"We were fortunate not to have had the traditional training in the craft:
it is no easy task to throw useless conventions overboard."
ANNI ALBERS, Bauhaus Weaver (1959)
it is no easy task to throw useless conventions overboard."
ANNI ALBERS, Bauhaus Weaver (1959)
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Andrew Child is a director, designer, animator, and actor based in Boston who has an affinity for clowns, puppets, new works, multi-media creations, and community engagement. Andrew has had the privilege of working in various capacities with several theatre groups and educational institutions including The American Repertory Theatre, Actors' Shakespeare Project, Villa la Pietra (Florence), Lyric Stage Co, New England Conservatory, Moonbox Productions, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Liars & Believers (in association with The Oberon), Priscilla Beach Theater, Bay Colony Shakespeare Company, Massasoit Community College, and The Family Performing Arts Center at Bridgewater State University. Because of his work as artist and advocate, he has spoken at Emerson College and been quoted in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, Boston Globe, WBUR’s The ARTery, and Howlround Theater Commons, as well as been publicly criticized by Breitbart and acclaimed magician/ comedian Penn Jillette.
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His original one act play, On the Isle of the Lotus-Eaters, was workshopped as part of the VSA Young Playwright Discovery Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, launching his passion for theatre accessibility advocacy. While serving as artistic director for Artists from Suburbia, a theatrical initiative on Massachusetts' South Shore, he oversaw accessibility measures including open captioning and sensory-friendly matinees for many of the productions. AfS' goal was to structure itself in such a way that traditional theatrical boundaries including class, ability, race, and access to training could be challenged in regards to both audience and artistic involvement. Andrew's work as artistic director earned him an invitation to speak about diversity in theatre at Emerson College. Additionally, he coordinated and designed open captioning for several departmental productions at Brandeis University while studying for his BA in Theater Arts. His thesis project delved into the study of incorporating accessibility measures (especially in regards to ability) into theatrical presentations from the initial point of creation, as opposed to tacking accommodations onto a production once it has been completed.
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Andrew worked with Bridgewater State University’s Arts for Youth Program for seven years, teaching classes and workshops in drama, musical theatre, puppetry, and soft shoe, as well as directing, choreographing, and adapting children's productions and musical revues. He has additionally taught courses and collaborated on dramatic teaching projects for the Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild, Umbrella Community Arts Center, Cardinal Spellman High School, and the Brockton Public Schools. He has been honored to be nominated for four Broadway World Boston Awards for Best Direction (The Witches, A Little Princess, The Taming of the Shrew, Romeo & Juliet), and an EMACT/ DASH Award (Best Sound Design; The Witches), along with having his work nominated for performance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He has a passion for implementing and integrating accessibility measures into the processes of his works and actively seeks ways to engage with new audiences.
