Dr. Aghssa brings a wealth of both academic and professional
experience to the theatre faculty at Eastern Michigan University. He
holds a Ph. D. in Directing from Texas Tech University, and MFA
in theatre and an MM in Vocal Performance from Ohio University,
and a BM in Vocal Performance from the University of Illinois. Additionally,
he holds a Teacher Training Certificate from the Famed Neighborhood
Playhouse in New York City specializing in the Meisner technique. He
has also studied Cabaret Performance Technique with Helen Baldassare
in New York City. In 2007 he performed his solo cabaret
show, Songs My Mother (never) Taught Me, in New York
City.
Pirooz’s directing assignments at EMU include a wide range:
Angels in America, Brecht on Brecht, The House of Blue Leaves,
Falsettos, Evita, Company, Into the Woods, to name a few. His
interest in avant-garde theatre and directing is clearly reflected
in his work even when he directs a traditional American musical.
Pirooz has a diverse range of teaching and course assignments
and one of the largest teaching portfolios in the department. His
teaching interests include Directing, Script Analysis, Theatre
History, Acting, Musical Theatre, and Cabaret Performance Technique.
His areas of interests in research include:
avant-garde performance,
Yiddish theatre, post-colonial theatre, and
performance
and culture.
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