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A self-analysis of the work of a theater director on the play Arcadia, by Tom Stoppard. Through a detailed retelling of all aspects of the production—research, design, script work, rehearsals, and performance—artist strengths and weaknesses are identified, and lessons are articulated that can be applied to future productions of Arcadia, and subsequent work of the director.

My name is Greg Delany Walker. I’m an MFA candidate in Theatre Arts with a specialization in Acting at the University of Iowa. The following is my thesis that addresses my artistic process as an actor. My main focus in this thesis is to unpack my beliefs about what makes good acting and how I personally achieve that. I detail many schools of thought that pair well together to seek out vulnerability in actors. Vulnerability is my chief struggle as an actor given that I have a tendency to overthink things and rely more on intellect than on passionate expression in my daily life and in my work. That tendency leads me to be polite as an actor, which has gotten in the way of my being able to reach my full potential. I discovered time and time again how important it is to understand and embody acting techniques so deeply that I can let them go. All the different techniques of analysis, physical and voice work are essential, but they need to transition to being second nature. The techniques outlined in this thesis, learned in my life and through the program at the University of Iowa, have to be so ingrained that I don’t need to think of them in the moment on stage. The key to being present on stage seems so simple in a way, but it has been a great challenge for me to fully let go of control to allow for my potential public failure and humiliation. The times that I’ve embraced failure have been the strongest moments for me as an actor because of the power of risk. My hope is that by detailing my own process and experiences, with that idea of building technique and releasing into the present moment, that others could be further empowered to do the same in acting or in life.

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This document will chronicle the design work of Kevin Dudley at the University of Iowa from August 2013 through the spring of 2016. The images included in this document are representative of the design work for realized productions, large and small scale, and selected explorations in course work. The work represented here includes: drafting, paint elevations, and sketches (both hand and digital). This document will stand as a record my design process and final product used to explore our humanity through theatrical design.

In this thesis, I document the ideas behind and my process for Play in the Woods, an experiment in slow theater-making that serves as a model for how dramaturgs can facilitate sustainable, holistic methods of performance. This model is grounded in feminist theater practices and the aesthetic of poor theater. In creating the performance of Play in the Woods, I as dramaturg invited participants to serve as co-creators, individually crafting pieces that examined fairytales and the role those stories have played on their lives. The performance was held out of doors at the Amethyst Brook Conservation Area on the afternoon of May 5th, 2018. This framework allowed for an examination of the role of childhood and memory, as well as space, place, and the natural world, on my and the other performers’ sense of self in light of our personal and cultural influences.

This written portion of my thesis chronicles my experience as director and producer of Visionary Futures: Science Fiction Theatre for Social Justice Movements, in collaboration with playwrights, activists, actors, designers, and a dramaturg. In this thesis, I explore the process of creating a meaningful thesis project during the Covid-19 pandemic. I discuss the idea of visionary fiction as created by adrienne maree brown and Walidah Imarisha and how to create theatre within that genre. This thesis chronicles the development and production of three new plays of visionary fiction that wrestle with contemporary social issues, all designed for digital performance. I share my process pairing each writer with an activist to create work that envisioned more just worlds while also being responsive to the current moment. I explore the opportunities and challenges of reimagining the generative writing process, making theatre within a digital medium, and being creative during a global pandemic. This thesis also includes the full text of each play and links to the recordings of the digital productions.

The world of theatre focuses on presentation and showmanship, but what audience never sees is often the most vital parts of the show. Behind the curtains, in the backstage of the theatre is where the real magic happens. This paper focuses on shedding some light on one aspect of the backstage. Without light, nothing would be seen. Follow along as the process of being chosen, creating, research, and production are revealed and explained to make the backstage more appreciated.