 photo by Dennie Eagleson '71 Louise Smith '77 Assistant Professor of Theatre;BA, Antioch College; MA, Antioch University "Louise is committed to supporting all students. Furthermore, she is a master at helping students discover what our Antioch education means to us, and in teaching us how to use it to the fullest. In this respect, she is a phenomenal teacher and advisor." - Chandi Lauzon '05 Autoperformance: This class is about creating solo performance based upon autobiographical material. Louise graduated from Antioch College in 1977 and returned as a professor in 1994. While a student at Antioch she studied Latin American Studies and ceramics. She co-oped in New York, Mexico and San Francisco. "My experience here was amazing," Louise recalls. "I got my first professional job right out here in the Amphitheatre and met the Otrabanda Company, who I ended up joining right out of College." Overall her Antioch education flowed very naturally from one experience to the next: "Everything I was hoping to do at Antioch I did." Louise was living in New York City when an unexpected job opened up at Antioch. A theatre faculty member had passed away quite unexpectedly and tragically. As a result, Antioch was searching for an alum who might fill the position for six months until Antioch could begin a full search. "At the time, I'd just had my second child, and I was traveling all over New York City, teaching in the Lincoln Center Institute and the Theatre for New Audience. I was teaching in a school on Staten Island one day and in the Bronx the next. I realized it was very hard to have two small children and do freelance and have my life scattered all over the five Boroughs." Louise interviewed at Antioch in early December, got a call in mid-December and started classes in early January. Louise considers herself to be a practitioner. "Any research I do is usually some kind of historical research or thematic research that serves a project . . .I don't consider myself to be a theatre scholar." Louise tries to foster honesty in the classroom and has spent the last ten years revising her teaching style to fit the needs of the students. "When I first got to Antioch, I tried 'I'm actor. You're an actor. Let's be actors together.' That doesn't work. They haven't spent 15 years in the profession like I have. So then I tried 'I'm the authority. I know and you don't.' That, of course, doesn't work either." Louise eventually came to understand that teaching is about facilitating learning and providing students with the skills and tools they need. Louise is always striving to offer her students new ways into the material. She credits much of her success as a teacher to her colleagues and Dimi Reber, Professor of Dance Emeritus, in particular. "Dimi is a master teacher and an incredible mentor to me. She took me under her wing, and we worked a lot together devising the dance theatre concentration." Louise is also continually amazed and inspired by her current colleagues Helen Richardson, Assistant Professor of Theatre, and Jill Becker, Assistant Professor of Dance. "Helen has an amazing knowledge of theatre and artfully blends theory and practice, and Jill brings a great passion and sense of play to her work." Louise is trying to reach the intellect, body, imagination and emotional life of her students. "They're not just ideas but they're living things that they've cultivated throughout the term and that are growing inside of them." Louise hopes that a course like Autoperformance will help her students make new realizations not just about theatre but about being in general. "When you make art you are working with yourself," Louise offers, explaining the importance of a class like Autoperformance. "For a younger person, it is good to start where you are. In the process of dealing with your own story and trying to make theatre out of it, there are a whole lot of things that come up about form and content and certain skills you have to acquire to put it across." When asked if there is anything about her that might surprise her students, Louise offers that she may be tougher then they think she is. "Ultimately I have to be tough and I am tough." Her toughness and her great success as a performer-Louise recently won a 2003 Obie Award-has much to do with her evolution as a teacher: "Teaching keeps you humble and keeps you working hard.'' by Rachel Moulton '97 page last updated: June 21, 2004 |
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