christopher Sergel of Harper Lee's classic novel. Set in the racially segregated South during the 1930s, the play follows young Scout Finch and her brother Jem as they witness their father, Atticus Finch, defend Tom Robinson, a Black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. Through Scout's eyes, the story explores themes of racial injustice, moral integrity, and the loss of innocence. The …

Trauma-Informed Performance Art Education, Yvonne Houy, Kymberly Mellen, Alethea Inns, Morgan Iommi

Creative Collaborations

Trauma is the emotional response to a disturbing event or series of events, and can cause symptoms such as unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, headaches, and nausea, according to the American Psychological Association (2022). Learning activities in the performing arts - such as adjusting the body through touch, or the emotional content of scenes - can retraumatize students unintentionally. In contrast, creating the conditions for emotional states that enhance learning is a science, and an art, that can support conditions for optimal performance including Flow states

Performing arts educators can proactively support students and performances by becoming trauma-informed and actively using intimacy …

Transdisciplinarity In Experience Design: A Global Survey Of Higher Ed Programs In Exd/Xd, Yvonne Houy

Creative Collaborations

In our age of ubiquitous devices and digital media it is the perceived value of the end-to-end experience that brings people to a place. Designing inspiring and emotionally engaging end-to-end experiences requires experts in a wide range of disciplines committed to an interdisciplinary collaboration that can arrive at transdisciplinary design - the sum becomes greater than its parts.

Civil engineering, hospitality, business, psychology, digital User Experience (UX) design, and experience data analysis need to be seamless integrated with the fine and performing arts and design fields:

• Architecture, interior, landscape and sound design actively engage the senses.

• Graphic and fine arts …

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The Effects Of An Authentic Collaborative Project On University Directing Students’ Learning Experiences, Nur Hilyati Ramli, Safia Najwa Suhaimi, Muhammad Kamarul Kabilan

The Qualitative Report

This phenomenological study reports an authentic collaborative project between students of acting and directing (AD) and students of Teaching English as Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) in University Sains Malaysia (USM). The project, which is integrated and infused with features of authentic learning and creative drama education, aims to provide the AD students with new learning experiences that are authentic in nature and that focuses on their abilities to direct a full theatre performance. Using qualitative data collection methods (i.e., online reflections and open-ended items), the study identified and determined six meaningful learning experiences that the 29 AD students gained: …

The Women Of Lockerbie

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of The Women of Lockerbie by Deborah Brevoort..

Performed October 29-31 & November 5-7, 2021 at the Mitchell Theatre.

The Women of Lockerbie is a poignant drama inspired by the real-life aftermath of the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. The play follows a grieving mother from New Jersey who roams the hills of Lockerbie, searching for her son's remains. She encounters the women of Lockerbie, who are fighting the U.S. government to retrieve the clothing of the victims found in the wreckage. These women aim to wash the clothes …