Lisa A. Kramer, Mfa, Phd Email & Phone Number

Boston, Ma, Us

Oakland, California, Us

We bring together people who have lost (or never found) their creative spark to explore, strengthen, and develop the skills of creative collaboration, problem solving, and redesigning the world to achieve a more connected way of being, living, and working in this world.Through practice and community, you'll be equipped to apply co-creation and creativity in your daily lives, adapting the tools in ways that can boost your overall wholeness and (re)connect with the spark that lies within all of us.

Mystic, Ct, Us

As Heart Forward, we empower communities through the creation of innovative artistic projects—at home and abroad—that challenge ourselves, our audiences, and our collaborators to find strength in shared stories and to foster social change.Learn more at www.heartforwardarts.org

Recent workshops and presentations include:“Letting Go of Perfection: The Power of Creating Performance Across Differences,” Performing the World Conference, New York, New York, September, 2018.“Creating Diversity Change Agents through Community Based Learning and the Arts,” Clark University, Diversity & Inclusion Certificate Program, Worcester, MA, February 2017 “Creating Diversity Change Agents through Community Based Learning and the Arts,” Massachusetts Teacher’s Association (MTA) Ethnic Minority Affairs Conference, Framingham, MA, December 2017“Building Bridges through Community Based Learning and the Arts,” New England Theatre Conference (NETC), Cromwell, CT, October 2017“Students Teaching Students: Inclusive Theatre and Community Based Learning,” American Alliance for Theatre Education (AATE) Conference, Boston, MA, July 2016 “From Stage to Page: Using Creative Dramatics to Inspire Writing,” New England Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (NESCBWI) Conference, Springfield, MA, May 2014“Journey to the Jungle,” Service Learning Conference, Worcester State, 2014 “Theatre for Social Change,” Art and Culture in Public Service, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, 2012

❉ THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES/WORCESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS TRANSITION PROGRAM COLLABORATIONS (2013-Present): In this project students from the WSU TYA class collaborate with students with diverse challenges from WPS Transition to create and perform a show for students from a Worcester public school.❉ APPLIED THEATRE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOPS (2018-Present): Students from the WSU Applied Theatre class prepare workshops to be presented off campus based on goals for specific community groups (immigrants, people with disabilities, etc.)❉ BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE : A team-taught class where we merged historical research at the archives of the DAR with performance to share history in a unique way.❉ COOL SCHOOLS Teaching Artist, VSA, Columbus Park Elementary, Worcester, MA 2016📓 Instructed three second grade classrooms, using drama to teach folklore.📓 Provided classroom teachers with personal development training in using the arts in their classroom.❉ Instructor, heArtful Theatre Workshops, Seven Hills, Worcester, MA, Various sessions, 2014-present 🎬Created and taught workshops in theatre for adults as part of the Seven Hills “Aspire!” program.🎬 Created and taught a puppetry workshop for children with special needs as part of the Seven Hills “Aspire!” program.❉ Director/Instructor, Latino Education Institute, Worcester State University, Worcester, MA, 2013📓 Coordinator and instructor of “In Our Own Voices,” a grant program for grades 3-6 at three inner city schools to enhance literacy through drama.📓 Supervisor of three student college-age assistants for the program.❉ Director of Theatre Camp & Stage Manager, Independence Children's Summer Theatre🎬 I ran the summer theater camp for about 18 children and stage managed the production of Jungle Book with 70 kids

OPEN TO WRITING & EDITING OPPORTUNITIES!I am the author of articles, short stories, poetry, and books (both fiction and non-fiction. My first novel, P.O.W.ER was a finalist for the Sarton Women's Book Award for Contemporary Fiction (2014-2015). CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS THROUGH INCLUSIVE THEATRE AND COMMUNITY BASED LEARNING (co-authored with Judy Freedman) was the winner of the AATE Distinguished Book Award (2018).In addition, I have worked with several other writers developing their manuscripts (both fiction and non-fiction) many which have been or are in the process of being published.

🎤 “Letting Go of Perfection: The Power of Creating Performance Across Differences,” Performing the World Conference, 2018. 🎤 “Creating Diversity Change Agents through Community Based Learning and the Arts,” Clark University, Diversity & Inclusion Certificate Program and Massachusetts Teacher’s Association (MTA) Ethnic Minority Affairs Conference, 2017🎤 “Building Bridges through Community Based Learning and the Arts,” New England Theatre Conference, 2017: In this workshop I encouraged theatre educators to expand their focus by developing programs with and for diverse communities. 🎤 “Students Teaching Students: Inclusive Theatre and Community Based Learning,” American Alliance for Theatre Education (AATE) Conference, 2016 🎤✒️ “From Stage to Page: Using Creative Dramatics to Inspire Writing,” NESCBWI Conference, 2014🎤“Journey to the Jungle,” Service Learning Conference, Worcester State University, 2014 ❃ “Theatre for Social Change,” Art and Culture in Public Service, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, 2012Class LTD, Drama/Art Workshop for Adults with Developmental Challenges, Independence, KS, 2011 🎤“Theatre as a Teaching Tool,” Global Perspectives in Education, Fort Lewis College 2008 🎤Social Change and Human Services, Fort Lewis College, 2007 ❃“Teaching Literature through Drama,” Children’s Literature, Fort Lewis College, 2006-2008 🎤“Summary of Theorizing Programming for Diversity in Three Professional Theatres for Young Audiences,” AATE Conference, 2002 ❃“Examining the Relationships between Cultural Identity and Ideology in Plays for Young Audiences,” American Society for Theatre Research Conference, 2000 🎤 “Teaching Diversity and Social Justice through Drama,” AATE Conference, 1999 🎤 “Changing the Playwright’s Words: What You Can and Cannot Do,” AATE Conference. 1999

Greenwich, Ct, Us

As an interdisciplinary educator, I have taught people of all ages in a variety of colleges, universities, and other educational settings, including performing as:❉ an English conversation teacher and trainer (of other teachers) in Japan.❉ coach of a middle school ImagiNation Teams to compete in state competitions.❉ workshop leader for the Roma in Slovakia❉ an inspiration for writers (of all ages) with workshops that merge theatre techniques with writing.❉ a designer of theatre- based workshops that focused on specific social issues like anti-bullying and climate change.At the college level, as both adjunct and visiting faculty, I have taught for many different departments, as well as a variety of colleges and universities:Dean College, Franklin, MA (2017-2019)• I revamped the course Writing for the Arts (an English class) to include more real-world practice for the students.Independence Community College, Independence, KS (2010-2011)• I taught English, Writing, and Theatre Appreciation coursesI worked with the Inge Theatre Festival, including directing for their 24-Hour Play series.Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO (2005-2010)• I served as the faculty advisor for the Honors dorm and assistant to the head of the Honors Program.• I contributed to curriculum development for the writing program, the honors program, and the Education for Global Citizenship initiative.• I served on the Theatre Education Curriculum Development CommitteeCastleton State College, Castleton, VT (2001-2004)• I created theater camps in conjunction with the Children’s Theater classes.• I contributed to curriculum development for Theatre Education and devised expectations for a theatre education portfolio.

I have directed shows in professional, academic, and community settings.Walking Toward America Heart Forward Theatre Company Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) Worcester State University Peggy the Pint-Sized Pirate Worcester State University School House Rock! Live Independence Community College College 24 Hour Plays Inge Center for the Performing Arts High School 24 Hour Plays Inge Center for the Performing Arts Staged Reading, Under Milkwood Durango Public Library Raised in Captivity Fort Lewis College Father Joy Durango Lively Arts Company Wiley and the Hairy Man Durango Lively Arts Company Voices in American Drama series (several plays) Fort Lewis College Parallel Lives Durango Acting Studio Legends of the Sky Every Kid Theatre Cloud 9 Castleton State College Still Life with Iris Castleton State College Getting Out Castleton State College Evening Ends Arizona State University The Art of Dining University of Hawaii, Manoa Fortinbras, University of Hawaii, Manoa The Persimmon Thief University of Hawaii, Manoa I Stand Before You Naked University of Hawaii, Manoa The Only Jealousy of Emer University of Hawaii, Manoa Earth Day 1990 Smith College Rape Theatre, play reading Smith College Reckless (AD) Smith College

Worcester, Ma, Us

* I won the inaugural Adjunct Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award* I directed Goodnight, Desdemona (Good Morning, Juliet) for the Visual and Performing Arts Department* I developed collaborative programming between WSU students and Worcester Public School Students from the transition program.* With a professor from history, we developed an applied theatre/community history performance that was presented in a historical home.

Ba, English Language & Literature, Theatre (Double Major)

Ph.D., Theatre For Youth

Mfa, Theatre Directing