Desiree Prewitt
Primary Discipline: Theatre Areas of Specialty: Collaborative playwriting, Acting, Curriculum design Additional Disciplines/Specialties: Dance, Literary Arts, Music, Visual Arts, Stage combat, Historical research, Songwriting collaboration, Design / construction
Based in: Seattle
Biography: For ten years Desiree Prewitt has been teaching students, with a primary focus on collaborative playwriting. Prewitt uses theatre as a teaching tool to bridge many content areas, especially social studies. She believes theatre creates socially active citizens by teaching empathy. Through theatre, we learn to see the world through someone else's eyes. Desiree Prewitt co-founded Macha Monkey Productions, a "fearless, funny, female" fringe theatre group with Kristina Sutherland in 2001. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Curriculum & Instruction. She plans to work as a teacher trainer with a focus on arts education. Prewitt also works for the Port of Seattle as a Training Specialist.
When asked about her approach as a Teaching Artist, Ms. Prewitt wrote this: "My approach to arts education involves a cooperative relationship with the classroom teacher and the students. My intention in curriculum creation is to involve classroom teachers in every step of the process, from start to finish. Connections to other subject areas are integral to my process. As a teacher I am patient and flexible. In presenting theatre to students, I focus on the entire production process of a play, from creation through performance. One of the goals of my work is to promote social justice. Theatre promotes empathy with others by allowing students to see from multiple frames of reference and to learn how to question their own beliefs. Transformative experiences through theatre increase self-esteem, build bridges and develop trust in oneself and others. Knowing oneself inevitably creates positive changes that radiate outward."
Suitable for Grades: K-12 Curriculum Integration Possibilities: Literacy, Reading, Writing, History, Social Studies, Technology, Other Arts Disciplines
Additional Interests/Experience:
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