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GREGORY L. FARBER

 

Education

M.F.A., Creative Writing, with emphasis in Playwriting, Theatre/English departments, 

Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, May 2007.

                        Thesis play: Bottom Line

                        Committee Members: Guillermo Reyes, Chair; Tamara Underiner, Jeff McMahon

 

            B.A., English, Bentley College, Waltham, MA, December 2002, magna cum laude

Honor’s Thesis: “Dystopian Idea, Utopian Nightmare”

 

Teaching Experience

            Adjunct Instructor, Department of English, Montserrat College of Art.  2008-Present.           
                        Planned a first-year writing course designed to help students improve their
                        communication and critical thinking skills.  Students write several papers
                        wherein they are asked to demonstrate their ability to summarize,
                        synthesize, and analyze complex texts.

                                    EN100: English Composition I

                                    HU205: Humanities II

            Adjunct Instructor, Department of English, Bentley University.  2007-Present.
                        Designed a composition courses around a variety of themes, including 

                        technology, identity, and personal and societal change.  Asked students to
                        further their critical writing and thinking skills by developing and
                        articulating complex arguments and analyses. 
Chose the topic and texts 

                        for the class while creating a syllabus and appropriate assignments.  

                        Designed the course to progressively challenge students to read, think, 

                        and write more complexly and critically.  Individual student conferences 

                        and office hours allowed for personal, one-on-one interaction to make 

                        ensure student progress.

                                    EXP 101: Expository Writing I

                                    EXP 201: Expository Writing II


            Teaching Fellow, Department of Theatre, Arizona State University.  2005-2007.

                        Solely responsible for creation and implementation of course.  Provide course

                        syllabus, workshops, and lectures.  Write and evaluate assignments.  Hold student

                        conferences.  Hold office hours.  Courses include:

                                    THP 261 / ENG 210: Introduction to Playwriting

                                    THP 261 / ENG 210: Introduction to Screenwriting

 

            Writing Teacher, 4 Star Academic Summer Camp, Charlottesville, VA.  2006.

                        Solely responsible for creation and implementation of three two-week courses for

                        high school students looking to continue their education over the summer. 

                        Created course syllabi, lectures, in-class exercises.  Courses include:

                                    Essay Writing 

                                    Creative Writing: including scriptwriting, poetry, fiction

 

            Teaching Assistant, Department of Theatre/Department of English, Arizona State

                        University.  2004-2007.

                        Delivered lectures, graded assignments, held workshop sessions, held office

                        hours.  Courses include:

                                    THP 261 / ENG 210: Introduction to Screenwriting

                                    THP 260 / ENG 210: Introduction to Playwriting 

                                    THP 498/598 / ENG 498/598: The Writer’s Journey 

                                   

            Writing Tutor, Writing Center, Bentley College, Waltham, Massachusetts.  2000-2002. 

                        Provided assistance to students in all aspects of writing.  Students included ESOL,

                        remedial, and advanced.  Assisted in evaluation and development of training for

                        new tutors.

 

            Teaching Assistant, Department of English, Bentley College, Waltham, Massachusetts. 

                        2002.

                        Co-developed syllabus, assignments, and evaluations.  Graded and evaluated

                        papers, led class discussions and workshops.  Course:

                                    EXP101L: Expository Writing

 

            Co-Facilitator, First Year Programs, Bentley College, Waltham, Massachusetts.  2002.

                        Created weekly lesson plans, delivered lectures, graded assignments, conferenced

                        with students.  Course:

                                    Freshman Seminar

 

            ESOL Microsoft Excel Tutor, St. Mary’s, Waltham, MA, Spring 2002.  Volunteered to

                        teach adult ESOL students how to use MS Excel.  Helped students learn

                        technology and business related English words and phrases.  Tutored students in

                        the use of computers for business and professional activities.

 

Teaching and Research Interests

Expository writing

Creative Writing

      Playwriting

      Screenwriting

Experimental/Avant Garde dramatic literature

Contemporary dramatic literature

 

Productions

            “Like Father Like Daughter,” excerpt from Bottom Line
                        Exclamation Point! short play festival, Fort Point Theatre Channel, Boston, MA
                        March 2008.
            Bottom Line, full-length play
                        MFA staged reading series, Arizona State University, April 2007.
            “Statement,” ten-minute play
                        Insomnia and Sunglasses, Playwrights on Campus evening of ten-minute plays,
                        Arizona State University, February 2007.
            “Jesus on the High Seas,” ten-minute musical, co-written with Jeremiah Clay
                        24-Hour Play Festival, Playwrights on Campus, Arizona State University,
                        January 2007.
             Bottom Line, full-length play
                        staged reading, Festival of New Work, Arizona State University, November 2006.
            “Journalistic Integrity,” one-act play
                        Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo, Playwrights on Campus evening of one-act plays,
                        Arizona State University, October 2006.

            “Penury Penitentiary,” ten-minute play

                        Gardner-Webb University Festival of New Work, Boiling Springs, NC, April

                        2006.

            Broken Memories, full-length play

                        MFA staged reading series, Arizona State University, April 2006.

            Taking Leave, full-length play

                        Arizona State University’s Mainstage season, November 2005.

            Unlucky Little Lamb, one-act play

                        Festival of New Work, Firehouse Center for the Arts, Newburyport, MA,

                        September 2005.

            “Penury Penitentiary,” ten-minute play

                        Five of a Kind, ten-minute play festival, ASU, October 2005.

            Taking-Leave

                        MFA staged reading series, ASU, April 2005.

            “Simon Says,” ten-minute play

                        workshop production, ASU, March 2005.

            “No Place Like Home,” ten-minute play

                        workshop production, ASU, February 2005.

            “The Following is a Paid Presentation,” ten-minute play

                        Teatro Caliente festival, Theatre in My Basement, Phoenix, AZ, October 2004.

            “The Following is a Paid Presentation,” ten-minute play

                        Gods, Guns, and Gynecologists ten-minute play festival, ASU, October 2004.

            The Salesman’s Son, one-act play

                        Bentley College, Waltham, MA, February 2003.          

           

Publications/Exhibits

            “Wherever Home Is,” poem/print exhibited

Arizona State’s STEP gallery.  Developed as a collaboration among photographer 

Tracy Longley-Cook, poet Katherine Larsen, and myself as part of Visual Text 2: 

Connection project, February 2006.

            “Playwrights’ News,” online publication

                        Chronicle of Arizona State alumni productions and news, 2005.

            “Central Artery,” poem/print exhibited

Arizona State’s Harry Wood gallery.   Developed as a collaboration between sculptor 

Alison Young and myself as part of the inaugural Visual Text: Transformation project, 

January 2005.

            “Shoot,” poem

                        Published in Piecework, April 2002.

 
Professional Experience
            Director of Development, Theatre on Fire, Charlestown, MA, 2008-Present.
                        Worked to increase local presence, develop online marketing tools, and devise 

                        a long-term marketing strategy.  Researched and wrote grants, and helped make 

                        decisions about theatre’s season.  Helped raise money though grants, donations, and 

                        sponsorships.
            Co-founder/Vice President of Playwrights on Campus, Arizona State University,
            2006-2007.
                        Founded an organization which allows students of all levels to experience
                        productions, readings, and discussions of their plays.  Promoted the organization 

                        and its productions.  Responsible for writing grants and securing funding.  

                        Managed finances and budgets for the organization in the short-term while creating a 

                        long-term organizational model which allows for the continual transition of leadership 

                        and consistent revenue streams. Developed mutually beneficial relationships with 

                        other local theatrical organizations, both on- and off-campus.  Helped choose, schedule, 

                        and organize a season of three to four productions, including securing space, equipment, 

                        and funds as well as directors, designers, actors, stage managers, and crew.  
            Reader/Judge, Arizona Playwrights’ Competition.
                        Read, summarized, and commented on submitted plays for the contest as part 

                        of a group of readers and judges.
            Proofreader, Curriculum Associates, Billerica, Massachusetts.
                        Edited and proofread educational books, pamphlets, and other materials for style, 

                        content, grammar, and punctuation.
            Brief Editor, CCBN, Boston, Massachusetts.
                        Edited, for style and content, financial briefs to be posted on companies’ websites.

Production-related Experience
            Assistant Stage Manager, 7 Blowjobs, by Theatre on Fire, Charlestown, MA, 2008.
            Co-producer of Insomnia and Sunglasses, ten-minute play festival.  Managed budget,
                        designed and distributed publicity, organized rehearsal and performance space, and 

                        worked with playwrights, directors, and designers to coordinate all aspects of production.  

                        February 2007.
            Co-producer of 24-Hour Play Festival.  Gathered and organized over 50 theatre artists to
                        produce short plays in 24 hours.  Coordinated rehearsal times and spaces as well as 

                        designed, organized and distributed publicity.  January 2007.
            Co-producer of Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo, evening of one-act plays.  Organized directors,
                        playwrights, designers for the plays.  Scheduled space, rehearsals, and
                        performances as well as publicized the event and managed the event’s budget.  
                        October 2006.
            Assistant Dramaturg for La Vida Loca in Arizona State University’s Mainstage Festival
                        of New Work.  Helped edit final draft of play, helped give critical feedback on
                        script, assisted in cultural research for use by designers.  November 2006.
            Producer of Five of a Kind, ten-minute play festival.  Organized all aspects of production of 

                        festival, including finding directors, scheduling performances and rehearsals, and 

                        developing publicity.  October 2006.
            Organizer of MFA Playwrights Staged Reading Series.  Organized staged readings for six
                        new works.  April 2006.
            Producer of Gods, Guns, and Gynecologists, ten-minute play festival.  Organized all
                        facets of production, including recruiting directors, scheduling performances and
                        rehearsals, and designing and distributing publicity.  October 2005.

Grants

            Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing, ASU, funding awarded for Playwrights on

                        Campus production of one-act plays.  Fall 2006

            Division of Graduate Studies Travel Grant, for expenses associated with representation at

                        the Firehouse Center for the Arts production of “Unlucky Little Lamb.”  

                        September 2005.

  

Service

           Capstone mentor for undergraduate playwright.  
                        Served as a mentor for a graduating senior as he completed a full-length play as
                        his final project at Arizona State University.  Spring 2007.
            Graduate and Professional Studies Association Grant Reviewer.  Fall 2006.
            Capstone mentor for undergraduate playwright.  
                        Mentored a graduating senior in the School of Theatre and Film as he completed a
                        one-act play for his final project.  Spring 2006.      

 

Distinctions    
            Honorable Mention in FirstStageLA’s One-Act Play Contest for “Journalistic Integrity”
            Finalist in Landless Theatre Company’s “So Bad It’s Good” Competition for Bottom Line
            Virginia G. Piper Fellowship in New Play Development for Bottom Line
            KCACTF Meritorious Achievement Award for Playwriting for Bottom Line
            Arizona State University Teaching Fellow
          

Professional Development

Preparing Future Faculty Program, ASU: A one-year series of seminars dealing with

issues of teaching at the university level, 2005 – 2006.

Course & Syllabus Design workshop: Center for Learning and Teaching Excellence,

ASU.  September 2006.

            Outstanding TA Panel: Division of Graduate Studies Strategies for Success, ASU,

April 2006.

Using Humor in Teaching workshop: Preparing Future Faculty, ASU, March 2006.

            Academic and Artistic Freedom in the University workshop, Preparing Future Faculty,

ASU, November 2005.

            Peer Review in Expository Writing workshop: Bentley College English Department,

Bentley College, October 2001.

 

Professional Affiliations

Dramatists Guild

Playwrights Center, Minneapolis

StageSource, Boston

 

References

References will be provided upon request.