Kristin Leahey is a PhD candidate in Performance as Public Practice with focuses in theatre for young audiences and dramaturgy. She has studied, taught, and practiced theatre in Chicago, Boston, and Austin.
Who has been most inspirational to you in your field of study?
I’m most inspired by the scholars, artists, and educators I’ve worked directly with. I’ve been very fortunate to directly study with professors and work with artists who are not only the leaders in their chosen fields but also share the common goal of making progressive social change. They exhibit the common quality of being invested in not only their own work but that of their students, colleagues, and collaborators.
What’s the most challenging part of grad school for you and how do you mitigate it?
My grad school life and my professional life as an artist/teaching artist often overlap, which at times makes life exceedingly easy and other times insurmountably difficult. This lifestyle I’ve carved out functions as a juggling act. As long as I can keep all the balls in the air and in constant motion, I enjoy the challenge and things remain productive.
Describe your workspace.
I have both traditional and nontraditional workspaces. First, Austin has a plethora of coffee shops (I fancy Flightpath Coffeehouse at the moment) that I like to frequent, especially when I’m working on group projects. I get most of my writing completed at home, on my couch, with the laptop on my lap, the necessary book on the armrest, and the latest piece of music I’m obsessed with playing. Also, walking around Austin helps me dedicate needed time/space to coming up with ideas and figuring out how I’m going to approach them.
What makes you happy?
At this moment, having a drink or dinner with friends in Chicago, New York, Boston, or Austin while quality live music plays in the background.
What do you want to do after graduating?
I'd like to continue teaching, writing, and working professionally in theatre education outreach and as a dramaturg.
What sort of new knowledge are you discovering?
Currently, I'm researching for my dissertation the process of new play development for theatre for young audience plays, specifically the integration of the child respondent in the artistic team. I'm investigating how the target audience can influence the play and its subsequent production's growth, as well as the history and ethics of this type of collaboration.
How do you plan to use your UT leadership or teaching skills in the community?
My work as a dramaturg has often led me to work with many different people and organizations in the Austin community. For instance, last year because of my involvement with a children's theatre play about Hurricane Katrina I was collaborating with Alive and Truth and Texas Interagency Disaster Relief, organizations that work with New Orleanians who have relocated to to the Austin community. Among other things, the project assisted in inspiring a dialogue between these organizations as well as the university.
Q & A by Elisabeth McKetta, November, 2007
