Above: Headshot of Roberta Emerson, Director of New Play Development and Visiting Lecturer at the University of Central Florida. (Photo courtesy of Orlando Shakes)
ORLANDO | Roberta Emerson will join the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre as the Director of New Play Development in partnership with the University of Central Florida as Visiting Lecturer in the School of Performing Arts.
Emerson’s role at Orlando Shakes will include planning and curating the annual PlayFest new play development festival, working with the senior management team and new works initiatives.
Her role as Visiting Lecturer at UCF will be as director for Lynn Nottage’s “Fabulation, or The Re-Education of Undine” and the participation in department and university committees and governance – such as recruitment and advising of students.
Director of the UCF School of Performing Arts – Michael Wainstein said, “Her knowledge and experience, particularly through her connections in Central Florida and her previous work with students in the arts, makes her an ideal fit for our department.”
Emerson holds a BFA in Acting and Theatre Management from the University of Minnesota and an MFA in Acting from New York University. In the last decade, Emerson has been a part of Central Florida’s arts and culture community – either professionally acting in or directing stage productions for Orlando Shakes and other local theatres.
Emerson expressed her enthusiasm for being a part of Orlando Shakes and the University of Central Florida.
“I am immensely excited to be joining Orlando Shakes and UCF, this is a dream come true,” Emerson said. “The opportunity to join the amazing School of Performing Arts faculty at UCF is one I could not pass up. And Orlando Shakes is a pillar of our community and is known for its integrity within the arts. Just to have a seat at these respective tables is an honor that I do not take lightly.”
