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

DAILY COLLEGIAN: Cultural Conversations

http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2009/03/02/conversations_event_to_feature.aspx


Posted on March 2, 2009 4:53 AM
Variety of dance styles to be performed
What: Cultural Conversations Walks of Life

When: 6 p.m today
Where: Pavilion Theatre
Details: $2 per show or $4.99 festival pass
By Cayla Rasi
Collegian Staff Writer

From belly dancing to ballet, multiple dance styles will be performed tonight at the Pavilion Theatre and showcase dances from around the world in a Cultural Conversations event.

Cultural Conversations started last week and will continue this week. Tonight's performance -- Walks of Life -- is one of many performances taking place this week.

The Cultural Conversations series was created in 2007 by a Penn State theatre professor, Susan Russell, and it lasts one to two weeks every year, said Holly Gombita, Walks of Life's producer and director.

Gombita (junior-theatre and public relations) said Walks of Life will have a variety of styles of dance, including ballet, belly dancing, ballroom dancing, Latin salsa, tango and African-style dancing.

"I wanted to show we can have different cultures that can come together and make a strong show," Gombita said. "It's symbolic to what the theme is."

Other events include theater performances, which will be presented this week, said Alyssa Mulligan, who wrote a one-act play for the series.

"It's an awesome event because it allows students and professional playwrights to get their work out there," Mulligan (senior-theatre) said. "And it's a great environment, a college environment, and they can get criticism and learn how to improve their work."

The performances for Cultural Conversations are diverse but all share a common theme.

"Most of the pieces, all of the ones I have seen for the professional playwrights, have to do with other cultures," Mulligan said. "It's about either cultures outside of the United States or the cultures that make up America."

Emma Futhey (junior-theatre) said Gombita has brought together a wide variety of groups and has made sure there will be an eclectic group of people performing in the festival.

Because of the variety of performances, there are many plays and dances that will appeal to different peoples' tastes, Mulligan said.

"The shows are a way for people to get a new perspective on something," Futhey said. "Maybe people will think of something they haven't gone through before. It's all about perspective, the things in the world, and this is a good way to open up your mind."
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