ARTIST RESIDENCY: THEATER

James Symmons
Acting, Directing, Theatre Arts

PO Box 235
Emmaus, PA 18049
610/489-4151(w); 610/797-9721(h)

A versatile actor and educator, James Symmons takes a different approach to a theatre residency. He strives to take a slice of material from the curricular areas being studied and dramatize it for examination, discussion, and critical thought. He selects from plays, prose and poetry. Plays such as My Children, My Africa; Twelve Angry Jurors; A Walk in the Woods; and Maggie Magalita all contain ideas from diverse cultures, solicit provocative questions, and serve as a forum for debate.

Mr. Symmons has students read and discuss a play, visualizing the life of the characters as they relate to each other and to the world around them. Scenes or full productions are staged and the play is discussed as literature, as historical drama, or as a format for social issues of the times.

Education/Experience: BA in Theatre, Lycoming College; MA in Theatre, Pennsylvania State University; MA in Acting/ Directing, University of Michigan; MFA (1 yr.) Stanford University; Ph.D. (abd) University of Michigan; Graduate of American Academy of Dramatic Arts. AEA, SAG, AFTRA.

Availability: Limited

Education Resource Artist James Symmons can be a resource artist to any aspect of the curriculum that requires the presentation of information. He will explore the art of presenting and producing theatre in public speaking, literature, or issues in social studies or history.

Resource to subject areas: English, Social Studies, History, Arts.

Preferred ages: Grades 9-12, College, Senior Centers

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