Current CCNY Educational Theatre graduate student Brendan Leonard has written a curriculum guide for the Billy Rose Theatre Division at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Inspired by the exhibition which is open through September 28th, Photo Call: The Theater Photos of Joan Marcus and Carol Rosegg, the guide explores the unique artistry of theater photography, offering educators guiding questions, activities, and resources for teaching this unique subject: https://www.nypl.org/blog/
I interviewed Brendan about his work and how his experience in our program has influenced him. Of this accomplishment, Brendan says he couldn't have done it without "my CCNY Ed Theatre community 
".
".How would you describe what you do at the NYPL or how did you come to write this exhibition guide?
I started working at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in 2017. My official title is Library Technical Assistant III in the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive. I assist researchers by answering questions, scheduling appointments, and getting them oriented in our screening room. On a given day, I might be assisting an international academic doing a translation of a play or a high school freshman who's never seen any theatre or Lin-Manuel Miranda. My favorite kind of patrons are students. I love being a guide for young people discovering a new world in the power of theatre. This is one of the reasons I wanted to join the CCNY Ed Theatre ensemble and develop my potential as an educator.
Doug Reside, the Curator of the Theatre Division, came to me last spring. "You're in grad school, yeah?" Boy, am I! I've learned so much from my professors, especially Elizabeth Dunn-Ruiz and Sobha Kavanakudiyil, because I've taken multiple classes with both of them. I am thrilled that I got to apply what I've been learning to my work at NYPL. The curriculum guide serves as a companion to the Library's exhibition, Photo Call: The Theater Photos of Joan Marcus and Carol Rosegg, but can be used in perpetuity by accessing these photographers' work in our Digital Collections.
Theater photography is a unique subject that I believe offers educators a great opportunity, whether as an arts integration lesson or as an entry point to discovering a wide range of material. When you're perusing the work of these two incredible artists, you're seeing over thirty years of theatre history come alive! The images they capture are purposely provocative. Their goal is to turn the viewer of an image into an audience member of a show. Each and every picture could be a student's first step toward the theatre! "What is this show with puppets, Avenue Q, all about?" "What is the angel saying in this image from Angels in America?" We have so many resources to answer these questions at the Library!
How did your time in the CCNY Graduate Program in Educational Theatre help prepare you for this project?
I created my first curriculum guide in the course Exploring the History of Theatre (EDCE 7800A) with Elizabeth Dunn-Ruiz. I approached the major plays of William Inge (1913-1973) through the lens of reality pedagogy. I invited educators to explore Inge's writing as a collaboration with their students, guided by the question, why are his plays more forgotten than those of his contemporaries, Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams? Do his plays resonate with young people? Should they? I believe they do, but how can depend on the way in which they're presented, how they're framed. It was through the process of creating this assignment that I realized how a curriculum guide can serve as a conduit to discovery. There is so much to explore at the Library for the Performing Arts, but unless it can be presented to students well and on their own terms, they might never discover the treasures in our collections. As an educator, I appreciate how a curriculum guide can help us with lesson planning. As a library worker, I am hopeful that it can guide students toward the countless items available to them for free here at the Library!
What advice do you have for someone who wants to do this kind of work?
My advice is to plan ahead for collaboration. The guide was published long after my creative work was done. Over the last few months, I acted as its producer, while different teams within the Library system worked their magic. Different teams means different timelines and levels of priority. That being said, the more eyes, the better! The guide took a long time, but it was always inching its way to the best version possible. I'm very grateful for my colleagues at NYPL, who provided both their insights and their talent. I'd say, be firm as a producer, but not so precious creatively. The best ideas should win!
Is there anything you wish I'd asked you or that you'd like to share?
I encourage everyone in the CCNY ensemble and greater community to visit the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts! Spend some time in the stacks on the 2nd floor, picking out new and old plays to read. Come to a public program, or visit an exhibition! There's one on the Joffrey Ballet opening soon. Make an appointment with Special Collections and look at the original program for one of your favorite shows. Come see an archival videorecording in the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive! My favorites are The Seagull with Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman, A Delicate Balance with Elaine Stritch, or The Baltimore Waltz with Cherry Jones.
I recommend visiting on your own first. I help facilitate class visits regularly. The only trouble is when it becomes clear that a teacher wants to bring a large group, but has never visited before and doesn't understand how our facilities operate. But please know, there are no silly questions! I hate to think that someone hasn't visited before, because they're intimidated by the process of setting up an appointment, or because of certain restrictions in place for preservation purposes. The Library belongs to you and your students! Come say, hi!
If you would like to set up an appointment with Special Collections, please contact: theatre@nypl.org.
If you would like to set up an appointment with the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive (including class visits), please contact: toft@nypl.org.
If you have any specific questions, please reach out to me! My email is brendanleonard@nypl.org.
And if you are interested in learning more about the CCNY Graduate Program in Educational Theatre, email me, Elizabeth Dunn-Ruiz, at edunnruiz@ccny.cuny.edu
