Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Creating the Foundation for Collaboration Amongst the Arts Disciplines, Powered by Tectonic Theatre Project’s Moment Work

Abstract

CROSS-­‐DISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION: CREATING THE FOUNDATION FOR COLLABORATION AMONGST THE ARTS. POWERED BY TECTONIC THEATRE PROJECT’S MOMENT WORK By Tara Beth Weintraub, M.F.A A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2015 Major Director: Dr. Noreen Barnes Director of Graduate Studies, Theatre During this course, upper-level VCUArts students are invited to join forces to become a part of a cross-disciplinary, ensemble-based exploration. Powered by Tectonic Theatre Project’s Moment Work, students will create new works and gain insight into the philosophies, purposes, and processes of Moment Work and other devised theatre techniques. The class will culminate in short, devised pieces, created and performed by the students. The focus of the class is on the creation of a harmonious ensemble amongst a varied group of young artists. I believe that in order to create a generation of innovative and forward-thinking artists, the segregation of the arts disciplines within academia must halt. Cross-disciplinary collaboration will invite varying perspectives to exist in a single setting, and hopefully lead to new forms of art.