Liminal, Marginal, Transformative: The Place of Theater Education in the Academy

• In Event: Roundtable Session 47
  In Roundtable Session: Philosophical and Critical Inquiry in Arts Education

Abstract

This essay explores the current state of Theatre Education (defined as the field of study concerned with instruction in theatre and drama in elementary and secondary schools) within higher education. It describes Theatre Education's liminal and marginal place in the academy and discusses the historical and contemporary factors that contribute to this positioning. It reveals how this peripheral status disadvantages not only Theatre Education students and faculty but also those in performance, production, and theatre history. It concludes by explicating the value Theatre Education programs offer their departments, universities, and communities, and articulates how a more equitable place for Theatre Education could foster a climate conducive to cultivating a socially and critically engaged citizenry.

Authors

• Matt Omasta, Utah State University

• Drew Chappell, California State University - Fullerton