Episode 90: The Revolutionary Power of Theater, Recorded Live to Celebrate 60 Years of NYU's Program in Educational Theatre

In this special panel celebrating 60 years of Educational Theatre at NYU, moderator Adam D-F Stevens is joined by alumni and adjunct professors, Marissa Russo, Courtney J. Boddie, and Daryl Embry for a conversation about accessibility, belonging, student agency, institutional leadership, and the power of theater to meet the moment. From radically welcoming spaces and autism-friendly performances to Shakespeare in cafeterias and student-devised work, the panelists explore what happens when we expand our understanding of where theatre belongs, and who gets to make it. Together, they consider how educational theatre can continue to respond to crises, dismantle barriers, create joy, and build a more equitable future. People Mentioned Panelists & Moderator Adam D-F Stevens — Moderator, drama therapist, and doctoral student in NYU Educational Theatre. Marissa Russo — Theatre artist and practitioner specializing in accessibility. Courtney J. Boddie — Vice President of Education & School Engagement at New 42 and host of the Teaching Artistry Podcast. Daryl Embry — Theater artist, designer, educator, and Program Manager at the Arthur Miller Foundation References & Further Reading Organizations & Programs NYU Educational Theatre — The program celebrating its 60th anniversary and the home of the panel discussion. New 42 — The organization behind The New Victory Theater and arts education initiatives discussed by Courtney J. Boddie. The New Victory Theater — New York City's theater dedicated to kids and their families. The Arthur Miller Foundation — Arts education organization where Daryl Embry serves as Program Manager. Theatre Development Fund (TDF) — Referenced in connection with autism-friendly performances and theater accessibility. Resources Mentioned Teach with GIVE — A free resource developed by New Victory Theater, ArtsConnection and Community-Word Project, offering visual vocabulary and tools for educators working to create more inclusive and liberatory learning environments. Speak Up, Act Out — A New Victory arts education program centered on young people's voices and the social issues they want to address. Autism-Friendly Performances TDF Autism-Friendly Performances — Performances designed to create a more welcoming theater experience for autistic and neurodivergent audience members and their families. The panel's guiding principle: "Access is the norm, not the event." Shakespeare to Go NYU Shakespeare to Go — An outreach initiative that brings shortened Shakespeare productions directly into schools and nontraditional performance spaces. Programs & Practices Discussed Devising Theatre The panel explores how traditional models of devised theater can be adapted when working with students who communicate in nontraditional ways. Marissa Russo discusses the importance of taking time, using visual supports, and honoring student choices—even when those choices don't conform to adults' expectations. Accessible & Inclusive Theatre Topics include: Autism-friendly performances Visual vocabulary Communication devices Removing barriers to participation Making access part of everyday practice rather than a special event Expanding ideas about who can be a theater maker and who belongs in the audience Immersive Theatre The panel discusses the changing relationship between audience and performer and the growing interest in theatrical experiences that blur traditional boundaries between the two.