About
Dr. Choate has been teaching undergraduates for almost forty years and her publications include Electra USA: American Stagings of Sophocles’s Electra, Albee in an Hour, Ayckbourn in an Hour, Beckett in an Hour, Brecht in an Hour, and Hansberry in an Hour. In addition, she has directed professionally, including Summerfolk, Oedipus the King, and Murder in the Cathedral. Among the seventeen productions she has directed at Kean, her most recent productions include Elektra, The Importance of Being Earnest, Doubt, and The Odyssey.
Degree Information: Ph.D. in Theatre from UCLA, M.F.A. in Directing from Catholic University of America, M.A. in Acting from Denver University.
Courses Taught: World Theatre I: From Ancient Rituals to Courtly Spectacles, World Theatre II: From Idealism to Realism to Ideologies, Script Analysis and Dramaturgy: From Page to Stage, Period Acting on Today’s Stage, Acting I: An Actor Prepares.
Primary Area of Expertise: Dramaturgy and Directing, with a focus on theatre history, dramatic literature, as well as acting and directing theory and techniques.
Advice for Students Preparing for Your Class: "I care passionately about teaching and about theatre, and we’ll be spending time together that will be intense, demanding, and exciting. I’ll place before you the sharpest tools that I possess (whether they be in script analysis, theatre history, or acting) and helping you learn how to pick those tools up and build your own learning experience. I compare learning to building a house. There are “A” houses, “B” houses, “C” houses (and houses you don’t want to consider building). I’m the architect and the site foreman, but you’re the one who has to pick up the tools, spend sufficient time on the job site, and employ both intellect and creativity in order to build your best house. My advice for a student taking one of my classes? Care as much about your education as I do, and you’ll build a house of which we’ll both be proud."
