New Faces on the School of Drama

Meet the New Faculty and Staff of the School of Drama.

By Shannon Musgrave
August 26, 2022

Robert Ramirez just isn’t the one new face on the School of Drama. The new head is accompanied by a number of college and workers members who’re becoming a member of the college at an thrilling time of transition and transformation. Over the previous 12 months, School of Drama management has labored with the dean and provost to rework its hiring processes, implementing particular measures to draw a broader and extra various candidate pool. This thrilling slate of latest college demonstrates the worth of that work. The breadth and depth of their experience and lived experiences can be instrumental in shaping the following technology of theater-makers.

New Faculty Appointments

Dahlia Al-Habieli returns to the School of Drama as particular visiting college of scenic design. An award-winning scenic designer and educator primarily based within the Northeastern United States, Al-Habieli was born and raised in Abu Dhabi. As an artist and collaborator, she is all in favour of exploring unlikely connections and utilizing her work to construct cultural bridges. Al-Habieli acquired her MFA in scenic design from the Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama and her BA from Wellesley College. Learn extra about Dahlia.

Will Davis joins the School of Drama as affiliate professor within the John Wells Directing Program. Davis is a transgender director and choreographer centered on bodily adventurous work for the stage. He has directed regionally and Off-Broadway, and served as creative director of American Theater Company (ATC) in Chicago. As the creative director of ATC, Davis grew to become the primary transgender individual to guide a significant nonprofit establishment and not using a outlined LGBTQ mission. He is thrilled to deliver his expertise as an artist, chief, mentor, advocate and educator to the CMU neighborhood. Learn extra about Will.

Kaja Dunn joins the School of Drama in a primary of its variety tenure-track place centered on anti-racist and culturally competent practices in theater. As affiliate professor, Dunn can even be a member of the appearing college. She involves CMU from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte Department of Theatre, the place she was the pinnacle of appearing and affiliate college for theatrical intimacy training. Dunn works throughout the nation as an actor, director, main intimacy coordinator and activist. She serves on the manager board of the Black Theatre Network and consults with Actors’ Equity on problems with race and theater. Learn extra about Kaja.

Kristi Good has been appointed to assistant professor of dramaturgy, after having served as particular visiting college. Good holds a grasp’s diploma in dramaturgy from Villanova University and a doctorate in theatre & efficiency research from the University of Pittsburgh. Her scholarship and pursuits lean towards theater of trauma and uncovering suppressed narratives, notably with regard to new play improvement. She works as a dramaturg domestically and regionally, and is a co-founder of Moderate Woo – a feminist theater collective whose Motherhood Project explores what we don’t find out about motherhood in America. Learn extra about Kristi.

Ryan Prendergast joins Carnegie Mellon University as an Assistant Teaching Professor with appointments within the Schools of Drama and Music. He was previously a lecturer within the College of Fine Arts on the University of Texas at Austin and dramaturg for the Butler Opera Center. He acquired his doctorate in theater from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Fusing theater research and musicology, Prendergast has introduced his work at nationwide conferences of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education, the American Musicological Society, the Mid-America Theatre Conference, and the International Richard Strauss Society. Learn extra about Ryan.

Hilary Ward joins the School of Drama as particular visiting college in appearing. Ward is an actor, producer, trainer and coach primarily based in Los Angeles. She is a founding member and present Co-Artistic Producing Director of Chalk Repertory Theatre, a site-responsive theater firm devoted to exploring new and classical work. As an actor, Ward has labored in tv and movie, and on stage with firms together with La Jolla Playhouse, Ojai Playwrights Conference, Ashland New Play Festival, and South Coast Repertory. She is a member of the Television Academy, Actors’ Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA, for which she serves on the National Organizing Committee. Learn extra about Hilary.

TJ Young has been appointed to affiliate professor of dramaturgy, after having served as particular visiting college. Young is a Texas-born playwright and dramaturg primarily based in Pittsburgh, the place he serves as co-representative for the Dramatists Guild – Pittsburgh area. He has served as a dramaturg for the Young Playwrights Festival at City Theatre since 2018. Young can be the NPP Chair for Region 2 of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, the place he aids with the Playwriting Intensive and teaches workshops on the regional and nationwide ranges. He acquired his MFA in dramatic writing from Texas State University. Learn extra about TJ.