First-Ever Drama Therapy Symposium at CUNY SPS Brings Community Together

In a first-ever offering, the MA in Applied Theatre (MAAT) program at the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) co-hosted the North America Drama Therapy Eastern Region Drama Therapy Symposium in June.

Held in collaboration with the Eastern Region of the North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA), the symposium was entitled At the Intersections. The all-day on-campus event, which focused on the ways that drama therapy intersects with other identities, professions, and social movements, featured over 20 workshops and drew nearly 100 attendees from both the MAAT program and practitioners within the field.

The symposium was organized and moderated by MAAT alum Lillian Ribeiro (Class of 2013), a drama therapist and former Eastern Region NADTA board member, who proposed the event to MAAT faculty after realizing the need to connect the many people for whom drama therapy can be used as a successful therapeutic tool. 

“I had this vision of organizing a symposium that would bring together other professionals in the field, not just applied theatre practitioners or drama therapists, but also licensed clinical social workers, and others working locally at the clinical or non-clinical level,” she explained. “I contacted Chris [Vine, academic director of MAAT] to see if there was an opportunity for us to collaborate and bring the symposium to CUNY. Chris said yes and that’s how it was born.”

During the all-day event, participants were invited to choose between three to four workshops at each slotted hour. Incorporating performance, discussion, and interactive exercises, the workshops explored how drama therapy may help people navigate a wide range of life experiences and cope with difficult feelings like stress, grief, and trauma. 

Following the event, Chris Vine, academic director of the MAAT program, reflected, “The drama therapy symposium was extremely successful. It was the first time the MAAT program had collaborated with NADTA and we did not know what to expect. We assumed there would be excitement amongst the drama therapy community and considerable relevance across CUNY SPS programs but were surprised that we were able to offer over 20 workshop sessions and accommodate nearly 100 attendees throughout the day. The range of offerings and ‘intersections’ with our own applied theatre practices…was immediately apparent. There was an ongoing buzz of excitement throughout the day and, at the final plenary session, an enthusiastic call for another such gathering in the future.”

Ribeiro also noted that many of the participants expressed their enthusiasm for the event and possible future ones. “I got so many emails following the symposium [from those who attended] …who were so excited that an event like this took place,” Ribeiro said. “Participants are supermotivated to do more gatherings like this, to share their knowledge with other professionals in the field.”

To learn more about this and other applied theatre events, visit the CUNY SPS MA in Applied Theatre program page.

About the Master of Arts in Applied Theatre

The MA in Applied Theatre degree program, the first program of its kind in the United States, uses theatre as a medium for education, community development, and the pursuit of social justice. The goal of the program is to educate scholar-practitioners to become future leaders in the field of applied theatre. Applied Theatre involves the use of theatre and drama in a wide variety of nontraditional contexts and venues, such as in teaching, the justice system, health care, the political arena, community development, museums, and social service agencies.

About the CUNY School of Professional Studies

As New York's leading online school since 2006, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) offers the most online bachelor's and master's degree options at the City University of New York, and serves as the University's first undergraduate all-transfer college. With 26 degrees and numerous other non-degree and grant-funded workplace learning programs, CUNY SPS meets the needs of adults who wish to finish a bachelor's degree, progress from an associate's degree, earn a master's degree or certificate in a specialized field, and advance in the workplace or change careers. Consistently ranked highly by U.S. News & World Report for its online offerings, CUNY SPS has emerged as a nationwide leader in online education. The School's renowned and affordable online programs ensure that busy working adults may fulfill their educational goals on their own time and schedule.

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