VIRTUAL Prague Research & Teaching Conference
Abstract
In an era where AI is rapidly transforming various fields, its integration into live theatre presents unique opportunities , particularly from a pedagogical perspective. This presentation explores the educational dimensions of an experimental theatre performance developed for an Orlando Arts Festival, where AI is employed as a co-creator alongside student designers and performers. Building on the theoretical framework of cyborg studies, we examine how AI can be leveraged to enhance collective creation, design processes, and embodied performance in an educational setting. Our project investigates the following key questions: How might AI expand the capabilities of student performers to engage with audiences in innovative ways? How can AI disrupt traditional methods of character creation and performance? In what ways can AI serve as a co-creator before, during, and after the performance event? How does the integration of AI shift collaborative processes and expand the performer-viewer engagement? What pedagogical value lies in integrating AI into the design and execution of theatre performances? How does AI influence the development of interdisciplinary collaboration in theatre education? Through this case study, we aim to provide insights into the pedagogical benefits and challenges of incorporating AI into theatre making within an educational setting. We examine the implications for teaching and learning, including the development of innovative teaching methods, fostering of interdisciplinary collaboration, and enhancement of student engagement and creativity. Ultimately, this presentation seeks to contribute to the broader discourse on the role of AI in education and its potential to transform the landscape of theatre pedagogy.
Chloë Rae Edmonson is Assistant Professor of Theatre History and Dramaturgy at the University of Central Florida. Her research explores the connections between popular culture and theatre, especially immersive performance. She is the author of America Under the Influence: Drinking, Culture, and Immersive Performance (Routledge, 2023) and has published in TDR and Performance Matters. She is also a dramaturg and theatre maker who has worked with playwrights across the country.
Julia Listengarten is Professor of Theatre and Artistic Director in the School of Performing Arts at the University of Central Florida. She is an artist scholar whose research explores avant-garde and contemporary theatre practices and addresses ethics of representation in facilitating critical arts-based interventions. Her recent publications include Cambridge Companion to American Theatre Since 1945 (with Di Benedetto; Cambridge UP, 2021), Performing Arousal: Precarious Bodies and Frames of Representation (with Meerzon; Bloomsbury 2022), and Visual and Performing Arts Collaborations in Higher Education: Transdisciplinary Practices (with Keri Watson; Palgrave Macmillan, 2023).
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Tuesday 10th June, 2025