2016/2017

Creative Work: Scholarly Writing/Presentation Coach

Scholarly Equivalency - Book

Hart's Contribution as a Scholarly Writing/Presentation Coach

Blackademics TV is a unique opportunity for me to utilize my expertise as a writer and my knowledge of public-focused dramaturgy. Public-focused dramaturgical efforts function to contextualize and offer frameworks for interpretation, critique and analysis.

This was my fourth year working on the series as a scholarly writing/presentation coach. Serving as a scholar coach for consecutive years helps create a consistent high quality aesthetic for the series. This kind of consistency and attention to excellence produces a series that has both artistic and commercial merit.

The focus of the series is to offer scholarship to local, national and global communities through live studio participation, the internet and television. The finished product reaches approximately 3 million television viewers and airs in Texas, New Mexico, Michigan, Wisconsin, Colorado and Florida. The seres is also available via the internet on the 350 PBS member stations that serve all 50 states, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa.

In my role I provide support and training for a cohort of up to six nationally and internationally recognized scholars, artists and activists preparing them to write compelling scholarly researched based presentations to communicate their research focus for a television audience and conduct interactive, engaging academic presentations.

The scholar presenters are the "face" of the series. With my help scholar presenters create a nine minute segment that focuses on their research expertise and interest.

The selection process is highly competitive. Scholars must submit a research abstract and a committee of scholars makes the final selection of twelve scholars for each cohort. Over a twelve week process I hold writing and coaching sessions with each of my six scholars to review and provide feedback on their research abstract. Next, the scholars submit a draft outline of their research critique based presentation. The critique focuses on the strengths and limitations of the research. We engage in discussion and brainstorming via at least two teleconferences or videoconferences to further develop their presentation and analyze the merits and faults of their critique. As we move to the final presentation draft I help the scholars title their talk and pay special attention to editing to create a nine minute presentation segment centered on the scholars research focus.

Of note, as a result of the specific research focus of each scholar, the content focus of the papers is quite varied. During the 2017 season, the scholars I supported included: a research scientist who focused on "Afro-Brazilian's Education Activism", a curriculum expert focusing on "Rethinking the role of Black History in American Schools," and Dr. Sharell Luckett whose book "Black Acting Methods: Critical Approaches", is the first book to highlight diverse acting/directing methods rooted in Afrocentrism. Through my work as a scholar coach I help shape the advancement of scholarly and public discourse on a wide variety of research subjects.

Once I and the cohort of scholars arrives in Austin I continue to advise the scholar presenters on set for the live taping by being present and supportive during the rehearsal sessions preceding each recording session.

The contribution and outcome of my coaching is consistent high quality researched based presentations that are nationally broadcast and distributed around the world via PBS television stations and electronic media.

Creative Work: Co-author of Chapter in a Refereed Book

Scholarly Equivalency - Refereed Article

Hart's Contribution at Co-author of a Chapter in a Refereed Book

Chapter submission for The Routledge Companion to African American Theatre and Performance Edited by Kathy A. Perkins, Sandra L. Richards, Renée Alexander Craft and Thomas F. DeFrantz

The Routledge Companion to African American Theatre and Performance is an outstanding collection of specially written essays that charts the emergence, development, and diversity of African-American Theatre and Performance.

I responded to a CFP and submitted an abstract. The abstract and proposal were accepted for inclusion in the anthology. The writing and review process consisted of several rounds of peer review with edits requested. My co-written chapter will appear alongside chapters from other scholar and contributions from theatre-makers, including producers, theatre managers, choreographers, directors, designers, and critics.

This book engages a wide audience of scholars, students, and theatre practitioners with its unprecedented breadth. More than anything, these invaluable insights not only offer a window onto the processes of producing work, but the labour and economic issues that have shaped and enabled African American theatre.

Book Contract - Click Here

Creative Work: Playwright

Scholarly Equivalency - Refereed Article

Hart's Contribution as Playwright

The role of a playwright is to tell relatable entertaining stories that fit inside a theatrical structure and have artistic and commercial merit.

With a 22 year career as a playwright and director of plays written for child actors performing for family audiences, the production of "August on My Mind: the Musical Story of One Man's Legacy" was inspired by the impact playwright August Wilson has had on my career as a playwright and dramaturge. I wanted to share his legacy with young people so they too could be inspired and learn to think outside of the box. While developing the play I was mindful to consider the varying ages of the audience members when constructing the story, creating the characters and music lyrics.

With regard to process, in the initial stages I collaborated with the musical director to create the lyrics and musical story structure. Thereafter I developed a draft of the script prior to the production and once the cast was selected I was able to make edits and incorporate ideas from the child actors. Once the final 90 minute full length script was completed a full cast read through was held and thereafter the rehearsal process began.

As playwright my contributions made to achieve the goals of creating a production reflecting artistic and commercial merit for "August on My Mind" include:

• Conduct ethnological and anthropological research to support the developing story line and character development
• Write music lyrics
• Write and edit multiple drafts of the play script
• Collaborate with music director on the flow and structure of the story as told through music
• Produce final script for production execution

Creative Activity: Play Development Dramaturge/Director

Scholarly Equivalency - General Article

Hart's Contribution as Play Development Dramaturge/Director

In an educational environment in my role as play development dramaturge for a staged reading I supported the playwright with script development (rewrites) and helped to showcase the work with the intent of securing a producer and/or investors. In a staged reading, the theatre director’s role during a short rehearsal process, is to lead a team of actors to create a production that does not utilize extensive design elements. Instead, the production focuses on the language, impact and themes in the play.

Additionally, directing a staged reading in an educational environment expands teaching beyond the classroom and places the student in a professional culture where they receive guidance on professional standards and protocol. In a supportive environment students are able to move beyond theory to application of the performance techniques learned in the classroom setting. Hart's directing approach is discovery and process focused while achieving necessary milestones that result in a production worthy of public viewing.

My directorial and dramaturgical contributions made to achieve the goals of supporting the playwright with script development and/or to showcase the work with the intent of securing a producer and/or investors for "Torn Asunder" include:

• Training students in fundamental theatre/directing techniques
• Guidance and instruction of professional industry standards and protocol
• Ethnological and Anthropological research
• Dialogue with playwright regarding making edits to the play
• Determine the best use of the theatre space
• Analyze the script for its structure, themes and socio/political arguments
• Assess, interpret and actualize the physical and verbal action of the play
• Casting that implements industry standard professional protocols
• Plan for and manage rehearsals that provide adequate time for actors to achieve their individual goals
• Conduct rehearsals to construct minimal blocking that reflect the plays tempo and help actors to discover and reveal a characters psychological truth
• In collaboration with the design team, manage technical rehearsals to solidify and clarify all light and sound cues and minimal design decisions
• Collaborate with the marketing and PR team