About Me

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I am a theatre artist who is dedicated to integrating my dual passions: Theatre & Education. I am very devoted to helping students find their voice. It is my firm philosophy that creating theatre is crucial in shaping both individual and societal growth.
Welcome!

My name is Alyssa Mulligan.

I completed my undergraduate studies at the Pennsylvania State University, where I graduated at the top of my class with a B.A. in Theatre and a minor in Sociology. From stage to film, I have been fortunate to fill the roles of educator, actor, director, writer, producer, dramaturg, etc.

I was fortunate to work with the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia as the 2009/10 Education Apprentice. My experiences there included integrating the arts into K-8th grade classroom curricula, running an after-school drama program, teaching courses at the Walnut, assistant teaching at HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy, developing various study guide materials for our multiple kids shows, and understudying all of the roles for our Touring Outreach Company.

I just recently completed my M.A. in Theatre Education at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. While at Emerson College I was employed as both a Graduate Assistant to Dr. Robert Colby and in ArtsEmerson's Education/Outreach Department.

Currently, I am back in Philadelphia as a free-lance Teaching Artist working with theatre companies such as Walnut Street Theatre & Theatre Horizon. I am also employed by Darlington Arts Center as the Lead Teacher at their arts-based preschool.

Please feel free to look at my resume and samples of my work below!

Live Fully.
Laugh Often.
Love Much.

Just Be.

- Alyssa

ARTICLE: ArtsEmerson Blog

The Speaker’s Progress: A Journey Between Cultures

By Alyssa Mulligan
“Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them” (Twelfth Night, Act II Scene V).
speakers progressPerhaps you are familiar with the 17th century script written by a renowned bard, or perhaps not. Regardless, The Speaker’s Progress will certainly provide a fresh outlook on this olden tale. The play is based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night- however, this is a Shakespearean production unlike any other you’ve seen before. What makes writer/director Sulayman Al-Bassam and the SABAB theatre company’s adaptation so unique? One must first examine their artistic mission and theatrical process.
“sabab (verb): to cause, bring forth, provoke, trigger, arouse, inspire, prompt; (noun): reason, cause, motive”
Born in Kuwait and now based in London, Al-Bassam is dedicated to cSulaymanreating a space for the Arab voice to be heard. He often uses a classic text as the “poetic starting point” for his work. In addition to Hamlet and Richard III, Al-Bassam has drawn inspiration from Molière, allegorical animal fables and a medieval morality play. The Speaker’s Progress is the final installment of Al-Bassam’s trilogy dedicated to reinterpreting Shakespearean works through a Middle Eastern lens. In an interview Al-Bassam shared, “Theatre challenges the accepted world views and breaks the mirrors of authority. Shakespeare understood that power very well.”
SABAB theatre company, comspeakers progress2prised of pan Arab and international artists, approaches the text as a framework to engage audiences in a dialogue about Arab and Muslim culture, perspectives, and politics. Their work centers on a voice that is often disregarded, misinterpreted, or not represented in the English-speaking world.
Come share in their experience: The Speaker’s Progress is playing on the Paramount Center Mainstage from October 12-16!

http://artsemerson.tumblr.com/post/11317665824/the-speakers-progress-a-journey-between-cultures
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