Ann Marie Gardinier Halstead
St. Lawrence University News
Submitted by ahalstea on Wed, 05/07/2008 - 13:39.
Assistant Professor of Performance and Communication Arts (MFA)
Courses I teach regularly:
Beginning Acting, Acting Styles, Characterization, Production, Rhetoric and Public Speaking, Children's Theatre in the Schools, Directing, Studies in Musical Theatre
My research interests:
Theatre Pedagogy, Bodily-kinesthetic Pedagogies, Theatre for Social Change, Stylized Acting, Service Learning
Sample student projects I have supervised:
Senior Project (performance): "All Eyes on Me: An Evening of Monologues"
Senior Project (performance): "Simon Says Durang-ed: The Clash of the Comedies"
Senior Project (directing/children's theatre): "The Princess and the Snails"
Examples of presentations, exhibitions, performances and published work:
Publication: "Service Learning and the Arts: Community, Design and Impact"- Texas Campus Compact Service Learning Journal
Conference Presentation: "What Good Intentions Do: Reflections on Using Theatre to Address White Racism on Predominately White Campuses"- Association for Theatre in Higher Education Conference (8/08)
Performance: the role of Cheryl in "Welcome Home, Jenny Sutter" by Julie Marie Myatt at Pendragon Theatre in Saranac Lake, NY (7/08)
Aspects of my teaching that students find most effective and interesting:
Students seem to appreciate the combination of theory and practice in my courses. I have a student-centered approach in the classroom; I believe that when students take ownership of their learning, they are able to engage more fully in the learning process. I aim to foster a safe and supportive environment conducive to creative risk-taking. Because no two students learn in exactly the same way, I try to appeal to a variety of learning styles, and craft my assignments accordingly.
Some ways I connect with students outside the classroom:
I enjoy working with student actors on faculty-directed productions. I have directed "The Vagina Monologues," "The Importance of Being Earnest," "Spinning Into Butter" and "The Laramie Project." I have found SLU students to be talented, curious, collaborative, enthusiastic and creative. I sincerely enjoy working with them. As Paul Simon says, "To make your living from something you love is really an unusual piece of good fortune."
Ways I offer service to my discipline and/or the University:
Chair, Committee on Gender Equity and Sexuality
Associate, Center for Civic Engagement and Leadership
Advocate, SLU Advocates Program
Examples of my work as a visiting scholar or guest at another institution:
I directed a staged reading of Neil Labute's "The Shape of Things at Firehouse Theatre Project" in Richmond, VA in the summer of 2008.
My hobbies and/or personal interests:
traveling, reading, performing
Other:
"Welcome Home, Jenny Sutter" This play premiered at The Oregon Shakespeare Festival and that production will move to the Kennedy Center for a special engagement. Pendragon will be the second theatre company to present this award-winning play.