Imagine that you could find a guest artist who has extensive classroom experience, professional acting credentials, and an understanding of theater from Aristotle to Voice (if you have a theater “z”, you let us know!) With background in everything from Shakespeare to stage combat, Megan Burnett is next big thing in theater education!

“Megan Burnett as Fanny Kemble brings to life an extraordinary woman who spoke her mind and followed her heart. She takes her audience into the world of this British born actress who became much beloved in America. After Fanny’s marriage to a wealthy plantation owner she was unable to deal with the harsh reality of slavery. Megan, who was awarded an ESU scholarship to study at the Globe Theatre in London, captivates her audience in this fast paced production that leaves the audience with a solid sense of this engaging and courageous woman known as Fanny Kemble.” Sylvia Bruton President, English Speaking Union, Kentucky Branch

About the program

We knew we were on to something when Megan handed out the recipe for fake blood for the stage combat work she was doing with her fifth grade theater class! Ms. Burnett has years of classroom experience as well as professional development programs that really make theater work for teachers and students. While workshops are a primary focus, assembly programs based on the elements are also available, primarily those looking at the elements of production and the elements of drama. With a background that lends itself to the exploration of Western as well as Eastern forms of theater, and a great deal of programming dealing with the slavery and the Civil War period, Megan will be a tremendous asset to schools in the coming year.

Availability:	Summer! June-July 2008 October-November 2008, February-March 2009
Costs for programming:	$720/4 assembly day $360/2 assemblies $400/4 workshop day (single classroom contact hours)*
Program format:	Assembly and workshop
Audience limit:	Assemblies: 250 Workshops: 30
* Prices above reflect significant subsidy from New Performing Arts' fundraising with arts education supporters statewide and nationally.

About the Artist

Megan is an actor, director and teacher who works extensively with The Pleiades Theatre Company, Louisville’s premier women’s theatre company which she co-founded in 1995, Juneteenth Legacy Theatre, a professional African-American theatre company, and she is a narrator for the American Printing House for the Blind. Megan is an English Speaking Union Teacher Scholar and studied at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London the summer of 2004. She went on an educational and cultural tour of Japan in 2005 as a Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund teacher participant. Megan received her MFA in 1991 from the University of Louisville.

One of her favorite theatre experiences was working on the new play, Black Hamlets of the Kentucky Bluegrass with Carridder Jones for a Juneteenth tour, and then for the Juneteenth Jamboree in 2001 she acted with John Henry Redwood and Marcella Lyons in How Long Have I Been Dead Anyway and Bringing Up Odessa, respectively. Megan directed A...My Name is Still Alice, Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch, Coffee Klatch, and other new works for the Pleiades. Megan’s professional theatre career began in Oklahoma City and she has acted, directed or taught for Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, Derby Dinner Playhouse, Fort Harrod Drama, Stage West, Indiana Shakespeare Festival, and Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park. Some of her favorite acting roles were in Taming of the Shrew, The Kathy and Mo Show, Streetcar Named Desire, Kate and Isabel, Grease, The Faith Healer, No Exit, Alice Moments: Echoes, Ripples and Light, to name just a few. Megan has taught communications and drama at Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes, KY, since 2007.