American Theatre: James Ijames Brings Innovation to Columbia
Here’s a breakdown of the key information from the provided text, focusing on James Ijames and his move into playwriting education:
Key Takeaways about James Ijames:
Shifting Focus: Ijames is intentionally shifting his artistic practice to focus on playwriting.
New Role at Columbia: He will be teaching two courses at Columbia University this fall: a rewriting course and a class on contemporary American plays.
Values Collaborative Theatre: He appreciates the collaborative nature of theatre and believes Columbia provides a good environment for that.
Inspired by Educators: He credits his own teachers,particularly Carol Mitchell-Leon (who directed him in Once On This Island),with shaping his approach to teaching – specifically,believing in students even when they are challenging.
Teaching Philosophy: He hopes his students will learn to think deeply,work in draft form,and cultivate compassion.
Other Information:
Lincoln Center Convening: The author attended a convening for multilingual educators at Lincoln center Theatre and provides a link to a related article.
Call to Support American Theatre: There’s a plug for supporting American Theatre* magazine and the Theatre Communications Group (TCG).
In essence, the article highlights James Ijames’s transition into a more focused playwriting career and his commitment to fostering a supportive and challenging learning environment for aspiring theatremakers.