A Dramatic Shift

CMU professors pivot to remote learning with the help of alumni, industry professionals. Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama 's transition to remote learning is opening up new opportunities to connect students with industry professionals and providing fresh approaches to courses that typically rely on face-to-face interaction. Alumni from the school - including actors on Broadway, film and television; costume, sound and lighting designers; and stage managers - and industry veterans - including playwrights and casting directors - have guest lectured courses to discuss the crafts of singing, acting and design, life experiences, and the entertainment business. They also have led workshops - providing professional feedback on skills that could serve students through their careers. Catherine Moore , teaching professor of movement and option coordinator of acting and musical theater, said the transition has been challenging. These crafts typically rely on actors and singers working together in the same room, feeding off each other's physical energy and hearing one another in real time. But the new format has provided unexpected bright spots.