Current and Upcoming Work
American Alliance for Theatre and Education Conference Presenter
This July, Renana will be presenting a workshop at the AATE National Conference titled "Playwriting through Trauma for Elementary Students using ToP Methods." The conference is being held both virtually and in person. We will convene to celebrate discoveries and reflect on how 2020 has impacted our field. The AATE 2021 National Conference will examine local, regional, and national Landmarks and Monuments. We describe Landmarks as discoveries or changes that mark important turning points and Monuments as outstanding, enduring, or memorable events.
Oregon Tale and A Murder Mystery with Mt. Vernon Community Children's Theatre
Renana was thrilled to return to MVCCT in both the fall ('20) and spring ('21) to devise and direct their virtual middle school productions. The fall performance, a newly student-devised piece, was a murder mystery set in Prohibition Era Washington, DC. The spring performance was another student-devised performance inspired by the game 'Oregon Trail' and utilizing a choose-your-own-journey format for the audience participants. Both performances were met with overwhelming audience enthusiasm. Information on any upcoming projects with the company can be found at their website: https://www.mvcct.org/about-us
Professional Development
- Renana is currently an ACE Fellow (Arts Curriculum Enrichment) through the District of Columbia Public Schools. As part of this year-long program she is learning how to design arts classrooms that are Trauma-informed and trauma sensitive.
- Renana recently completed the 5-week professional development program "10 Trauma-Informed Strategies to Help Students Heal" offered through the American Federation of Teachers.
- In the spring of 2020, Renana completed a "Text Analysis for Directors" course with Primary Stages in New York taught by actor/director John Gould Rubin.
Photo by Tony Powell
