Susanna Morrow
Trinity University
Department of Speech and Drama
One Trinity Place
San Antonio, TX 78212
Phone: 303-601-5386
Susanna.morrow@trinity.edu
Education and Training
University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
Ph.D. Theatre, expected December 2006
Dissertation Title: Action Theatre: Divine Play for the Stage
Advisor: Dr. Oliver Gerland
University of California, Irvine, California
M.F.A. Acting, 1998
Thesis: Happy Days - Winnie – directed by Robert Cohen
University of Dallas, Dallas, Texas
B.A. Drama
B.A. English, 1995
Senior Studio: Birds – an original modern adaptation
Magna Cum Laude
Phi Beta Kappa
Yoga Teacher Certification, Yoga Works, Los Angeles, California 2001
University Teaching
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, BOULDER, Department of Theater and Dance– 2000-2003
Graduate Instructor –
Instructor of record responsible for course content, syllabus design, reading
selection, grading, and exam/project design.
THTR 2043 - Voice for the Stage - fall 2001, spring 2002, fall 2002, spring 2003
Introductory course required for all B.F.A. students. Students develop a personal warm-up,
perform a Shakespearean sonnet, and create a solo performance. Contents of the course
include yoga, respiratory and phonatory anatomy, projection, diction, resonance, and Roy
Hart work.
THTR 2013 - Performance of Literature – spring 2002
Required course for all B.F.A. students. Originally designed as an oral interpretation course,
students learn to analyze and perform a variety of texts including solo 2-person scenes,
poetry, and prose. They learn basic scene analysis using Eric Bogosian’s ”Suburbia” in
preparation for directing. The course culminates in two performances: an ensemble,
theme-based creation and a solo performance demonstrating the ability to construct a
coherent montage and bring non-dramatic material to life.
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THTR 1003 Acting 1 – fall 2000, spring 2001
Introductory course required for all B.F.A. students. Using Robert Cohen’s G.O.T.E. model
in Acting One and highlights from Michael Shurtleff’s Audition, students learn basic acting
theory and apply this knowledge to contentless scenes, scenes from plays, monologues,
and a final project of their choice. They also review performances and learn Aristotle’s
guidelines in his Poetics.
THTR 2003 Advanced Acting 1 - spring 2001
Designed for students with prior acting experience. Same content as the above description,
but at an accelerated pace.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE, Department of Drama – 1996-1998
Graduate Instructor –
Instructor responsible for course presentation, assessments, and grading.
Drama 34 Movement for Actors – fall 1997
Elective for upper-level B.A. students in Drama. Students train to cultivate physical strength,
flexibility and relaxation. They also strengthen their movement imagination and ability to
embody characters through a variety of methods including contact improvisation.
Drama 30C Acting – spring 1997
Third and final quarter of introductory class for B.A. students. Using techniques from Michael
Shurtleff’s Audition, students perform 2 monologues and acquire cold reading techniques.
Teaching Assistant –
Led weekly discussion sections, created quizzes, and mentored and graded student writing.
Drama 40 A – Development of Drama – Fall 1996
A survey of Western dramatic literature and theory from the Ancient Greeks through
Shakespeare.
Drama 40 C – Development of Drama – Spring 1998
A survey of Western dramatic literature and theory from Pirandello through Tony Kushner.
Scholarly Papers and Presentations
American Theater in Higher Education, New York City, August 2003
Paper Title: “The Edge of the Unmentionable: Societas Raffaello Sanzio’s
Tragedia Engonidia”
Association for Asian Performance, ATHE, New York City, August 2003
Paper Title: “Henri Lefebvre and The Dance of Angel’s Who Burn Their
Own Wings”
Center for the Humanities and the Arts, Boulder, CO, March 2003
Performances: “March 1993”, “Child-Mother”, “Sort This”
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Scholarships and Honors
Center for the Humanities and the Arts, CU Boulder, Fellow 2002-2003
Four faculty members and four graduate students from across the humanities are selected
annually to be CHA fellows. The fellows meet together in a year long seminar and present
the results of their work in a spring colloquium. Fellows receive support for their participation
in the seminar and colloquium. The theme for 2002-2003 was “Bodies, Voices,
Performance.” Keynote presentations were given by Peggy Phelan, Herb Blau, and Peter
Holland.
Chancellor’s Fellowship, University of California, Irvine 1995-1998
Three- year fellowship covering tuition and a stipend granted to one incoming M.F.A. Acting
student each year. This fellowship is awarded based on proven scholastic aptitude such as
high GRE scores and G.P.A. Fellows are expected to teach in the undergraduate program.
Theatre Scholar, University of Dallas 1991-1995
Four-year full tuition scholarship, only two full tuition theater scholars were selected the year
that I entered the program. Theater scholars are required to audition for each play and
expected to play as cast.
Selected Performance Experience
Utah Shakespeare Festival, 1998
Charley’s Aunt – Kitty Verdun – Dir. Steve Rothman
The Boyfriend – Lolita/Chorus – Dir. Kathleen Conlin
Colorado Shakespeare Festival, 1999
Comedy of Errors – Luciana – Dir. John Dennis
Merry Wives of Windsor – Anne Page – Dir. Robin McKee
Shakespeare Orange County, CA 1996
Tartuffe – Mariane – Dir. Tom Bradac
Macbeth – Witch 2 – Dir. Tom Bradac
Cornerstone Theater Company, Los Angeles, 1999
Magic Trix – Sicwoman – Dir. Armando Molina
Lakewood Cultural Arts Center, Lakewood CO, 2004
Women in Tap - dancer – chor. Ellie Sciarra, dir. Annette Thornton
University of California, Irvine, 1995-1998
Happy Days – Winnie – Dir. Robert Cohen
Sweet Charity- Ursala – Dir. Donald McKayle
Man and Superman – Ann/Dona Ana – Dir. Keith Fowler
Women of Troy – Cassandra – Dir. Dudley Knight
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Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, 2001-2004
Venus – Brother/Mother Showman/Chum – Dir. Shannon Jellison
Emerging Vision: New Women’s Works – Performing Artist, original work
Quill’s Plays – Ensemble – Dir. Robert Quillen Camp
Alicia – El Gato Gomez-Pena – Chor. Ana Carillo Baer
University of Colorado, Boulder, 2000-2001
The Vagina Monologues – Ensemble – Dir. Lee Potts
Soda – Dancer – Chor. Michelle Spencer
Selected Directing Experience
Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, 2003
Lysistrata – Lysistrata Project (anti-war fundraiser) – Co-director
Peak to Peak Charter School, Lafayette, 2004-2005
Antigone – Jean Anouilh
The Bald Soprano – Eugene Ionesco
Our Town – Thornton Wilder
University of Dallas, 1993-1995
Birds – Aristophanes, rewritten in modern adaptation by Susanna Morrow
Women of Troy – Euripides – performed on a beach in Napflion, Greece
El Pobrecito Embustero – Ruiz de Iriarte – Co-director
Additional Training in Pedagogy and Performance
Action Theater – Ruth Zaporah
Summer Intensive, Santa Fe, NM, 2004 and 2005
Two-week, 5-hour day workshop for dancers and actors. Physical theater improvisation with
a focus on body awareness.
Theater of the Oppressed
Augusto Boal, Theater workshop, Denver, CO, spring 2002
2-weekend course exploring various techniques developed by Boal, including Forum
Theater and Rainbow of Desire.
Marc Weinblatt, Facilitator’s Training, Port Townsend, WA, summer 2002
Two-week, 5-hour day intensive with various Boal exercises from Forum Theater,
Rainbow of Desire, and Joker training.
Roy Hart Theatre
Intensive study, Roy Hart Theater, Malerargues, France – summer 2003
3-week residency at the home of the Roy Hart theater. Participated in women’s workshop
and studied privately with Carol Mendelson, Saule Ryan, and Coco.
Weekend workshops with Carol Mendelsohn, Naropa University, Boulder CO, ongoing
Intensive workshops that include warm-ups, improvisaton and group and individual work.
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Fitzmaurice Vocal Technique, UC Irvine
Katherine Fitzmaurice residency, winter 1998
2-week course in advanced techniques.
Dudley Knight, 1995-1998
Primary voice instructor at UC Irvine.
International Phonetic Alphabet and Dialects, UC Irvine
Speech courses with Joan Melton and Dudley Knight in MFA program.
Dance
-Member of Professional Women’s Tap Ensemble
Tap – 24 years, studied with Savion Glover, Jimmy Slyde, Fayard Nicholas, and others
Jazz – 12 years
Ballet – 10 years
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Modern – 4 years
African – 3 years
Choreography
Nancy Spanier, spring 2002
Completed graduate practicum course in choreography, creating original dance theater
works.
Michelle Spencer/Ellsworth, spring 2001
Completed “Performing Voices of Women” course, learning techniques for generating solo
performance. Creating solo performances.
Alexander Technique
Nada Diachenko, spring 2001
Completed course with which included private lessons, theory, and a research project.
Ongoing private lessons.
Siti Company
Weekend intensive with company members in Viewpoints and Suzuki, spring 2000.
Singing
Mahlon Schanzenbach, 1995-1998
Completed 3 quarters of course work with this member of the UC Irvine opera faculty in
musical theater style.
Dennis Castellano, 1995-1998
Completed 3 quarters of course work with this member of the UC Irvine musical theater
faculty.
Ethelyn Friend, 2000-present
Ongoing private lessons in the Roy Hart theater approach to singing.
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Additional Teaching
Peak to Peak Charter School, Lafayette, CO, 2004-2005
Head of Theater Program for High School and Middle School
First full-time theater teacherl. Developed completely original curriculum for middle school
and high school classes. Taught 4 sections of theater with between 26 and 12 students per
section each semester. Directed, designed and produced 2 high school productions.
Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Educational Outreach, 1999-2001
Bilingual Bard
Performer, co-director and co-translator of interactive performance of a portion of
Midsummers’ Night’s Dream in English and Spanish designed for presentation at middle
schools.
Living Shakespeare
Performer in interactive presentation of Shakespearean scenes told within the context of a
Jerry Springer show. Presented at middle schools and high schools.
Camp Shakespeare
Movement teacher in 2-week course for middle school students.
Utah Shakespeare Festival, Cedar City, 1997
Movement for Actors
Two-week course for advanced high school students and teachers. Taught movement
warm-ups, relaxation exercises, and characterization.
Shakespearean Scene Technique
Two- week course for high school students. Directed a scene from As You Like It presented
on the outdoor stage.
Seaside Shotokan, Marina del Rey, California 2000
Intro to Yoga
Three weekend course for adults to introduce yogic breathing and asana.
Intermediate Yoga
Three-month course for adults - developing strength, flexibility, and mindfulness.
Tapestry Dance Company, Austin, Texas, 1995
- Director of summer program for kids
Choreography
Four-week course for middle school and high school students.
Rhythm Tap
Four-month course for children and adults. Taught Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced
classes.
Susanna Morrow
Community Service
International Tap Association, Boulder CO, 2003-2005
- Secretary on Board of Directors
Working board, responsibilities included taking minutes, advising director on financial
matters, and giving feedback on “On Tap” journal.
Languages
Spanish – communicative competence, study in Nicaragua, winter 2003
Italian – communicative competence, semester abroad in Italy, spring 1993
Academic and Creative Interests
Cross-cultural studies of theater (Asian, Indian, African, Latin-American, Western)
Improvisation – movement and vocal
Composition of original material through improvisation– solo and ensemble
Women and theater, communicating experience through new forms of composition
Body-centered acting theory and practice
Awareness practices in relation to the performing arts
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Susanna Morrow
References
Dr. Robert Cohen
Department of Drama
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, CA 92697
Phone: 949-824-7282
Cohen@uci.edu
Dr. Jeffrey N. Cox
Center for Humanities and the Arts
University of Colorado, Boulder
Boulder, Colorado 80309
Telephone: 303-492-1423
jeffrey.cox@colorado.edu
Dr. Oliver Gerland,
Department of Theatre and Dance
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO 80309
Phone: 303-492-2793
Oliver.Gerland@colorado.edu
Patrick Kelly, MFA
Department of Drama
University of Dallas
Irving, TX 75062
Phone:972-721-5061
pkelly@udallas.edu
Dr. James Symons
Department of Theater and Dance
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO 80309
Phone: 303-492-3388
Dr. Haiping Yan
Department of Theater, Film and Television
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Phone: 310-267-2055
yan@tft.ucla.edu
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