James P. Mirrione
1738 71st Street
Brooklyn, New York11204
Home/Office1-917-361-6067
Curriculum Vitae
Education
B.A. English, St. Mary’s College, Winona, Minnesota
B.A. Theology, St. Mary’s College, Winona, Minnesota
M.A. Educational Theatre, New York UniversityEngland Study Abroad Program
Curtain Theatre, BrettonHallCollege, London
BrettonHallCollege, Wakefield
Ph.D. Educational Theatre 1991, New YorkUniversity
Dissertation: “An examination of the Writing Process in Theatre-in-Education (TIE) Plays”
This was the first study to analyze the principles essential for the dramatic construction of TIE plays. The investigation was based upon a sample of the author’s own TIE plays written for the Creative Arts Team and resulted in the creation of fifty basic considerations for future writers in the field of theatre-in-education.
Professional and Academic Experience
University of Nottingham, Ningbo (UNNC), China, 2013-Present
Visiting Professor. Introduction to Drama: Instituted the first drama course within the School of English curriculumat UNNC.
United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), 2005-2014
Associate Professor and Head of the Theatre/Drama Minor.Member of Provost’s Task Force for the New Vision Review.
Courses taught included: Practical Introduction to Theatre; Approaches to Drama; Drama in Education; Practicum in Theatre; Fundamentals of Stage Production; Playwrighting in Arab World and Introduction to Literature.
FrazierArmsMuseum, Louisville, Kentucky, 2003-2004
Playwright-in-Residence.
BrettonHallCollege, University of Leeds, 2000-2003
AHRB Research Fellow in Creative and Performing Arts. Post-Doctoral Fellowship to establish a Center for International Interventionist Theatre.
Creative Arts Team, New York University, 1974-2003
Co-founding member and playwright-in-residence for the Creative Arts Team (CAT), the professional educational theatre company at New York University. Responsible for 19 theatre-in-education (TIE) plays for the company, dealing with a wide range of social, curricular, and topical issues for junior and high school audiences.
Development, 1987-1990. Assisted in the development and fund-raising activities of CAT’s touring productions. Responsibilities included conducting proposal meetings; speaking presentations to city and state funders; and liaison activities between CAT and tour producers.
Workshop Leader, 1981-1987. Responsible for the design and implementation of the “Meet the Playwright” component of CAT’s Reading Support Program, developed to introduce education production. Conducted workshops for more than 2,000 students per year in junior high school classes.
Education Coordinator, 1980-1985. Responsible for the curriculum design for CAT’s four drama-in-education (DIE) and theatre-in-education (TIE) programs and the training of actor/teachers for the programs.
Reading Support Program. A performance and drama workshop program designed to increase specific language and written communication skills with 7th grade students functioning at below-reading level.
Conflict Resolution Through Drama.A performance and workshop program that addressed such issues as youth employment skills, teen pregnancy, and drug and alcohol abuse with at-risk junior and senior high school students.
Arts Partners. A drama-in-education residency program focusing on specific educational objectives in eleven (11) New York City school districts.
Special Education. A drama workshop residency program to develop cognitive and socialization skills for students with special needs.
Actor/Teacher, 1974-1980. Performed in the first six (6) theatre-in-education (TIE) productions of the Creative Arts Team.
Pula and Zagreb, Croatia and Sarajevo, Bosnia, 2000-2002
Workshop Leader in Interventionist Theatre Concepts.
New YorkUniversity, Gallatin Division, 1983-1999
Adjunct Professor, 1986-1999. Course: Oral Exam Review of Required Texts.
Academic Advisor, 1983-1999. Responsible for advising graduate and undergraduate students on their courses of study; serving on oral exams for graduate and undergraduate candidates; and supervising graduate Master’s theses and final projects.
Notre Dame High School, New York City, 1993-1998.
Teacher. English, Grades 10-12.
Drama Consultant.
ACULSPEC, United States Information Services, U.S. Embassy, Amman, Jordan, 1995
Conducted workshops on conflict resolution in regard to Jordanian-Israeli relations. Sponsored by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Queen Noor Al-Hussein Foundation.
MKFM International Youth Theatre Festeival, Pula, Croatia, 1997-1998
Conducted workshops with Croat and Serbian actors in conflict resolution.
Adapted the playRoundheads and Peakheads by Bertolt Brecht.
BrettonHallCollege, University of Leeds, M.A. Summer Program, 1994
Lecturer.
New YorkUniversitySchool of Education, Health, Nursing, and Arts Professions, 1980-1990
Guest Lecturer. Subjects: Theatre-in-Education (TIE) Practices; Playwrighting; and History of TIE.
New YorkUniversity, School of Continuing Education, 1980-1987
Adjunct Professor in Theatre of Ideas.
New YorkUniversity, Gallatin Division, 1983-1984
Adjunct Professor. Course: Classic Texts
Sunrise Semester, “Drama in Education,” CBS
Guest Lecturer.
Program in Educational Theatre, 1976-1978
Teaching Fellow. Responsibilities included production assistance for classical and modern plays at the Educational Theatre Auditorium; and teaching undergraduate classes in acting, directing, and TIE devising.
NazarethRegionalHigh School, Brooklyn, New York, 1972-1974.
Teacher . Theology.
Presentations and Speaking Engagements
Guest Speaker, the University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China, 2008. Topic: “KISS ME Khatema: Emirati Women’s Responses to Kate’s Last Monologue in The Taming of the Shrew ”. In Conference “Shakespeare across Continent”.
Guest Speaker, Mulhenberg College, Pennsylvania, 2003. Topic: “The Last Enemy: The Play and the Process.”
Guest Speaker, OhioStateUniversity, Columbus, Ohio, 2003. Topic: “The Making of the Play: Gilgamesh.”
Guest Speaker, United States Scholar-Athlete Games, University of Ohio, Athens, Ohio, 2003. Topic: “Conflict Resolution Through Theatre and the Artist’s Role During War Times.”
Guest Speaker, LehighUniversity, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 2002 and 2003. Topic: The Middle East Peace Process.”
Guest Speaker, Baker Peace Studies Conference, University of Ohio, Athens, Ohio, 2001-2002. Topic: “Peace, War, and Theatre in the Middle East.”
Guest Speaker, Barnard College, New York, 2001-2002. Topic: “The Last Enemy: The Play and the Process.”
Guest Speaker, Manhattanville College, New York, 2001-2002. Topic/Workshop: “International Interventionist Theatre Techniques.”
Guest Speaker/Consultant, JohnF.KennedyUniversity, Orinda, California, 1999. Topic: “Creating an Effective Model for Theatre-in-Education Within the Community.”
Panelist/Guest Lecturer. United States State Department Conference, Wye River Conference Center, Maryland, 1997. Topic: “An Interpretation of Middle East Leaders in Relation to the Peace Process through a Drama and Theatre Analysis.”
Guest Speaker. USIA Damascus, Syria, 1995. Topic: “Using Theatre to Address Social Issues.”
Keynote Speaker, Israeli International Theatre Festival, Dellal Center, Tel Aviv, 1994. Topic: “The Myth of Cultural Identity.” Workshops for various audiences in Israel on the theme of Arab-Israeli relations and conflict resolution.
Panelist, American Association of Theatre Education (AATE), 1993. Topic: “New Directions in Plays for Young People.”
Symposium Speaker, Vancouver International Youth Theatre Festival, British Columbia, 1989. Topic: “Issue Related Plays for Youth Audience.”
Guest Speaker, ASSITEJ International Theatre Festival, SUNY, Purchase, New York, 1988. Topic: “Theatre-in-Education.”
Panelist, International Symposium on TIE, sponsored by Pepsico Summerfare 88 and New York University, 1988. Topic: “Theatre-in-Education in the United States.”
Panelist, American Theatre Association Convention, San Francisco, California, 1984. Topic: “The TIE Playwright in the Modern World.”
Plays Written and Produced
Creative Arts Team Productions
Show of Force 2: Randall’s Story, 1994-1995, New York CityPublic Schools; 1989-1990, Brooklyn Academy of Music.
The King of Twelve Blocks, 1992-1993, New York CityPublic Schools.
Last Year, 1991-1992, New YorkPublic Schools.
The Divider, 1987-1991. New York City Public Schools; Vancouver International Theatre Festival, British Columbia (1990); Seattle International Youth Theatre Festival (1990); Edinburgh International Children’s Festival (1990).
Home Court, 1986-1988. New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theatre; New York City Public Schools; National Basketball Association (N.B.A.) Dallas, Texas and Houston, Texas; Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM); Lehman College, New York; Empire State Plaza (The Egg), Albany, New York; BOCES Long Island School Districts; Ithaca, Dundee, Penn Yan, New York; Edinburgh International Children’s Festival (1990); Seattle International Youth Festival (1990).
Pressure Cookin’, 1985, New York City Public Schools.
Class Act (co-authored with D. Houston), 1984, New York City Public Schools.
I Never Told Anybody (co-authored with D. Houston), 1984-1987. Henry Street Theatre; City Center; Triplex Theatre, New York; New York City Public Schools; New York University; Regional Tour, Syracuse, Rochester, Albany.
Hannibal, 1983-1984. New York City Public Schools.
Joe Louis: The Brown Bomber (book and lyrics), 1981-1983. New York City Public Schools; Horace Mann Theatre; Columbia University’s Teacher’s College; Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. (1983).
Saloogie (book and lyrics), 1980-1981. Commissioned by New York State Division for Youth and Division of Substance Abuse Services. Henry Street Settlement Theatre; La Mama; St. Peter’s Church, New York; Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; Ohio Performing Space, New York.
Rosa Parks: Back of the Bus (book and lyrics), 1980-1981. New York City Public Schools; New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theatre; Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.; Rosa Parks Community Arts Center, Detroit, Michigan.
Apartheid, 1978-1979. New York City Public Schools.
Trial of Mary Wade, 1978-1979. New York City Public Schools.
Tower of Babble, 1977-1978. Commissioned by New York Urban Coalition. New York City Public Schools; American Theatre Association Convention, New York.
Watt Went Wrong?, 1976-1977. New York City Public Schools; Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Voice of the Mountains, 1976. New York City Public Schools; Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Stop the Subway, I Want to Get On, 1975-1976. New York City Public Schools; Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Creative Arts Team Video Scripts
YEVS: Youth Employment Video Series (Head Writer), 1985.
A Few Things to Decide (co-authored with D. Houston), 1984.
Second Skin, 1983.
When Neptune Gets the Juice, 1983.
Broadway
Brassy, 1982-1983. 1st Class Option
Off-Broadway
Hot Snow, 1987 and 1993. Drama League Evening of One-Acts, Circle Repertory Company (1987); Company of Characters, Studio City, California (1993).
Off-Off-Broadway
The Last Stop, Will and Testament of Saint Jack Kerouac (book and lyrics), 1994-1997. Commissioned by New York University for the 50th anniversary of the Beat Generation Conference, Press 14 Theatre, Camilla Stage Company, Dixon Place.
The Ballad of Joe Six-Pack, 1990 and 1994. Equity Showcase, Press 14 Theatre (1990); American Academy of Dramatic Arts (1994).
Men in Waiting, 1989-1993. Equity Showcase, Press 14 Theatre, St. Clements, Classic Stage Company.
The Record, 1979. Equity Showcase, Press 14 Theatre.
Regional Theater
Naomi’s Stereophonic Diner, 2006. Stage One, Louisville, Kentucky.
That Grand and Tragic Show, 2003. Commissioned by Bretton Hall College, University of Leeds. Based on the book Comrades in Conscience by Cyril Pearce, Powerhouse Theatre, Wakefield, U.K.
Ambassador Satch: The Life and Times of Louis Armstrong, 2002-2005. Criterion Theatre, London, England; Queens Theatre in the Park; Lambs Theatre; Prince Music Theatre, Philadelphia; Helen Hayes Theatre Company, Nyack; White Plains Performing Arts Center; Cape Playhouse, Massachusetts.
Cheap Sunglasses, 2001-2004. Commissioned by the McCarter Theatre, Princeton, New Jersey on the subject of domestic violence (2001 tour), Plays for Living (2002 tour); Verizon Corporation Tour, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky and Lexington Children’s Theatre, Lexington, Kentucky (2003-2004).
The Last Enemy, 2000-2001. Directed and re-staged this play, Powerhouse Theatre, Bretton Hall, U.K.
Area Code 212, 1995. Spokane Playwrights Festival, Spokane, Washington. 1st Place.
West End Blues: Louis Armstrong, 1994-1997. Westbeth Theatre; St. Peter’s Church, New York City; Brooklyn Academy of Music; Queens Theatre in the Park; Tribeca Performing Arts Center; Emelin Theatre, Mamaroneck, New York; Black Theatre Festival, North Carolina.
Down Hearted Blues: Bessie Smith, 1994-1997. Westbeth Theatre; St. Peter’s Church, New York City; Brooklyn Academy of Music; Queens Theatre in the Park; Tribeca Performing Arts Center; Emelin Theatre, Mamaroneck, New York; Black Theatre Festival, North Carolina.
Black & Blue: Fats Waller, 1994-1998. Westbeth Theatre; St. Peter’s Church, New York City; Omaha Theatre Company, Nebraska.
The Ghost Café, 1992-1996. Commissioned by Carnegie Hall. Three one-act plays with music on the lives of Bessie Smith, Fats Waller, and Louis Armstrong.
Men in Waiting, 1992-1993. MET Theatre, Los Angeles, California; The Tamarind Theater, Los Angeles, California.
Maggie’s Gift, 1981-1982. The Poncho Theatre, Seattle, Washington.
Special Projects
Directed Shakespeare’s The Tempest, for the Doha Players at the Qatar National Convention Center, November, 2015
Beijing Dance Academy, directed and conductedworkshops in musical theatre, improvisation and cross-discipline theatre and dance projects, 2011-2012
Directed the World Premiere ofLemkin’sHouse by Catherine Filloux for the Kamerni 55 Theatre in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 2004-2005. Co-produced by the United States State Department and the Ministry of Culture. BIH, and the European World Premiere at the Roxy Art House Theatre, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Stage One Theatre, 2003-2004. Commission for a new play dealing with incarcerated youth and teenage pregnant girls.
The Sarajevo Project, 2001-2002. Directed the first U.K. performance of Time Out by Zlatko Topcic, Kamerni 55 Theatre, Sarajevo, Bosnia. Ppowerhouse Theatre, Bretton Hall College, University of Leeds; Royal Armouries, Leeds; Riverside Studios, Leeds; Gate Theatre, London.
International Festival of Theatre for Children and Young People, 1997. Aguascalientes, Mexico. Conducted a weeklong workshop on community theatre with Mexican and Indian actors to create a work-in-progress on the plight of children who have disappeared.
United States Information Agency (USIA) 1995-1998. Created the first Palestinian, Israeli, Jordanian, and Arab-Israeli Theatre Company. Commissioned play, The Last Enemy, performed at the United Nations, The American Place Theatre, and at venues in Amman, Ramallah, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Beer Sheva, and Jaffa.
American Representative to a five-person fact-finding delegation to Israel to investigate conflict resolution models, 1993. Sponsored by the United States Information Agency, the American Embassy, Tel Aviv, and the Israeli Department of Education.
Publications
“Kiss me Khatema: Kate’s “capitulation” in The Taming of the Shrewas seen by female Muslim
university students.” ARTS PRAXIS ,Volume 3(2016) New York University, Steinhardt, Ptogram in Educational Theatre.
“Eve Ensler: Body Trouble.” American Theatre Magazine 20.10 (2003): 42-43.
“What If Lear’s Story Were Your Story?” American Theatre Magazine 18.10 (2001): 66-68.
“The Crossing the Bridge Project: Creating a Palestinian, Israeli, Jordanian and Arab-Israeli
Theatre Company and the play The Last Enemy.” NADIE/IDEA Journal 24.2 (2000).
The Divider. Woodstock, Illinois: Dramatic Publishing Co., 1996.
“Playwrighting for TIE.” Learning Through Theatre. Ed. T. Jackson. London: Routledge Press, 1993.
“Perspective on Abortion: Must Men Always Be the Silent Partner?” Los Angeles Times25 January, 1993.
Grants Received
Note: Grants Received total approximately $800,000.
John Hodgson Trust: £10,000 British Sterling ($15,000), 2002-2004
To supplement the touring and directing aspects of the Sarajevo Project in order to work in Bosnia-Herzegovina with actors from the Kamerni 55 Theatre on two plays: Time Out (2002) and Lemkin’s House (2004).
Arts and Humanities Research Board (AHRB) £90,000 British Sterling ($144,000), 2000-2003
To create a center for Interventionist Theatre on the campus of BrettonHallCollege, University of Leeds.
Also received AHRB Small Grants Program and BrettonHallCollege £17,000 British Sterling ($29,000) Supplemental funding in the form of three (3) small grants.
Meritz Foundation/U.S. Embassy Israel, $50,000, 2000
To partner with an Israeli NGO and the U.S. Embassy to establish a new tour of the play The Last Enemy in Israel, Jordan, and Palestine.
SimonPeresCenter, $67,000, 1998
To enable the tour of the Middle East Theater Company to take place during the period of September-December, 1998 in Jordan, Israel, and Palestine.
UNESCO, $50,000, 1997
To draw funds from the cultural wing of UNESCO to continue ongoing support in the area of conflict resolution through theatre and for general support of the commissioned play, The Last Enemy, as part of the Crossing the Bridge Project, performed by the Middle East Theatre Company.
United States State Department, $163,000, 1995-1998
To create the first Palestinian, Israeli, Jordanian, Arab-Israeli Theatre Company. This three-year project, Crossing the Bridge, involved a series of workshops, readings, and residencies in order to implement the final goal.
Also received U.S. Embassies, Israel and Jordan, $15,000, Supplemental funding.
The Morris-Ursillo Foundation, $125,000, 1997
To establish a ten-year fund to promote the work of conflict resolution through theatre and drama in the Middle East and for ongoing theatre and conflict resolution activities in other international settings.
The Shimkin Foundation, $187,000, 1989
To advance the work of the Creative Arts Team (CAT) in the field of educational theatre and to provide general support for the ongoing activities of the company.
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