Doctoral Theatre Students Association
The Doctoral Theatre Students Association (DTSA) is
comprised of all the students enrolled in the Ph.D. Program in
Theatre at the Graduate Center. Its function and role in the
department varies depending upon the immediate interests and
concerns of its members. The DTSA fosters a sense of community
and organizes events that are of benefit to the entire student
population. Each Spring the DTSA elects five officers to run the
organization: President, First Vice President, Second Vice
President (in charge of the Booth Award), Secretary, and
Treasurer. The President and First Vice President, in addition
to their other responsibilities, represent students on the
Executive Committee. Other students are elected to serve as
student representatives for the Admissions and Curriculum
Committees. Incoming students are eligible for being New Student
Representative, a voluntary position that allows for interaction
with DTSA officers and a chance to be involved with the overall
operations of the DTSA. There are many DTSA activities that students can become
involved with throughout the academic year:
The Edwin Booth Award. For the past twenty two years
the DTSA's major activity has been sponsoring the Edwin Booth
Award, an honor bestowed each year to an individual or
organization who has made a substantial contribution to American
theatre and performance via their activities in New York. Recent
honorees include P.S. 122, Dixon Place, Hal Prince, and The
Wooster Group.
The Greenroom. This semi-annual newsletter, compiled
and edited by the vice president of the Doctoral Theatre
Students Association, highlights the ongoing activities and
accomplishments of students and faculty. Each issue includes a
schedule of upcoming DTSA events; news submitted by professors
and students, such as publications, conference activity,
creative endeavors, teaching, and research interests; and other
items of interest. It is published in November and May.
Current And Past Issues
Teas. Every week the DTSA sponsors a topical chat
(complemented by tea and cookies) designed to help students with
certain aspects of the program (such as exams, language
requirements, and dissertation writing), prepare students for
the world at large (such as maintaining a CV, publishing, and
interviewing), and general informational subjects (such as
current productions, conference reports, and travel reports).
The Active Theatre Group. Because there is no
practical component associated with the Theatre Program at The
Graduate Center, a group of students has formed a standing
organization dedicated to the production of classic,
experimental, underproduced, or largely unknown plays. The
Active Theatre Group will present productions of plays and/or
performances chosen from current course syllabi, thus
complementing the course offerings of the given semester.
Designed to build a bridge between theory/history and practice,
the Active Theatre Group believes that active participation in
theatre production complements and enhances the academic study
of theatre and academic pursuit allows insight and knowledge
that brings an original and unique perspective to a production.
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