Roadside Theater Launches Devising Lab at Summer Documentary Institute

The Appalachian Media Institute (AMI) and Roadside Theater are collaborating during this year’s Summer Documentary Institute to test new processes, specifically a wider range of student creation. 

Together, these programs built a multimedia partnership where interns will not only lead the process of creating a new film but will also devise an original public performance. From late June to mid-July, AMI students will be working with Roadside’s Tommy Anderson and Tucker Leighty-Phillips, as well as a slew of guest workshop instructors, as they participate in a number of live performance mediums, including improvisational comedy, music, poetry, puppetry, dramatic monologue, and an endless exploration of other forms. 

Throughout, the interns maintain full creative control over the process, making important decisions about what form, genre, and voice their final performance will take. They may work together on one larger performance, or develop a series of individual performances. The possibilities are vast and exciting! The final performance, whatever the form, will be open to the public, with date and location forthcoming. 

This partnership represents the launch of Roadside’s Devising Lab, a new educational project that will teach tangible creative skills to community members and initiate new creative performances. Roadside anticipates the Devising Lab to be an annual project, so stay tuned for more!