Valerie Curtis-Newton, professor and head of directing and playwriting at the University of Washington’s School of Drama, was recently featured in American Theatre Magazine's roundtable discussion titled "Teaching the Moment." This conversation examined the influence of political forces and the changing landscape of university theatre programs, emphasizing the challenges and opportunities that educators encounter during these transformative times.
Curtis-Newton shared valuable insights on the intersection of politics, identity, and theatre education, as well as the importance of generative and devised work as foundational to modern theatre training. The roundtable brought together leading theatre professionals and educators, including Keith Arthur Bolden, Omiyẹmi Green, Lisa Portes, and Tamilla Woodard, to discuss how they are navigating these challenges in their respective programs.
Valerie’s perspective, rooted in her own journey as an artist and educator, emphasized the need for students to "show up as themselves" and embrace their unique identities and integrity in the field. Her work continues to inspire students and colleagues, and we are proud to have her as part of the UW Drama community.
To read the full article and learn more about this important conversation on theatre education, see the link below