Teaching
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Teaching Artist
The Old Globe (Summer 2022-Present)
In the summer of 2022 I was hired by the Old Globe Arts Engagement Department as a Teaching Artist. I primarily teach Shakespeare workshops for adults at local libraries. I also assist with Community Voices Playwrighting classes and the Axis Performing Arts Series at the Globe Plaza.
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Adjunct Professor, Department of Theatre
University of San Diego (Fall 2021-Present)
I am currently teaching part-time at the University of San Diego department of Theatre. I teach THEA 230 Fundamentals of Acting, THEA 111 Theatre and Society, and THEA 155 Theatre in Education.
Telling the Story of Science & Environmental Issues
University of San Diego (Spring 2021)
In the spring semester of 2021, for my capstone project, I collaborated with a professor from Theatre and a professor from Environmental & Ocean Sciences (EOSC) to pair their two courses. Dr. Monica Stufft from Theatre taught the course Telling the Story of Science and Dr. Michel Boudrias from EOSC taught the course Environmental Issues. I was like the glue that stuck them together. I hosted workshops with both classes, first separately and then in combined sessions. All on zoom because covid. The students were mixed together into small groups that collaborated to write short plays about environmental issues. The theatre students served as the facilitators and playwrights. The EOSC students served as the community members and science consultants. Together we explored how theatre can be an effective tool for communicating about environmental issues.
Theatre & Community
University of San Diego (Spring 2019)
In the spring semester of 2019, I was given the opportunity to teach an undergraduate course titled Theatre & Community at the University of San Diego. My mentor, Professor Evelyn Diaz Cruz, invited me to teach the course while she took a year sabbatical. We partnered with a wonderful organization called Access located just down the street from USD in Linda Vista. Students engaged with members of the Access community to collaborate on short plays based on their stories of resilience. We titled the collection of short plays “We Shall Overcome,” and presented it to members of both the Access and USD communities in staged readings.
1-2 Session Workshops
SDSU, USD, High Tech High, Coronado High (2015-2020)
Over the past five years, I have been developing my standard introductory workshop which gives participants a quick overview of some of the most important histories, principles, and methodologies of community-based theatre. Participants then get to employ what they learn and practice interviewing a fellow participant. Then students get the chance to interpret that story into a short play. Two sessions is preferred because it gives students a chance to write short scripts which they can bring to the second session. They can then practice receiving and implementing feedback from the person who’s story they are telling.
#Adulting
University of San Diego (Fall 2016)
#Adulting was a semester-long project with freshman students at USD who belonged to a Living and Learning Community (LLC) in which students from a variety of disciplines work and study together in student housing. Katie Harroff, Andrew Steele, and I worked together to conduct over 20 workshops for students from a variety of disciplines including math, history, sociology, communications, and theatre. Students were asked to share stories of personal experiences when they felt they were at a crossroads between childhood and adulthood. These stories were used to create a site specific night of short plays. Students from the theatre class performed in the pieces as their final project. The audience (other students from the LLC) was treated to a theatrical tour that took place in the very spaces that they live and learn, including their classrooms, study spaces, and even dorms. Special thanks to Dr. Monica Stufft (LLC Director and Theatre professor) who gave us this opportunity!
Artist Residency
Arizona State University (Spring 2014)
I was given the amazing opportunity to join my creative partner and platonic theatre wife, Katie Harroff, for a semester-long residency at Arizona State University. I assisted Katie in teaching an undergraduate course titled “How to start a theatre company.” The other part of our residency entailed interviewing scientists from the School of Earth and Space Exploration—in addition to the Mars Space Flight Facility on campus—to inspire a community-based science fiction play we titled “Red Planet Respite,” which was about the future of exploration to Mars.