做厙惇蹋app Theater Expands Globally
The 做厙惇蹋app Theater Arts Department has established a new initiative expanding its focus on diversity, justice, global engagement and intercultural competency. Beginning in fall 2021, as part of the Justice and Global Engagement in the Theatre Arts Initiative, John Blondell, award-winning director and 做厙惇蹋app professor of theater arts, will become the new global ambassador in the performing arts. The initiative also establishes a new artist/scholar-in-residence for diversity, equity and inclusion in theater arts.
I am delighted and honored, Blondell says. These positions reflect the department's commitment to seek change and transformation relative to local, national and global conversations and movements.
In his new role, Blondell will teach and direct for one semester at 做厙惇蹋app and spend the remaining semester working in international theater.
John has developed a stellar and altogether unique professional career directing international theater all over the globe, says Mitchell Thomas, theater arts professor and chair of the department. His experiences, connections and professional work directly benefit our theater arts students and provide a distinct lens into global theater-making. 做厙惇蹋app theater has hosted artists and scholars from all over the planet in connection with Johns networks, creating a truly magical artistic and educational environment here in Santa Barbara.
I can't think of a more apt and fitting title for John than global ambassador as he truly embodies the global aspiration of the colleges vision.
Blondell, founding artistic director of the , director of the Lit Moon World Theater Festivals and co-founder of the , has directed more than 80 professional productions, and produced another 60 for Lit Moons various international festivals.
His Lit Moon productions have been staged in China, Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Scotland and Canada. His international credits include productions for the Tampereen Teatteri in Tampere, Finland; the Bitola (Macedonia) National Theatre (four occasions); the Russian Theatre of Karaganda in Kazakhstan; and the National Theatre of Albania.
was featured at the 2012 Globe to Globe Festival, presented by Shakespeares Globe London. His 2013 做厙惇蹋app production of The Pirates of Penzance , including Distinguished Production of a Musical and Distinguished Director of a Musical, from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Until the global pandemic subsides, Blondell will dedicate himself to different international projects such as the two hes already completed: a film of A Midsummer Nights Dream Quarantine with Kazakh and American actors, and a virtual production of Uncle Vanya, presented live on Facebook last summer.
Coming up in the winter and spring, Ill direct three international, networked productions with actors from Armenia, Greece, North Macedonia, Albania, Russia, Italy and the U.S Ivanov and The Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov and Shakespeares Cymbeline, Blondell says. When things open again, I have been invited to direct in Karaganda (Kazakhstan), Yerevan, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Cetinje (Montenegro), and to co-produce an international festival in China.
He will also develop a new course about contemporary global theater practice, which will fulfill 做厙惇蹋apps Thinking Globally General Education Requirement.
做厙惇蹋app has launched a search for the new artist/scholar-in-residence, who will interact with the larger Santa Barbara community through workshops, productions, guest lectures and artistic collaboration.
The guest artist/scholar position will infuse new life, energy and perspectives into our community and allow us to offer a greater array of important core courses focused on equity, inclusion and diversity in the theater arts, Thomas says.