"I am all the more convinced that mending the long-lived disconnect between artistic work and its analysis is essential for understanding acting's long history and its continuing power to move audiences." -Sharon Carnicke
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Joelle's scholarship reflects her life-long love of storytelling. "Why do people love stories and how do we best tell them?" is her driving question, guiding all her work. This spurred her completion of a PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies from the University of Georgia in 2020. |
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Area of Specialization: Acting theories, both as an area of study and as practical tools.
Current Research: Applying concepts from behavioral neuroscience to Stanislavsky’s methodology and theories to give performance scholars a richer and more precise understanding of Stanislavsky’s work, while allowing teachers and directors to zero in on the techniques that are most likely to help them achieve their goals. In particular, she is focused on the various ways in which the well-known (but not necessarily often discussed) Stanislavskian concepts of Imagination, Emotion and the Will -- all in service to a Goal-directed Action -- can be very effective streamlined practical guides for the actor. This focus on best practices includes the centrality of safer, braver spaces for actors and other team members, with an emphasis on how these theories and practices intersect with Consent and Intimacy Protocols and choreography.
Areas of Concentration: Euro-American Theatre History before 1800, Euro-American Theatre History after 1800, Euro-American Film History.
Areas of Interest: Directing theory, non-western theatre techniques and theory, the intersections between theatre, film and performance media, Holocaust theatre, refugee theatre, consent and staged intimacy practices, audience response theory, diversity and inclusion, and the use of theatre techniques as therapy for people with dementia and other cognitive difficulties.
EDUCATION
PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 4.0 average, 2020.
MFA in Theatre- Dramatic Media (directing emphasis) University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 4.0 average; Featured as 1 of 12 Outstanding UGA Students, 2004.
BFA in Theatre (acting emphasis) The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, Cum Laude; Excellence in the Arts Award, Scarlet and Gray Mask Alumni Scholarship (two years). Scarlet and Gray Academic Scholarship.
Porthouse Theatre Intern Company, Kent, OH
Shakespeare with Steven Dennis, Linkletter voice training with Christine Adair.
Additional Master Classes Attended:
- “Staging Sex: Outercourse,” Theatrical Intimacy Education, July 2023.
- “Non-Consensual Intimacy,” Theatrical Intimacy Education, June 2023.
- “Staging Sex: Power Play,” Theatrical Intimacy Education, March 2023.
- “Culturally Competent Productions,” Intimacy Directors & Coordinators, December 2022.
- “Active Analysis and The Dragon,” with Sharon Marie Carnicke at The Stanislavsky Institute for the 21st Century, Summer 2022.
- “Foundations in Race, Intimacy and Consent,” Theatrical Intimacy Education, May 2022.
- “Consent in the Acting Classroom,” Theatrical Intimacy Education, March 2022.
- “Building a Culture of Consent” with April Sigman-Marx, Thumbprint Studios, March 2022.
- “Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for Intimacy Professionals” with Chelsey Morgan, Intimacy Coordinators of Color, February 2022.
- “Staging Intercourse,” Theatrical Intimacy Education, February 2022.
- Assessing Culturally Competent Spaces, IDC (Intimacy Directors & Coordinators), January 2022.
- Trauma Informed Campus & Classroom Certified, Spring 2021.
- “Active Analysis and Devised Theatre” with Sharon Marie Carnicke, Spring 2021.
- “Psychological First Aid,” Johns Hopkins, March 2021.
- “Intimacy Coordination,” Theatrical Intimacy Education, November 2020 (6 hours).
- “Intimacy Choreography,” Theatrical Intimacy Education, November 2020 (6 hours).
- “Best Practices” Theatrical Intimacy Education September 2020.
- “New Directions in Staging Intimacy” ATHE Preconference August 2019.
- “Intimacy for the Stage for Performers” with Tonia Sina from Intimacy Directors International 2019.
- “Intimacy for the Stage for Directors” with Tonia Sina from Intimacy Directors International 2019.
- The S-Word Symposium; Active Analysis with Dr. Sharon Carnicke 2018.
- “The Emotional Voice: the ALBA Method for Emotions” with Brenda Beck, Linda Brennan and Teresa Hayes from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts 2017.
- “Exploding the Myths: Science, SuperScenes, and Stanislavsky” with Jane Brody and Stephanie Daventry French 2016.
- Michael Chekhov technique with Joanna Merlin 2013.
- Michael Chekhov technique with Cathy Albers 2004.
- Fitzmaurice Voice technique with Maggie Surovell 2003.
- Working in Film with Monty Markum (Assisted in coordinating workshop) 2005.
- “Auditioning for Broadway” with Maury Yeston (assisted in workshops) 2004, 2005, 2006.
- Motion Capture with Vicon 2002.
PUBLICATIONS
Editor and contributor. Stanislavsky and Intimacy (London: Routledge, Taylor and Francis, November, 2023).
"Active Analysis for Beginning Acting Students: A Class Blueprint," Stanislavski Studies, ed. Stefan Aquilina (Routledge, Taylor and Francis, November, 2023).
“Book Review: Staging Sex,” SDC Journal (Stage Directors & Choreographers Society, Summer, 2022).
“Book Review: New Directions in Teaching Theatre Arts,” SDC Journal (Stage Directors & Choreographers Society, Spring, 2020): 51-52.
“Page - Body - Performance: A Journey into Active Analysis and How it Helps the Actor’s Body Learn,” Stanislavski Studies, ed. Paul Fryer (Routledge, Taylor and Francis, February 2019).
“Stanislavsky In the World: The System and its Transformations Across Continents Review,” Methods: A Journal of Acting Pedagogy, Vol. 4, ed. Ruis Woertendyke (Pace University Press, 2018): 141-145.
“The Cognitive Stanislavsky in the Rehearsal Hall,” Stanislavski Studies, ed. Paul Fryer (Routledge, Taylor and Francis, May 2017): 67-74.
CURRENT EDITORIAL WORK
Journal of Consent-Based Performance, Editorial Board.
Stanislavski Studies Center and Journal, Media Editor and creator of companion website Stanislavsky: Here, Today, Now.
Ad Hoc Expert Reviewer for Routledge and the Theatre Topics Journal.
PRESENTATIONS
“Toward an Antiracist Theatre: Strategies, Tips and Cautions for Teaching Directors and Actors” (moderator); ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education), Detroit, MI, July 2022.
“Let’s Get Uncomfortable in this Brave Directing Space” (presenter) at ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education), Detroit, MI, July 2022.
“Scaffolding Consent and Intimacy in the Classroom” (presenter); ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education), Detroit, MI, July 2022.
“The Directing Program’s Curated Roundtable: Challenging the Directorial Hierarchy,” (moderator and curator); ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education), Detroit, MI, July 2022.
“Workspace of the Imagination: Creating Connections in the Actor’s Body,” at ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education), Virtual Conference, August 2021.
"Zoom Acting Can Still be Active," at ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education), Virtual Conference, August 2021.
“Re-Discovering the Director’s Process: Actor Coaching,” Moderator, at ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education), Virtual Conference, August 2021.
The S Word: Stanislavsky and Intimacy developed and coordinated a webinar sponsored by the Stanislavsky Center, May 2021.
"An Intimate Look at Stanislavsky's Primary and Secondary Emotions," The S Word: Stanislavsky and Intimacy, the Stanislavsky Center, May 2021.
"Activating the Creative Will" on the Stanislavsky Here, Today, Now website sponsored by Stanislavsky Studies, October 2020.
"Creative Will Exercises" on the Stanislavsky Here, Today, Now website sponsored by Stanislavsky Studies, October 2020.
“Intimacy and the Brain: Why Adhering to Protocols Will Get a Better Performance” at the Finnish Film Affair and Helsinki Film Festival, September 2020.
“Igniting the Actor’s Flame by Activating the Creative Will” at ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education), Virtual Conference, July-August 2020.
“Theatrical Intimacy and the Brain: Why Adhering to Protocols Will Get a Better Performance” at ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education), Virtual Conference, July-August 2020.
“Eisenstein and Stanislavsky: Setting Up the Film/Theatre Rift” at “The S Word Symposium: Stanislavsky and The Media,” London South Bank University, April 2020 (canceled due to Covid19).
“Blurring the Scenes of Culture in a Transitioning Performance Landscape” at ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education), Orlando, August 2019.
“Who has the Right to Tell a Story in a Transitioning World?” session moderator at ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education), Orlando, August 2019.
“Stanislavsky’s Imagination and Experiencing: The Cognitive Link” at “The “S Word: Stanislavski in Context” at the University of Malta Valletta Campus, April 2019.
“Going from Protester to Protestee: Who has the right to tell a story?” session moderator at the ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education), Boston, August 2018.
“Towards a More Inclusive Acting Pedagogy: Exploring Gender Expression through Movement” at the ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education), Boston, August 2018.
“Adjudicated Acting Exercises: Noodle in Action” at the ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education), Boston, August 2018.
“How Will Graduate Students Revolutionize Directing” Moderator. at the ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education), Boston, August 2018.
“The Desert of the Real: The Body as Scientific Instrument” at the ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education), Las Vegas, August 2017.
“Collaboration: Directors and Designers” at the ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education), Las Vegas, August 2017.
“The Cognitive Stanislavski in the Rehearsal Hall” at ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education), Chicago, August 2016.
“The Cognitive Stanislavski in the Rehearsal Hall” at “The “S Word”: Stanislavski and the future of Acting, An international Symposium” at the Stanislavski Centre in Siddcup, England, March 2016.
“Sitaraha-- The Stars and Syria: Trojan Women, Two Plays of Asian Women Displaced by War,” at the 55th Annual Meeting of the Southeast Conference of the Association of Asian Studies, Harrisonburg, VA, January 2016.
“TOY STORY Turns 20: How Significant Was Pixar’s 1st Feature Film?” Wilson Center Cinema Roundtable, University of Georgia, April 2015.
“The Embodiment of ‘Evil Itself’ On Stage,” at the “George Tabori and the Theatre of the Holocaust International Conference,” Athens, GA, February 2015.
“Acting Theory and Cognitive Science,” 4 Minutes, 33 Seconds Spotlight on the Arts Festival, October 2014.
“Acting Styles and New Media: An Investigation with Motion Capture,” Theatre & Film Studies Department Colloquium, University of Georgia, September 2004.
INVITED LECTURES / WORKSHOPS
“Intimacy and the Stage Manager,” Kansas State University, Stage Management, taught by James Davis, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, Spring 2022.
“Intimacy and the Brain: How Intimate or Traumatic Content Affects our Ability to Consent Freely,” University of the Arts Helsinki, Finland, April 2021.
“Actively Analyzing A Doll’s House,” University of Georgia, Play Analysis, taught by Dr. Farley Richmond, Theatre & Film Studies Department, Spring 2019.
“The Actor’s Process,” University of Georgia, Theatre Appreciation, taught by Dr. Fran Teague, Theatre & Film Studies Department, Fall 2018.
“Communicating What You Want: A Workshop for At-Risk Students,” University of Georgia, Division of Academic Enhancement, Fall 2017.
“The Actor’s Process,” University of Georgia, Theatre Appreciation, taught by Dr. Fran Teague, Theatre & Film Studies Department, Fall 2017.
“Onstage Worlds,” University of Georgia, Theatre Appreciation, taught by Dr. Fran Teague, Theatre & Film Studies Department, Spring 2017.
“Directing and Staging: Wedding Band,” University of Georgia, Voices of Diversity, taught by Dr. Farley Richmond, Theatre & Film Studies Department, Spring 2017.
“Casting Trifles,” University of Georgia, Theatre Appreciation, taught by Dr. Farley Richmond, Theatre & Film Studies Department, Spring 2017.
“Directing and Staging: Spaces at Work,” University of Georgia, Voices of Diversity, taught by Dr. Farley Richmond, Theatre & Film Studies Department, Spring 2017.
“Directing Movement,” University of Georgia, Directing 1, taught by Dr. Farley
Richmond, Theatre & Film Studies Department, Fall 2016.
“The Male Aging Action Star,” University of Georgia, Film Melodrama, taught by Dr. Rielle Navitski, Theatre & Film Studies Department, Spring 2016.
“Feminist Film: An Introduction” University of Georgia, Introduction to Film, taught by Dr. Richard Neupert, Theatre & Film Studies Department, Fall 2015.
“Acting and Bergman: Persona in Action” University of Georgia, Introduction to Film, taught by Dr. Charlie Michael, Theatre & Film Studies Department, Spring 2015.
“Art Cinema vs. Classic Hollywood,” University of Georgia, Introduction to Film, taught by Dr. Christopher Sieving, Theatre & Film Studies Department, Spring 2015.
“Acting in Film: Paradoxes at Work,” University of Georgia, Introduction to Film, taught by Dr. Richard Neupert, Theatre & Film Studies Department, Fall 2014.
RELATED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Kansas State University, Manhattan KS
Consent and Intimacy for the Actor 2022
Intermediate Acting 2022
Principles of Directing 2021, 2022
Fundamentals of Acting 2021, 2022
Vocal Expression for Actors 2021, 2022
Radford University, Radford VA
Film History I 2021
Film Genres 2020
Film Theory and Criticism 2020
The Circle Ensemble Theatre Company, Athens, GA 2010-2019
Founder and Producing Artistic Director; Acting Teacher
University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Introduction to DV Production 2018
Introduction to Acting Instructor 2017
Research Assistant, studying Kutiyattam Theatre in India May - June 2017
Research/Teaching Assistant 2014-2017
Introduction to Film Instructor – two discussion sections
Seminar Assistant of the Teaching East Asia program each June 2014-2017
Introduction to Acting Instructor 2006
Research/Teaching Assistant 2002-2004
Introduction to Film Instructor – two discussion sections
“Virtual Vaudeville” Project Coordinator
- Facilitated communication between 8 different Universities
- Developed and oversaw website with extensive research area
- Contributed artistically on assistant directing, sound design, research, and motion capture.
State University of New York (SUNY) Stony Brook, NY
Beginning and Advanced acting classes instructor
Homestead Hospice Arts Outreach/Volunteer Coordinator 2012-2014
- Developed a full office training program
- Developed two Drama Therapy programs:
- SENIOR STORIES for General Populations (Non-Memory Care Units)
- SENIOR STORIES MC for Memory Care Units
- Developed two Drama Therapy programs:
Westminster Christian Academy, Athens, GA , 2008-2010 and 2013-2014
High School Drama Teacher and Director
Master’s Academy, Athens, GA, 2006-2009
Drama and Film Teacher
Synchronicity Ensemble Company, Atlanta, GA, 2006
Teacher/Director for the Playmaking for Girls Program
Buck’s Rock Arts Camp, New Milford, CT
Department Head, Theatre Director, Acting Teacher for 12 summers
* Additionally, taught private classes in acting for the camera, voice technique, children’s theatre and audition technique over the past 25 years.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education)
- Directing Focus Group Co-Graduate/Early Career Representative 2017-2019
- Directing Focus Group Communications Officer 2019-2021
- Directing Focus Group Conference Planner 2020-2022
- Directing Focus Group Representative 2022-current
Journal of Consent-Based Performance, Editorial Board, Current
Media Editor for the Stanislavski Studies Journal, Current
SCMS (Society for Cinema and Media Studies)
SCSMI (Society for Cognitive Studies of the Moving Image)
SDC (Stage Directors and Choreographers Society)
Athens Area Arts Council Board Member 2011-2014
Winterville Arts Council Board Member 2016- 2019
