6 FIGURES PLAYBACK THEATER
LEARN MORE ABOUT 6 FIGURES PLAYBACK THEATER COMPANY AT EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Anita Rich (Conductor): Has a real passion for engaging students in the classroom, co-curricular projects and beyond. She is proud to have been honored for teaching excellence by the Central States Communication Association as well as in 2008 when she was awarded an EMU Alumni Association Teaching Excellence Award. One of her joys is exposing students to various notions and emergent theories of performance and text. An expert in interactive theatre methodologies and applied performance, she is the director of EMU’s 6 Figures Playback Theatre founded over a decade ago. Especially innovative, this performance group and courses such as Interactive Theatre utilize techniques to engage audiences in addressing social issues and creating safe environments for dialogue. Anita has presented papers and performances at numerous national and regional conferences in performance studies, theatre, and communication. She was especially pleased to have served as guest artist/visiting professor for Japan’s Ibaraki University, the Petit Jean Performance festival in Arkansas, and Alma College here in Michigan. She is currently the Course Director for UNIV 101L3 Introduction to Student Success which is a first year course for new students at the University getting them acclimated to the social, academic and real life transition into our college environment. In addition to teaching and creative/scholarly efforts, Anita has been an active representative on national, regional and numerous university committees. Her interdisciplinary approach and performance studies background along with her energy and passion have enabled her to work, engage, and explore performance in rich ways with a wide range of audiences in various contexts. She looks forward to continuing this breadth and depth of work and service in the years ahead.
Playback Theatre was introduced at Eastern Michigan University more than a decade ago by Dr. Anita Rich, who serves as the director of EMU's 6 Figures Playback Theatre. In April, 2013 6 Figures Playback Theatre was awarded the EMU Dale Rice Award for Outstanding Community Partnership between EMU 6 Figures and Woodland Center Correctional Facility. Playback Theatre is an improvisational form of performance which invites audience members to share stories from their everyday lives; the company then spontaneously transforms them into theatre. The first Playback Theatre was founded in 1975 by Jonathan Fox and Jo Salas, and there are now Playback Theatre Groups throughout the world. Because of growing demand for training, Fox founded the School for Playback Theatre in 1993, which was renamed Centre for Playback Theatre in 1996. As Fox wrote, "Playback is about creating a theatre of neighbors not strangers." As a member of this innovative performance group, you'll develop and improve your techniques and skills to engage audiences in addressing and encouraging dialogue about important social issues. You will also have the opportunity to work with and for a range of audiences.
Playback in the Community: Members of the Playback Theatre Company have performed and conducted workshops for numerous groups in southeast Michigan. Many of these were youth centered, like Ozone House, Girl Scouts, Gear Up, and EMU College for a Day, while others were for EMU events, including MLK Day, and organizations like the Intercultural Competency Institute and the Faculty Development Center. The company also travels, and has appeared in the Midwest, Arizona and Canada.
Playback in Prison: Six Figures has made numerous appearances at area corrections facilities. Since 2010, the company has partnered with the former Huron Valley Men's Correctional Facility as well as the Woodland Correction Center (WCC). Dr. Rich and volunteers meet with the inmates and their music therapist biweekly during the school year. At what is known as Theatre Group, they engage the inmates in Playback, literature and other interactive theatre techniques. Twice during the school year, the men perform their work and the work of other authors at a program for the warden, corrections officers, administrators, therapists and staff.
PHOTO: Dr. Anita Rich Conducting 6 Figures Rehearsal
For More Information Contact:
Program Director
714G Pray-Harrold
734.487.0797
arich@emich.edu
Introducing the 2024 6 Figures Playback Theater Players!
6 Figures
Members of the Playback Theatre Company have performed and conducted workshops for numerous groups in southeast Michigan. Many of these are community centered, like Ozone House, Girl Scouts, Gear Up while others were for EMU events, including MLK Day, and organizations like the Intercultural Competency Institute and the Faculty Development Center and EMU's Drama Day. The company also travels and works with local theater companies like Detroit's Matrix Theater Company.
Check out our 6 Figures Playback performance pictures at the EMU Workshop for Community Collaboration!
6 Figures Playback Theater Players in Action!
Check out our 6 Figures and Matrix Theater Playback collaborative performance pictures!
Images from the 6 Figures and Matrix Theater collaborative show on April 7 2024
EMU's 6 Figures Playback theater company had the privilege and honor to perform side-by-side with Matrix Theater of Detroit's Playback Troupe on April 7, 2024. We heard some beautiful stories and then performed them as one huge and amazing ensemble. Fun was had by all!