Carlos M. Chavarria, M.A. M.F.A.

B.A., in Theatre and Dance & Spanish, Santa Clara University; M.A., Directing, The University of New Mexico; M.F.A., Playwriting, Arizona State University.

Scholarly interest: US/Latino Theatre, Latin American Theatre, Chicano Theatre, Gay and Lesbian Theatre, Theatre for Youth, Directing, Playwriting, and Screenwriting.

Carlos Chavarria’s current work focuses on Latino and Chicano Theatre development, as well as Gay Latino Theatre, and Theatre for Young Audiences. Carlos is  a Playwright/ Director/ Performer, whose work has been seen internationally in both English and Spanish. As a freelance writer, Carlos has contributed to different Latino magazines, such as QV Magazine, Tentaciones, and Adelante Magazine, all based on Los Angeles, CA, Marginalia Magazine, based in Tempe, AZ, and CaliforniaWest and Mexico Vivo, electronic journals.

His plays have been produced in different venues and have received several awards. His one-man show, LA VIDA LOCA, has taken Carlos to national and international showcases, as well as different universities where he not only performs but also speaks about the importance of US/Latino Theatre, Bilingualism, Multiculturalism, LGBT issues, and offers workshops on playwriting and screenwriting.

Recently, he started his own podcast titled “Teatro Latino Conversations,” in order to share information about US/Latino and Latin American theatre in the United States. Carlos teaches classes in acting, directing, playwriting, screenwriting, movement, improvisation, theatre history, multicultural theatre, and special theatre topics.

Laura Early, M.F.A, J.D.
Instructor

B.A., Lake Forest College, M.F.A. in Theatre (Performance) University of Louisville, Graduate Certificate in African-American Theatre, University of Louisville, J.D., Brandeis School of Law

Scholarly interest: Theatre for Social Change, Theatre Arts and Peacemaking, Theatre and the Law, Directing, Playwriting, Improvisation and Multimedia.

As a theatre artist, Laura’s work focuses on theatre for social change. This fall, Laura directs the University of Louisville Repertory Company’s production of the ecological play, Who Needs A Habitat Anyway?  She was assistant director for Dennis Kausnick of Shakespeare & Company’s production of Titus Andronicus. In the summer of 2006, Laura directed School Play for the University of Louisville Repertory Company, which toured internationally with performances in Moscow and Perm, Russia. Laura also adapted and directed Teens Sound Off with permission of The Courier-Journal from the High School Round Table for the University of Louisville’s Repertory Company’s 2006-2007 season. In 2005, she traveled to Cape Town, South Africa for theatre work and playwriting with women from DRC and Rwanda seeking refugee status.

In addition to teaching and directing, Laura performs on stage and in commercial work. She narrated the planetarium show, Castles to the Sky, which was shown at the Rauch Planetarium in 2003 and 2007.

In May, Laura directs Voice of the Fugitive based on the life of Henry Bibb produced by the Oldham County History Center at Actors Theatre of Louisville. This spring, she will direct Antigone for Bellarmine University.

Laura’s training includes, voice with Dennis Krausnick of Shakespeare & Company, Actors Theatre Workshop, The Training Center and The Second City, Chicago. She teaches acting, directing, theatre history, performance theory, multicultural theatre, introduction to theatre and improvisation.

Carol Stewart, M.A.

B.F.A., Acting, Goodman School of Drama; M.A., Expressive Therapies, University of Louisville; currently pursuing Ph.D. studies, Humanities/Theatre, University of Louisville.

Scholarly interests: Actor training methods and techniques, the psychology of the actor, audiobook narration, radio drama, multicultural casting, and the science of creativity as it applies to the theatre performer.

Carol is an award-winning audiobook narrator, who has recorded over 300 full-length books and many abridged titles for non-profit and commercial producers. In 1996, she was the winner of the Golden Headset award for Best Narration, Unabridged Fiction, from Audiobook World (for Hallowed Murder, published by Hall Closet Books). In 2000, she was a finalist for the Torgi Award for Best Narration, Fiction, from CNIB (for The Poisonwood Bible, produced by the American Printing House for the Blind) and in 1999 was a finalist for the Alexander Scourby Award for Best Narration, Fiction, from the American Foundation for the Blind (for Red, White and Blue, produced by the American Printing House for the Blind). She has performed in the studio as a narrator for 15 years, and during her 5 years as Studio Director for the American Printing House for the Blind, oversaw the casting and producing of over 2000 full-length audiobooks.

She is an active member of VASTA (the Voice and Speech Trainers Association) and the Audiobook Publishers Association (APA). She regularly serves as a judge for the Audie Awards, given annually by the APA for excellence and innovation in audiobook narration and production, and as a reviewer for AudioFile magazine.

Her community work in the Louisville area is extensive, and includes 7 years as Director of the Drepung Gomang Institute, an organization dedicated to the study and preservation of Tibetan culture. She currently serves as President of the Louisville Rowing Club.