Abstract
This reflective essay explores the pedagogical and administrative dynamics of off-campus summer theatre programs through the example of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s partnership with the Parkway Playhouse. The author characterizes such programs as both arduous and invaluable, emphasizing their role as immersive learning laboratories for students. The discussion traces the logistical and artistic challenges of combining two separate enterprises—the on-campus University Summer Repertory Company and the off-campus Playhouse—into an integrated system that balances educational rigor, production quality, and financial sustainability. Through detailed description of rehearsal processes, living conditions, and community relations, the essay illustrates how the intense conditions of repertory theatre foster resilience, collaboration, and professional growth among participants. Despite persistent difficulties in housing, funding, and lifestyle adjustment, the author concludes that the experiential depth and creative opportunities of summer theatre justify its continuation, framing failure and struggle as inherent to the artistic and educational process.
Recommended Citation
Marshall, Lowry
(1986)
"Off-Campus Summer Theatre Programs: An Administrative Nightmare?,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 58, Article 8.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol58/iss1/8
