Contact: Laurie Allen at Laurie-Allen@utc.edu
About
As the Lyndhurst Chair of Excellence in Arts Education at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Laurie Melnik Allen prepares future generations of theatre educators. A theatre-based teaching artist herself, she specializes in arts-integrated residencies for upper elementary through high school students and professional development for educators. Using improvisation, dramaturgy, set design, and puppetry as vehicles for creative problem solving, she designs standards-aligned, cross-curricular experiences that make literacy, data analysis, and graphical representation tangible through embodied learning. Inspired by Einstein’s belief that play is the highest form of research, her practice ensures creativity drives learning for every student.
Program Overview
Theatre-based teaching artist residencies for upper elementary through high school students, integrating improvisation, dramaturgy, set design, and puppetry to make concepts in literacy, data analysis, and graphical representation tangible through embodied, creative problem-solving. Professional development for educators also available, focusing on arts integration strategies and theatre-based approaches to cross-curricular learning.
