Applied theater

Overview "In this applied theater project and qualitative study, puppetry artist and community arts practitioner, Brenda Huggins, investigates the benefits and challenges of engaging youth in puppetry and climate action in partnership with middle school age students in the Greater Boston area of Massachusetts. Findings include the capacity for creative thought and multidisciplinary hands-on learning to promote heightened engagement and focus, experimentation and the freedom to make mistakes during...

Overview "This MFA thesis project is a pilot qualitative research study on the impact of Applied Theatre techniques on self-confidence in learning and discussing personal finance topics. The project includes a suggested curriculum for personal finance and devised theatre for teenagers and young adults. Data was collected during three workshops and subsequent participant interviews with Emerson College undergraduate students and high school students in the EmersonTHEATRE program. While no definitive...

Overview ""You can see in people's bodies their...resistance at the beginning of a story circle. By the end, their bodies have released something." -Robbie McCauley "In times of crisis, "educators are 'second responders'—helping make sense of things as we go along and after." -Bob Colby This project explores how story circles and applied theatre exercises can be used to foster connection and community between a group of participants previously unknown to one another, and offer opportunities for...

Overview "The significance of the following qualitative research is to emphasize the vitality of joy in the pediatric healthcare field, specifically analyzing how drama-based pedagogy and applied theatre techniques can support creative and joyful moments for pediatric patients with chronic blood illnesses, such as sickle cell and hemophilia, and various forms of cancers. In an effort to evaluate how laughter, smiles, and community bonding can uplift patients both in and out of hospital settings, I...

Overview "Applied Theatre practices are used to build community amongst populations of people in diverse settings with and without prior experience participating in the performing arts. This thesis reflection explores the impact Applied Theatre practices can have on building community with people who have experienced grief through the lens of loss. The creative process of building an Applied Theatre workshop is examined in a collegiate setting from building and designing curriculum, reflective...