“We are extremely honored and excited about our partnership with Dillard University."- Dennis Assaf, JPAS Co-Founder and Artistic Director.
Dillard University and Jefferson Performing Arts Society have signed a three-year commitment to benefit student learning and enhance community collaborations between the institutions. Dillard University theater students and professors have contributed time, skills, and expertise to JPAS productions and presentations since the collaboration began in January.
Dillard University is a historically Black institution that cultivates leaders who live ethically, think, and communicate precisely, and act courageously to make the world a better place. Dillard University attracts the leaders, thinkers, and artists of tomorrow, and equips them with the tools they need to imagine and build a better world for everyone. Dillard’s motto “Ex Fide, Fortis," means "From Faith, Strength."
“We are extremely honored and excited about our partnership with Dillard University. The eight young people who have been working with us are dedicated theatre artists who have brought an intense level of commitment and passion for our productions. While they are experiencing firsthand technical theatre procedures, they have enhanced the overall quality of our offerings as they prepare for a future in the world of professional theatre. We couldn't be more pleased in our unique partnership with Dillard, and we look forward to many more collaborations over the years to come,” said Dennis Assaf, JPAS Co-Founder and Artistic Director.
"A professional internship can become the student's best avenue into a professional career in the arts and for this reason, Dillard Theatre Majors are required to complete a course called Internship in Theatre." - Cortheal Clark, Associate Professor of Theatre, and Chair, School of Humanities, and Ray Vazrel, Assistant Professor of Theatre.
“It is our great pleasure to announce a new partnership between the Dillard University Theatre Program and the foremost regional theatre, Jefferson Performing Arts Society, for the purposes of providing our students with professional internships in theatre. A professional internship can become the student's best avenue into a professional career in the arts and for this reason, Dillard Theatre Majors are required to complete a course called Internship in Theatre. In an effort to provide opportunities for advanced students to spend a portion of their Dillard University enrollment working in the profession, Dillard Theatre and JPAS have partnered to fulfill this very mission. Through this partnership, the DU Theatre student won’t have far to look for an internship that provides professional experience in acting, stage management, design and technical production (scenery, costumes, lighting, properties, sound, and makeup), and arts management,” said Cortheal Clark, Associate Professor of Theatre, and Chair, School of Humanities, and Ray Vazrel, Assistant Professor of Theatre.
Student interns will contribute at least 150 hours as cast members, sound crew, wardrobe, props, and stage management via three mainstage productions in the JPAS 2021 spring season: One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (January 29-February 7, 2021), Arsenic and Old Lace (February 26-March 7, 2021), and A Comedy of Tenors (April 9-18, 2021). Internships will continue in Fall 2021 and throughout two upcoming seasons, culminating with the 2023-2024 season.
Dillard University professors Dr. Eva Baham and Dr. Sean Gibbs recently contributed to separate Zoom panel discussions. Dr. Baham, Assistant Professor of History, was a panelist for the live January 15 discussion “Why Paul Robeson Matters” and Dr. Sean Gibbs, Assistant Professor of Psychology, was a panelist for the February 15 recorded discussion “Theater and Mental Health”. Both discussions were related to JPAS upcoming productions and their reflection of current social issues. JPAS looks forward to inviting more professors and other Dillard community members to participate in these ongoing “Community Conversations”.