Social Justice, Theatre, and Teaching

Two Theatre Department alumni and a faculty member discuss their work as artivists and speak about the collaborations and experiences that have informed their current career directions.

Presenters

Rachael Feldman

Rachael Feldman (they/them) is a teaching artist, facilitator, consultant, and performer local to Brooklyn, NY. They hold a BFA in Acting from Adelphi University as well as an MA in Applied Theatre from CUNY School of Professional Studies. They are co-founder of GenderWise Trainings, an organization that brings gender diversity trainings to schools, companies, and theatre spaces using applied theatre techniques. They also work as a consultant and facilitator with Outsmart NYC, an organization that brings sexual assault prevention training to nightlife spaces. In addition, they work as a teaching artist with New York City Children’s Theatre, CUNY Creative Arts Team, and Broadway Bound Kids, where they have the joy of working through social and emotional learning through theatre with young people of all ages.

Marlee Koenigsberg

Marlee Koenigsberg (she/her) ​​is a theatre director and teaching artist in the New York City area. She is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Applied Theatre at CUNY School of Professional Studies. In her work, Marlee has collaborated with a myriad of organizations such as New York Deaf Theatre, Underground Skills Exchange, Roundabout Theatre Company, The Shadow Box Theatre, Westport Country Playhouse and Chautauqua Theatre Company. Marlee is passionate about access and inclusion in the arts, as it is part of her mission to help create accessible theatre that centers disability and dismantles ableism. At CUNY, Marlee is a member of the student run Disability Access Coalition (DAC) as Vice Chair of Accessibility. Marlee earned her B.F.A. from Adelphi University in Acting/Theatre Arts. Since graduating from Adelphi, Marlee has returned as a Guest director for: O’Neil & Williams Shorts, Silent Sky and Fall Arts Festival 2021.

Maggie Lally

Maggie Lally (she/her) is a director and is the Associate Dean for Faculty and Programs in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is an associate professor in the Department of Theatre who has taught and directed there for over 25 years. Maggie has been intentional about directing productions that have social justice issues as core themes including: THE WOLVES (young women’s agency in the modern world), LYSISTRATA (war and peace), MACHINAL (gender politics and the industrial age), ANGELS IN AMERICA (AIDS), TOPDOG UNDERDOG (race and oppression) and the original devised play, THE TRIANGLE SHIRTWAIST FIRE PROJECT (labor in the US). She is currently collaborating with The Bridges Program and Epic Players (a professional neuro inclusive theatre company in NYC) on the current production of THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHTTIME. There will be a “relaxed” performance on Friday, November 4 for members of the neurodivergent community. She has created courses in Devising Theatre, Theatrical Outreach and currently she teaches the interdisciplinary course: Exploring Disability Through Theatre with her colleague in Sociology, Professor Deb Little. Maggie has been a recipient of the Faculty Excellence Award for tenured faculty, and she has been honored to receive the Community Service award by the Center for African, Black and Caribbean Studies for her work in community engagement. She is a member of SDC, the professional director’s union.