WHO ARE WE?
We are the theatremakers and scholars behind this "Think Tank!"
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, two Carnegie Mellon School of Drama faculty members, Wendy Arons and Kyle Haden, took it upon themselves to create a free summer class: a "think tank" where CMU students could research and discuss the changing nature of theatre.
All of the research and writing on this website is a compilation of the work of the nine students in this class. Hear more about us below!
THE CREATORS
The students and faculty of the "Think Tank" class
WENDY ARONS
PROFESSOR, DRAMATIC LITERATURE
Wendy Arons joined the faculty of the School of Drama at Carnegie Mellon University in 2007. She teaches courses in dramatic literature and dramaturgy, theatre history, and the graduate Colloquium, as well as advising undergraduate dramaturgy students in production work. She currently serves as Option Coordinator for Dramaturgy.
KYLE HADEN
INTERIM SENIOR ASSOCIATE HEAD, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ACTING
A native of Pittsburgh, Kyle Haden is a director, educator, and Equity actor. He is in his sixth season as the artistic director of the Ashland New Plays Festival in Oregon, where he directed readings of Primary User, I Can Go, Hazardous Materials, and The Luckiest People for ANPF, as well as performing in readings of Go. Please. Go., Edward III, and Now This. During his tenure, over a dozen new plays from ANPF have gone on to have world premieres around the country. Kyle also spearheaded their 2016 Women’s Invitational in 2016; one of the winning plays, Martyna Majok’s Cost of Living, won the Pulitzer Prize in 2018.
LYAM BONNIE GABEL
DIRECTOR/WRITER
Lyam Bonnie Gabel (they/them) is a trans* director, writer, and researcher. They are a founder and member of transmedia oral history and performance collective LAST CALL, and a director of the nationally touring NEFA National Theater Project ‘18 and MAP ‘16 performance Alleged Lesbian Activities about the history of lesbian bars. Their current work explores care during the early years of the AIDS crisis, queer ecology, and lip-sync as time travel. Their work is funded by MAP, the Network of Ensemble Theaters, National Performance Network, Platforms Fund, NEFA, and Alternate Roots. They were a Drama League Fall Directing Fellow in 2017, and a Distillery Artist at the New Orleans Contemporary Arts Center in 2016.
KATY ZAPANTA
DRAMATURGY STUDENT
Katy Zapanta is a third year dramaturgy student at Carnegie Mellon with a minor in Literature and Culture Studies. She is primarily interested in new work development and social activism through art, and is also an aspiring director, writer, and choreographer. In addition to her studies, Katy is a leader of the School of Drama's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. Katy also created this website!
CHRISTOPHER CHASE
STAGE & PRODUCTION MANAGER
CHRIS CHASE is Stage and Production Manager from Detroit who is in his second year at CMU. He left a life of business management to follow his passion and work in theatre, taking every opportunity to work any type of event. He's worked festivals, parades, films, even weddings, as well as plays, musicals, and dance. He is the current Production Manager for Theatre Thirty3 in Detroit and enjoys working to find ways of creating theatre in the times of Covid. Chris plans to marry his training and world experience to teach the next generation of artists. His passion is to enable artists' visions to come to fruition. Chris has his BFA in Stage Management from Wayne State University in Detroit.
PRIA DAHIYA
DIRECTING STUDENT
Pria is a second year directing student at Carnegie Mellon.
SIDNEY RUBINOWICZ
STAGE & PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT STUDENT
Sidney Rubinowicz recently completed her sophomore year in the Stage and Production Management program in the CMU School of Drama. She also attended a middle and high school of the arts before beginning her college education. Last summer she was a Stage Management Intern and Production Assistant at Santa Cruz Shakespeare in California. Aside from theatre, Sidney has worked as a Production Manager on numerous independent films (“Well Managed”, “F*** Birthdays”), as well as a music video (“THINK”). She has also worked in management for events, including the large-scale on campus fashion show “Lunar Gala.” Sidney has a strong passion for theatre and the arts, and is dedicated to adapting to the ever-changing industry.
PALOMA SIERRA
PLAYWRIGHT, FILMMAKER, & TRANSLATOR
PALOMA SIERRA is a Puerto Rican writer, filmmaker and translator based in Pittsburgh. Current Emerging Poet Laureate of Allegheny County, Paloma has had her work developed by Poetic Theater Productions, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, and Carnegie Mellon's School of Drama. Her verse dramas, poetry and translations have been published in Bridge: The Bluffton University Journal, Persephone's Daughters and Sampsonia Way. Paloma holds a BHA in Creative Writing and Drama from Carnegie Mellon, and is currently pursuing an MFA in Dramatic Writing from the same institution.
DARIA VANALLMAN
ENGINEERING STUDENT
Daria is a junior studying Civil Engineering here at CMU. When she’s not in class, she is a part of the CMU Ballroom Dance Team and has served as both the Public Relations Officer as well as their Media Manager. In addition to her dancing, she takes part in some Scotch n’ Soda shows, most recently performing in their production of Catch Me If You Can.
CASSIEL EATOCK-WINNIK
ACTING STUDENT
I am a Junior at Carnegie Mellon University studying Acting. I have trained in dance and voice. I grew up in Johannesburg South Africa, the unique experience that this place offered me has allowed me to be open and honest and made me the artist I am today. I use my voice where ever I can to amplify, uplift and empower. I believe that through empowerment and opportunity great things happen.