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D/TFY Faculty
Photo by Dick Schwarze
Full-time:
Jessica "Decky" Alexander
Christine S. Tanner
Patricia Moore Zimmer
Jessica "Decky" Alexander, MFA
Associate Professor - Theatre and Educational Drama
734-487-3179
jessica.alexander@emich.edu
Education:
MFA in Educational Theatre (Drama/Theatre for the Young), Eastern Michigan University, 1996
BA in Theatre, Lawrence University, 1991
Biography:
Teaching at Eastern Michigan University since 1994.
On-going Artistic Endeavors
Founder and Director of CloseUP Theatre Troupe, a University theatre outreach program dedicated to using theatre as a vehicle for exploring relevant health and social issues and informing audiences about the resources available to address them. CloseUP was founded in 1997 and performs annually for approximately 8000 plus audience members and has been home to over 60 students actor/educators. The CloseUP experience continues to develop innovative, provocative and timely theatre to meet the ever-changing, always in-flux campus community.
Professional
Performance poet on the regional and national spoken word/poetry slam circuit from 1995-1999. Her work can be heard on the CD Ann Arbor Speaks. Program coordinator of grant-funded poetry-outreach program with Ozone House Drop-In Center in Ypsilanti, MI. Service activities: Co-chair of the University-wide Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration from 1999-Present, faculty advisor for the Poetry Society and Diversion Dance Troupe, co-chair of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education's Higher Education and Research Network.
Research Interests:
Research interests include the intersection between health and theatre, performing the student body, theatre as a learning medium, Hip-Hop performance, spoken word and youth.
Teaching Interests:
Improvisation and Role Play, Theatre for Social Change, TIE, devising theatre, Storytelling, Personal Narratives, Oral Interpretation and Creative Drama.
Christine S. Tanner, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Theatre
734-487-0032
christine.tanner@emich.ed
Education:
Ph.D. Major: Theatre and Cinematic Arts, Minor: Psychology, Brigham Young University, 1985.
Biography:
Teaching at Eastern Michigan University since 2002. Certified Secondary Education Teacher in Theatre and English with over seven years in the middle school classroom.
Professional Experience includes eight years as Director of Education at Seattle Children's Theatre, two years as Director of Education at Stage One: Louisville Children's Theatre, and Managing Director of the California Theatre Center. Represented the city of Seattle on an artist exchange to Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Service Activities include weekly workshops in local elementary classrooms, professional workshops for teachers, drama workshops for Boy Scouts, EMU groups, and church groups. Team Manager for Destination Imagination Michigan.
Research Interests:
Development of Children's Theatre over the last twenty-five years. Ability of Higher Education to prepare MFA students for roles in professional theatre. Presenter with American Alliance for Theatre and Education(AATE), National Association of Humanities Educators, and 2004 IDEA Conference in Ottawa, Canada. Creating and directing new works for young audiences as part of EMU's Elementary Tour Outreach Program.
Teaching Interests:
Improvisation, Children's Theatre, Drama in the Classroom, Youth Theatre, Professional Theatre, Playwrighting, and Directing.
Patricia Moore Zimmer, MFA
Professor of Theatre and Educational Drama
734-487-0031
pzimmer@emich.edu
Education:
MFA in Directing, Florida State University
Biography:
Teaching at Eastern Michigan University since 1980. Service includes several years as departmental representative to the Graduate Council for the University and she recently served as editor for "Stage of the Art," a major publication of the AATE.
Teaching Interests:
Teaching interests include drama/theatre for the young and directing.
Activities:
Scholarly/creative activities include serving as reader/adjudicator for two national playwrighting competitions including the American Alliance for Theatre and Education's Distinguished Play Award.
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