TWB Borderless Event at University of Iowa

Borderless is a series curated by the University of Iowa Department of Theatre Arts that is dedicated to producing an array of theatrical works representative of the diversity of experiences essential for students, faculty, administrators, and greater Iowa City community members to encounter onstage. As a predominantly-white institution (PWI), this initiative emerged in spring 2020 under the name “Diverse Voices” and has been renamed Borderless in the fall of 2020 to more clearly embrace its essential pillar: collaboration. We’re dedicated to working beyond the walls of the Theatre Building and permeating borders between university departments, across campus, and to the professional theatre world.

Borderless aims to a) provide a tailored, collaborative theatrical experience to an artist sharing a unique perspective, b) the opportunity for our students to work alongside an artist outside of the university, c) encourage collaboration with students and faculty of other departments and programs on campus, and d) introduce audiences that are regular Department of Theatre Arts production attendees as well as new theatregoers to view a compelling event told from a what will hopefully be a new perspective.

The inaugural event of the series was a staged reading and discussion of Reconciliation by Marisa Carr (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe) in the spring of 2020. Click here to see all past Borderless events.

Upcoming Events

Acting Together on the World Stage, Theatre Without Borders, & Social Justice and Performing Arts

Saturday, April 9 at 11:00 a.m. CST on Zoom
Registration is required. Click here to register!

The University of Iowa Department of Theatre Arts and Theatre Without Borders invite you to join us for a conversation with the international team that created the Acting Together Project to document and strengthen the contributions of performance and ritual to social justice and conflict transformation. The Acting Together Project was developed through a unique collaboration between scholars affiliated with Brandeis University and the Theatre Without Borders network of global theatre practitioners. This event will celebrate both the 10th Anniversary of the Acting Together Project and the University of Iowa’s new Performing Arts & Social Justice Certificate Program.

The conversation will include: Cynthia Cohen (Director of the Peacebuilding & the Arts Program, Brandeis University); Polly O. Walker (editor of the Acting Together on the World Stage anthologies); Allison Lund (director of the Acting Together on the World Stage documentary); Shahid Nadeem (core-member of Theatre Without Borders, founder Ajoka Theatre, Lahore, Pakistan); Dijana Milosevic (core-member of Theatre Without Borders, director and co-founder, DAH Theater, Belgrade, Serbia); Loyce Arthur (University of Iowa Department of Theatre Arts faculty and a co-founder of the new Performing Arts & Social Justice Certificate Program).
Moderated by David J. Diamond (core-member of Theatre Without Borders, director of the La MaMa Umbria Symposium), with Jen Shook and Rob Ascher.

This event will take place on Zoom and is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Click here to register for Acting Together on the World Stage…