Dr. Peter Duffy (MFA from UNCG, 2007) is a professor of theatre education at the University of South Carolina where he heads the Master of Arts in Teaching program in theater education. Peter  served on AATE and most recently served as the Director of Research for the International Drama Education Association (IDEA). Peter is a widely published researcher who focuses on embodied pedagogies, creativity research, learning through the arts, culturally responsive pedagogies, and critical pedagogies. He’s the 2013 winner of a AATE’s Win Wright Special Recognition award, the 2017 outstanding Theatre Educator Award from the South Carolina Theatre Association, as well as the 2017 Garnet Apple Award winner for teaching excellence at the University of South Carolina. His latest book is Drama Based Research: Provocations of Practice published by Brill in 2019.

“The University of North Carolina at Greensboro was an excellent place for me to learn about and connect to the field of theater with and for youth. The small program provided me with the individual attention I needed to develop my work as a theater maker, educator, and practitioner. My time at UNCG prepared me well for a career in the field of theater with youth.”

Ariana Moses is an accomplished teaching artist, director, and arts administrator who earned an MFA in Theatre for Youth from UNC-Greensboro in 2011. Her time at UNCG included internships at Seattle Children’s Theatre, The Alliance Theatre, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, and Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis. Post-graduation, Ariana was brought on as the Resident Teaching Artist at Metro Theater Company in St. Louis, MO, then served as Director of Education at the White Plains Performing Arts Center in White Plains, NY where she grew a burgeoning department into a multi-faceted, award-winning program. In 2019 she was hired as the Associate Director of Education and Community Engagement at the Tony Award winning Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Along with day-to-day management of the Education Department, Ariana was also Lead Teaching Artist and assisted on community and audience engagement projects. In recognition of her innovative programming efforts during the pandemic, Ariana has recently been promoted to Education Director. In addition to heading the Playhouse’s educational programmatic and curricular efforts she is also directing one of the Playhouse’s three yearly professional touring TYA productions.

“Because the TYA program at UNCG is selective, you get a lot of individualized attention and opportunities that might not be afforded at larger programs. Along with my classes, I gained experience in teaching, directing, Arts Administration, marketing and publicity, front of house, tour booking and tour management. I use the knowledge I learned in my classes and these real world job skills in my job every day.”

Jennifer Ridgeway is a teaching artist, imagineer and consultant who activates artistry, amplifies ordinary stories, increases empathy, agitates change and creates joy in communities.  Since receiving her MFA, she earned a certificate from the University of Pennsylvania in arts and culture strategy, and she is a graduate of the Anti-Racist Educators in Arts Learning Lab (A-REALL). In 2017, Jennifer co-founded the Teaching Artists of the Mid-Atlantic to support, empower and advocate for TAs.  When her collaboration with internationally acclaimed music teaching artist Julia Kamanda was postponed, Jennifer launched YARD DRAMAS, a strategy to engage Prince George’s County MD individuals and communities juggling virtual worlds, social isolation and changing situations. Jennifer is committed to and ready to reset, reimagine and play our way into a new world that is just and equitable for all.

Todd Siff graduated from the University of North Carolina Greensboro’s MFA in Theatre for Young Audiences program in 2018. He currently serves as the Assistant Professor of Theatre and Performing Arts Department Head at Florida Gateway College in Lake City, Florida. At FGC, he directs three theatrical productions and two concerts each year. Todd also works professionally as a devising artist, director, and musician. His current devising series, The Acceptance Project, is inspired by the work of Augusto Boal and theatre for social change. The project has received multiple grants and has been featured in three publications. While at UNCG, Todd was awarded the Ann Shaw Fellowship, which supported his devised work. Todd’s musical projects include his solo work, Freerunner, Collabojamma, Waves of Siren, and many more. His music can be found on all major streaming platforms.

Deepmala Tiwari (she/her)  is an actor, director, divisor and educator.  She did her Masters in theatre for youth at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, North America. Her work allowed the broader community to elevate the conversation, creating a safe space for divergent voices and encouraging collaboration. Working with international artists from various fields (including music, visual art, educators and theatre artists), deepmala co-collaborated a Renew theatre company at Easton, Pennsylvania.  She has worked in hospitals engaging in clowning with young cancer patients, in the red light district with sex workers and their children, in street theatre performances advocating for the rights of women, on professional stages as an actor and director, in public schools integrating arts into the curriculum and much more. Deepmala was selected as one of the three emerging leaders in the field by TYA/USA in 2019. After graduating from UNCG, She worked with the new york children’s theatre company as a dramaturge on their new show “same same but different” and as a teaching artist with the Seattle children’s theatre company.  She is back in India, Delhi and teaching theatre from K-8.

“I have applied to a bunch of colleges but I knew right away UNCG would be a better option for me. From the very beginning, my advisor was so kind and made me help settle in the new environment and taught me ropes which I needed that time as an international student.”

Katie Campbell (she/her) is a director, performer, teacher, and puppet artist. For the past eight years she has found an artistic home in Little Rock as Director of Children’s Theatre and Performing Arts at Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, director and performer with the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, and improvisor with ImprovLittleRock and The Joint Venture. She is also the co-founder and co-director of the youth improv comedy company, Armadillo Rodeo. She is a 2015 Jim Henson Family Grant recipient for her devised and directed shadow puppet play for young people, The Ugly Duckling. She has an MFA in directing Theatre for Youth from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a BA in Theatre Arts from University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She is passionate about providing spaces of dialogue for young people onstage and off. She strives to create work that youth connect with and see their lives reflected in the art.

Abigail Van Patter studied music education at Grove City College, concentration harp, and proceeded to work as a music teacher in Philadelphia and Greensboro for nearly 5 years. During this time she started a children’s theatre company, working with inner-city kids through movement, music, and drama. She continued her education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, receiving her Masters in Theatre for Young Audience Directing. Her most recent directing credits include THIS GIRL LAUGHS, THIS GIRL CRIES, THIS GIRL DOES NOTHING, University of Alaska Fairbanks, ANDROCLES AND THE LION, GLOBAL PLAY PROJECT, PINOCCHIO, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH with North Carolina Theatre for Young People, THE BOY WHO LOVED MONSTERS AND THE GIRL WHO LOVED PEAS with theatre 232. Her writing credits include: Theatre for the Very Young (TVY) SHE SWEEPS THE STARS at the Fairbanks Children’s Museum and Peppercorn Theatre company (workshop), and ADVENTURE WITH ME UNDER THE SEA with UNCG. Other recent credit include, THE LAUNDROMAT (UNCG), OUR TOWN (High Point Community Theatre.) She is a member of TYA USA, IPAY, and ATME. 

James MacFarlane is the Artistic Director of the Holly Springs Theatre Company (HSTC), a community organization housed within Holly Springs High School. Now in its 15th year, HSTC produces a multi-show season and organizes community service projects within the local area of Holly Springs, NC. James is also the Troupe Advisor to ITS Troupe #7558, and last year collaborated with students to write, direct, and produce three entirely digital productions. Previous directorial highlights with HSTC include Frankenstein, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (which featured more than 140 performers).