The new school's school of drama announces appointment of patrice johnson chevannes to faculty

Patrice Johnson Chevannes

October 26, 2020, New York - The New School announced today that acclaimed actress, writer, and director, Patrice Johnson Chevannes has joined the faculty of the School of Drama at the College of Performing Arts this fall semester.

Patrice Johnson Chevannes is an award-winning filmmaker, actress, writer, director and executive producer of God-and-all-o-wee Productions. She was born in Jamaica and grew up in New York City where she has performed in numerous plays on and off the Broadway stage. Chevannes has shared the stage with Liam Neeson and Laura Linney, in The Crucible, and played Desdemona opposite Sir Patrick Stewart in Shakespeare Theatre’s production of Othello. Other credits include: Racing Demon (Broadway), Halfway Bitches Go Straight To Heaven (Atlantic Theater Company), “Pose” (FX), “Shrill” (Hulu), “Chambers" (Netflix). 

"For decades, Patrice has been known as one of the most extraordinary artists of the American stage due to her performances in both classical and contemporary work. What her audiences may not know is that she is also a deeply gifted teacher of acting, and for that reason, I am beyond thrilled that she has joined our faculty," said Stephen Brown-Fried, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, School of Drama. 

At the School of Drama, Chevannes is teaching two courses in the MFA program including Shakespeare Studio, which focuses on developing the skills necessary to perform or direct heightened language verse drama using the plays of William Shakespeare and Advanced Scene Workshop, which examines a single scene in depth, employing existing skills of dramaturgical analysis while developing new approaches to bold and muscular choice making that harness the playwright’s unique voice while plumbing more deeply into the actor’s creative resources.

"It was an honor to be asked by Stephen Brown-Fried to share my knowledge with the students at The New School. The students are amazing and unique. I have been having a lot of fun," said Chevannes.

The College of Performing Arts at The New School (CoPA) was formed in 2015 and brings together the iconic Mannes School of Music, the legendary School of Jazz and Contemporary Music, and the ground-breaking School of Drama. With each school contributing its unique culture of creative excellence, the College of Performing Arts is a hub for cross-disciplinary collaboration, bold experimentation, innovative education, and world-class performances. 

As a part of The New School, students across CoPA experience a supportive and rigorous environment that provides abundant opportunities for collaboration with students and faculty in a wide array of disciplines including the visual arts, fashion, design and technology, architecture, philosophy, psychology, public policy, advocacy, and more. CoPA has over 1100 students seeking degrees and diplomas in performance, composition, acting, writing, as well as arts management and entrepreneurship. New York City’s Greenwich Village provides the backdrop for the College of Performing Arts, which is housed at Arnhold Hall on West 13th Street and the historic Westbeth Artists Community on Bank Street. 

Our School of Drama combines rigor with creative experimentation. We focus on authenticity of expression and confront today's most pressing societal issues through the making of theater, film, and emerging media. Our faculty is made up of New York's contemporary legends-award-winning actors, playwrights, and directors who bring a currency of professional experience, artistic training, and project-based learning into the classroom. Our four-year BFA program in Dramatic Arts prepares students to be artists in today's changing world, creative thinkers, and engaged citizens. Our MFA program throws students into an intensive, highly collaborative, and ensemble-driven training, with a focus on the creation of new works and relevant reinterpretation of existing plays. We take inspiration from the greats who walked these halls before us, including Marlon Brando, Harry Belafonte, and Tennessee Williams, as well as our more recent graduates, like Adrienne C. Moore and Jason Kim.

Founded in 1919, The New School was established to advance academic freedom, tolerance, and experimentation. A century later, The New School remains at the forefront of innovation in higher education, inspiring more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students to challenge the status quo in design and the social sciences, liberal arts, management, the arts, and media. The university welcomes thousands of adult learners annually for continuing education courses and public programs that encourage open discourse and social engagement. Through our online learning portals, research institutes, and international partnerships, The New School maintains a global presence.

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION

79 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10003
www.newschool.edu

PRESS RELEASE

Media Contacts:

Will Wilbur,
The New School
212.229.5667x3990
[email protected]

Follow @TheNewSchool 

Bookmark and Share