ORCID

0009-0005-6507-3934

Keywords

Theatre, Theatre of the Oppressed, Improv, Improvisation, Development, Performing

Abstract

This thesis examines how improvisational theatre and Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed function independently and how these practices have shaped me as both an artist and educator. Having grown up with improvisation and continued working professionally in performance and education, I have observed how it creates conditions that support development. Guided by a qualitative practice-as-research methodology, in which my own artistic and pedagogical practice serves as both site and subject of inquiry, this study explores three central questions: How does improvisational theatre contribute to youth development? In what ways can Theatre of the Oppressed deepen or reshape improvisation’s developmental impact? And how do these methods intersect, complement, or diverge across varied contexts? Drawing from my professional improvisational performance at Universal Studios Orlando, a five-week residency at University High School, and a five-week residency in the children’s ward at Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital, this research situates improvisation as both a performance practice and pedagogical tool shaped by context and ethical responsiveness. In educational settings, placing Theatre of the Oppressed in dialogue with improvisation created a space for reflection, dialogue, and agency. In medical settings, improvisation adapted into a practice of presence, offering moments of creativity and relational agency within a highly controlled clinical environment. Rather than proposing a fixed methodology, this thesis identifies a responsive pedagogy emerging through the intentional integration of improvisation and Boal’s participatory principles. This research contributes to theatre education and applied theatre scholarship by offering a context-sensitive framework for exploring how empathy, adaptability, and agency may emerge in youth-centered spaces.

Completion Date

2026

Semester

Spring

Committee Chair

Dr. Julia Listengarten

Degree

Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)

College

College of Arts and Humanities

Department

Theatre

Document Type

Thesis

Identifier

DP0053245

Download

Share

COinS
 

Accessibility Statement

This item was created or digitized prior to April 24, 2027, or is a reproduction of legacy media created before that date. It is preserved in its original, unmodified state specifically for research, reference, or historical recordkeeping. In accordance with the ADA Title II Final Rule, the University Libraries provides accessible versions of archival materials upon request. To request an accommodation for this item, please submit an accessibility request form.