University News

CTTC theatre company members and its founder Jan Mandell, from l-r, Nicole Smith, Nehemiah Jett, Mandell, Crystal Spring, Jenny Lagos and William Grier (front).
[Download Print-Quality Image]

Expanding Cultural Diversity Workshop Set for April 24

February 4, 2009

Share |
Printer friendly version

MACOMB, IL -- The founder of the St. Paul (MN) Central Touring Theatre Company (CTTC) will be on the Western Illinois University-Macomb campus Friday, April 24 to discuss how educators can incorporate drama into their classrooms to explore social justice issues.

Jan Mandell will present "Creating Original Plays in the Classroom to Strengthen Learning" in a one-day workshop sponsored by Western's Expanding Cultural Diversity Project and the WIU Center for Innovation in Teaching and Research. For nearly 30 years, Mandell has taught drama to middle and secondary school students; and, more recently she has collaborated with universities on arts literacy projects. Her passion for theatre, influenced by the theory and practice of Augusto Boal and his Theatre of the Oppressed, is rooted in her conviction "that artistic expression can be a powerful and positive force in the lives of young people."

According to Janice Welsch, Expanding Cultural Diversity Project co-coordinator, central to Mandell's approach is the creation of a safe space where participants are comfortable sharing their stories, discussing the barriers that separate them and creating original plays that help them work through the barriers. To establish the sense of safety at the heart of her work, Mandell helps her students transform themselves from a disparate group of individuals to an ensemble whose interaction is based on trust. Several CTTC graduates will assist with the April 24 workshop.

The workshop, which will be held in the Simpkins Hall Theatre (second floor), is open to Western faculty, staff and students as well as to area teachers and their students. Educators who attend should bring a maximum of five students to ensure a diverse participant group.

At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23 in the University Union Fox Room, Mandell will present participation activities, show a short video of the work she and her students do and field questions about her program and Friday's workshop.

The principles reflected in Mandell's theatre work are documented in the book, "Acting, Learning and Change," which she co-authored with Jennifer Wolf. According to Mandell, one of the most important principles, the social nature of learning, involves the "accumulation and adaptation of knowledge [that] takes place as students and teachers act together in their learning.

"Through theatre, students not only develop a commitment to social justice, but teachers learn new ways to appreciate and value their students' skills and knowledge," she noted.

While the workshop is available to educators at no cost, advance registration is required. To register or for more information, contact J.Q. Adams at (309) 298-3698 or JQ-Adams@wiu.edu or Welsch at
(309) 298-2057 or JR-Welsch@wiu.edu.


Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing