now, Let’s Try
p l a y
((and ))
Resume
Abby Pierce abbypierce1@gmail.com
MISSION AND BACKGROUND
I have been a teaching artist and theater creator for 15 years. For the last 8 years I have had a focus on teaching with incarcerated and at-risk communities in Chicago and New York City. Places I have taught include: Riker’s Island, Cook County Jail, various Juvenile Detention Centers, and foster centers. I have also worked in schools alongside teachers to incorporate improv into their lessons. I am also interested in exploring themes that arise with my students in professional spaces to spread awareness and empathy into different communities.
TEACHING ARTIST EXPERIENCE
Drama Club, NYC — Teaching Artist
September 2019 - Current
Riker’s Island, Department of Education, Crossroads and Horizon Juvenile Detention Centers, Belmont School, and The Door
Develop the “Apprentice Program” created as a re-entry professional development program for youths post release of jail to train them to become teaching artists and develop their confidence in being credible messengers
Teaching Artist to young men and women 17-25 who are incarcerated, court affected, or at risk
EPICC (Ensemble Play In Cook County), Chicago — Teaching Artist
June 2016 - November 2019
Cook County Jail
Assisted in founding the program to bring theater, meditation, and poetry to maximum security inmate women at Cook County Jail
Weekly classes that culminated in a performance shared with staff and other incarcerated individuals
Produced Doorway, a show performed at Piven Theater that included recordings from within the jail and also live performances of women who had been released
Continue professional support for alumni
Piven Theater Workshop, Chicago — Teaching Artist
January 2009 - September 2019
Students ranging from ages 8 years to adult
Beginner levels to advanced (with Performance Project)
Classes taught: monologue, on camera, story theater, improvisation, theater games, and scene study
Responsible for lesson planning & scaffolding, student recommendation & review, and apprentice teacher training program
Beacon Academy High School, Chicago — Teaching Artist
August 2014 - May 2018
Theater teacher at a Montessori High School
Commissioned playwrights to write short plays for specific students
Explored different entry-points and types of theater including viewpoints, story theater, improv, and scene study
Various Institutions and Schools, Chicago — Teaching Artist
August 2010-2019
Rice Foster Care Center - 2 years
Cove School (school for neurologically diverse students) - 2 years
Children’s Theater of Chicago
Kids Rank with Citibank (working with Veterans and their children)
Court Theater Initiative
Stage School of Australia
Evanstan Leadership Council
Viyo, Inc
Girl Scouts of America
RELEVANT EXPERIENCES - Longer Directing Resume Available
Directing — Theater
“Hopelessly Devoted” - 2019
3.5/4 stars from Chicago Tribune, Best Actress Nomination - Jeff Awards, Jeff Recommended - Review
US Premiere at Piven Theater Workshop with special performances at Cook County Jail
Directing/Writing — Film
“Go Ahead, Grab Time by the Throat” - 2019 Best Director nominee, Best of the Midwest - Review
“Eat Your Heart Out” - 2019 Best Comedy Winner (NY International Fest), Best Screenplay (Deep Focus Films), Audience Choice Winner (Elevated Film Fest)
EDUCATION
School at Steppenwolf, Steppenwolf Theater — Conservatory
2015 - Intensive conservatory setting training in: Feldenkreis, Viewpoints, Improvisation, Scene Study, Meisner, Acting for the Camera, and Text Analysis
Piven Theater Workshop — Story Theater Pedagogy and Practice
(1997-2022) - Student to apprentice to teacher trajectory over 24 years
Improvisation Schools
Upright Citizen’s Brigade, Second City, & The Groundlings
Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles — BA Theater Arts
2010 - Graduated Magna Cum Laude
