People

Shawnda Urie

Shawnda Urie graduated with an M.A. in theatre from Villanova University with a focus on directing. She has taught acting, improv, theatre history and script analysis at Delaware Theatre Company, University of Rochester, SUNY Brockport, Roberts Wesleyan College, Finger Lakes Community College and Genesee Community College. Shawnda was a teaching artist with the Rochester City School District for four years, where she helped develop national curriculum for integrating arts, math, and English standards for 1st and 2nd graders. She is also a teaching artist with Geva Theatre Center.

She, along with Leah Stacy, also curated the first two Roberts Wesleyan College Carolyn Bowman Theatre Symposiums. She is an original member of Geva Comedy Improv, having performed with the troupe for three seasons, and was most recently seen onstage in the world premiere adaptation of At Swim Two Boys with DVC and the world premiere of The Fighting Girl’s Guide to Politics at the Rochester Fringe Festival. She previously directed productions of Polaroid Stories at Bread & Water Theatre, All This and Moonlight at Out of Pocket Productions, and has directed eight seasons of the Young Writers Showcase at Geva Theatre Center.