Meet the theatre department’s new associate professor and chair, Elise Forier Edie, MFA. She teaches courses like Acting, Directing and Playwriting.
Q. What drew you to your academic discipline?
A. After I finished my B.A. in history at The University of Chicago, I realized I had spent more time in the theatre than I had in the library. I took it as a sign and got a job in theatre and never looked back.
Q. Tell us about a fun class you teach.
A. Right now, I am teaching a class in children’s theatre. Students are learning about children’s theatre techniques and children’s plays while writing and rehearsing an original play to perform in local schools.
Q. What advice would you give to a student who’s interested in studying theatre at Whitworth?
A. Don’t be afraid to come and try it out. If you are too intimidated to audition for a play, start by taking a class or working backstage. Theatre is really, really fun, and it’s a great way to make friends, become involved with a community and explore your creativity.
Q. What’s something great about Whitworth’s theatre department?
A. The students are constantly making stuff on their own. We had one official main-stage production, “Into the Woods,” last fall, but there were four additional productions in the department, most of them written and directed by students.
JUST FOR FUN…
Q. What might your students be surprised to learn about you?
A. My parents were wildlife biologists, and I lived in the jungles of Madagascar and Sri Lanka as a child.
Q. What’s the most interesting or unusual item in your office?
A. I have a genuine buffalo drum hanging on the wall and I use it in my classes.
Q. What’s your favorite spot on campus and why?
A. Stage 2, downstairs in Cowles. It’s a black box theatre. When it’s empty, it’s a story waiting to happen.
Q. What’s your go-to podcast?
A. “What Went Wrong,” about movies and how they are made.
Q. What artists or musical genre do you play when you need a pick-me-up?
A. My musical tastes are very eclectic, but I like to put on stuff that makes me want to dance. Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” is a good one.
Q. If you could spend a day as any fictional character, who would it be?
A. Fluttershy from My Little Pony. I identify with her, since I love flying horses and I’m super shy. But Fluttershy represents kindness and empathy and always overcomes her shyness to save the world. I would love to do that!
Worth a Look 