When using theatre as an educational tool many artist teachers spend unnecessary time on the artistic product, and forget that the transformational process is where the focus should be.

At the beginning of the 2020 pandemic, I grew concerned and also curious about how theatre educators would transition theatre and drama instruction to an online platform. I began a research study interviewing theatre artists while they shifted their formerly in-person summer camps to virtual spaces. One of those instructors, Flannery, was…

An interview with Shawn Kinley, teacher and performer of improvisational theatre, whose work has taken him to 52 countries across five continents over a 30-year career. His diverse teaching experience includes working with scientists, opera companies, the military, family therapists, and more. Shawn shares his thoughts about the need for the…

In this article, I look at the teaching artist practice that emerges in the partnerships between professional artists and school institutions. The cultural context is Danish compulsory education. In this case, the Culture Laboratory hosted partnerships among diverse professionals and practitioners. I was curious about the role of professional…

This study analyzes "Act Out Justice" (AOJ), a youth theatre for social change initiative of Orlando Repertory Theatre and the University of Central Florida. Employing AOJ's model of reflective collaborative inquiry (Horn et al., 2020), this article dramatizes the practice of responding to one's own work. Through narrative and dialogical…

James Miles writes that he wasn't always the Fresh Professor. At one point, he was just another starving actor, trying to make a living. But stories change over time, as do professional desires. This article presents Part One of his story.

Although there is no shortage of instruction in popular literature as to how to eat for health, live your best life, and above all lose weight, there is not a great deal of literature instructing young artists on ways to stay healthy and vibrant--nurturing creativity and longevity at the same time. This article proposes simple solutions to health…

As I began my first year of graduate school--admittedly, a shaky start of my own--a group of my former students began to struggle with their transition to high school. Upon hearing this from my friend, colleague, and their current theatre teacher (who I will call Ms. M), I developed a workshop curriculum focused upon health for the artist to…

This article examines the challenges faced and lessons learned while developing the SPEAK Young Women's Vocal Empowerment Curriculum and leading 30 educators through a Professional Development Training on the curriculum in Guatemala in 2019. The guiding question is, "What does it take to train non-teaching artists in the skills needed to lead…

This article is the second in a pair examining my experience leading 30 educators through professional development training on the "SPEAK Young Women's Vocal Empowerment Curriculum" in Guatemala. To guide my examination, I have looked to the question, "What does it take to train non-teaching artists in the skills needed to lead a…

Teaching artistry is indebted to Dr. Maxine Greene, who helped develop the field's collective wisdom during her 36-year term as Philosopher-in-Residence at Lincoln Center Institute for the Arts (in addition to serving on the editorial board of "Teaching Artist Journal"). As Professor Emeritus at Columbia University, Dr. Greene taught the…

Students in P-12 schools are losing access to the benefits of arts education. As more students identify as minority, the predominantly White teachers are not keeping pace to reflect students. Communities partner with nonprofit theatres, who staff programs with teaching artists. Teaching artists of color are necessary to reflect today's classrooms.…

The Moth is a nonprofit performing arts organization dedicated to true stories told live, and its education programs make space for students and educators to tell their stories. In this edited transcript of a panel discussion given by student alumni of Moth storytelling programs, participants discuss the impact of personal narrative performance on…

James Miles writes about his transition from teaching artist to administration. Is it for everyone?

This article draws on lessons from the field to offer further guidance for arts organizations and teaching artists leading professional development.