Patricia L. Ryan

Curriculum Vita 2007

1998 Winner of the Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel Award

for Distinctive and Innovative Contributions to Undergraduate Education at 

StanfordUniversity

 Senior Lecturer, Emerita      Drama, StanfordUniversity

e-mail: patryan@stanford.edu

P. O. Box 909  El GranadaCA  94018-0909


Education

Bachelor of Arts - 1964  WesthamptonCollege of the University of Richmond      Philosophy and Greek Studies (double major)

Master of Arts - 1967 Wayne State University Theatre/Speech [attended 1966-68]

 Completed all course work and languages toward Ph.D. Unpublished MA thesis: "Peter Brook- A Survey of His Directorial Achievements"

Other Education:

1966 -Richmond Professional Institute (Theatre Studies)

1970 -Southern MethodistUniversity (Voice Training Institute with Professor Arthur Lessac)

 1971 -TrinityUniversity (Voice Training with Professor Arthur Lessac)

 1977 -Pennsylvania State University (Acting for the Camera)

1978 -Acting and Performance- a workshop with Joseph Chaikin

 1979- Theatre Games - a workshop with InterAction of London

 1980 -86 Tai Chi Chuan study with Chung Liang Huang of the Living Tao Foundation 

 1980 - The OomotoSchool of Traditional Japanese Arts -Seminar      (Intensive study of Noh Drama, tea ceremony, calligraphy)
      This was funded by a grant from Stanford's East Asian Studies

 1982 - Bali, Indonesia Studied TopengPagegan (Masked dance) with Ida BagusKantor

1982 – BaliIndonesia (Mas Village) studied theatrical mask carving with Ida BagusAnom

1983 - KyotoJapan - Studied utai (chanting for Noh Theatre) with HoshoSchool in Kyoto

1984 - Actor's International Workshop with YoshiOida in Paris (funded by a grant from Stanford's Humanities and Sciences)

 1982-97 - Eleven workshops with Professor Keith Johnstone of the University of Calgary to study Improvisation techniques (SF and Canada)

1987 - Certification Training in Morita Guidance, Health Center Pacific, Maui, Hawaii (Japanese psychology) with Dr. David K. Reynolds

 1988 - International Improvisation School- U. of Calgary with Professor Keith Johnstone( matching grant from Stanford H & S and Drama Dept.)

 1988-1994 Shintaido (Japanese martial art) weekly classes in SF

 1989-97 Bay Area Theatresports School of Improvisation - classes in Musical Theatre, Acting and Storytelling

2005 Private intensive workshop with Keith Johnstone- Half Moon Bay, California

2007 Introduction to Botanical Art and Perspective in Botanical Art - Filoli Gardens- Instructor, Catherine Watters

 


Employment as a Teacher:

·1964-66 - St. Catherine's School, Richmond, VA- Drama Director

·1967-69 - Wayne State University - Graduate Teaching Assistant

·1968 - Detroit Cultural Enrichment Program (summer)

·1969-1975 Denison University - Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts

·1975-77 Pennsylvania State University - Assistant Professor of Voice and Acting (Theatre Arts)

·1979-83 St. Patrick's Seminary, Menlo Park - Lay Faculty Member teaching Homiletics (part time)

·1983-85 St. Joseph's College, Los Altos - Lay Faculty Member teaching Oral Interpretation (part time

·1977-2005 Stanford University - Senior Lecturer in Drama (9-12 courses per year) (Head of Undergraduate Acting)

·1989-present Stanford University - Continuing Studies Program -Faculty (65 courses taught)

·1997 Summer Stanford University - Continuing Studies Program
     "Constructive Living: Common Sense Wisdom from Japanese Roots" - a five week course

·1995-97 Faculty- Bay Area Theatresports Summer Improv School

·1999-present   Esalen Institute - Faculty - Teaching weekend courses on  "The Tao of Improvisation", "Constructive Living: Japanese Wisdom"

and "Improvising Your Life"

·2002  for the School of Engineering/Product Design Division (Stanford)   "Design Improv" a ten week course on the creative process  (Spring, 2002)

 

Workshops taught:

1992 Adobe Systems, Mountain View "Two Days of Spontaneity and TeamBuilding"

1992 Foothill College Mental Health Services - In service training in "TeamBuilding and Using Improvisation in Counseling"

 1992-2001 California Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (Mt.View) "Spontaneity and the Creative Process" a workshop for Professor Jill Mellick's Graduate Seminar in Creativity (taught every quarter)

 1992 Bay Area Theatresports Coaches "Teaching Improvisation" and "Playing with Difficult People"

 1992 Apple Computers, Inc. "A Day of TeamBuilding" for Senior Technology Specialists

 1993 Price Waterhouse, Inc. "A Day of Team Building and Spontaneity"

 1993 Stanford School of Medicine Social Workers - "Team Building and Working Together"

 1993 Stanford's Cowell Health Services - Mental Health Professionals In service lecture and workshop on the "Value of Improvisation to Mental Health"

 1993 The Environmental Protection Agency "Team Building and Opening the Imagination" (for Creative Advantage)

 1994 The California Institute of Integral Studies, SF - Master of Business Program - "Team Building and Problem Solving" for Professor Claude Whitmyer, Director of the MBA Program

1994 Stanford's Department of Product Design (School of Mechanical Engineering) March, 1994 weekend intensive (EXPE) on "Creativity and Improvisation" for corporate business groups. (An evening of Improvisation and TeamBuilding for Professor Rolf Faste)

 1995 Vega Institute, (Oroville, CA) "Living Your Life to the Fullest- Constructive Living Principles for Cancer Patients" - a one day workshop

 1995 California Institute of Transpersonal Psychology - Graduate Seminar on "Finding the Spontaneous Self - Creativity in Everyday Life" (Dr. Jill Mellick, sponsor)

 1997 Hewlett Packard - Workshop on "Building Community in the Workplace" (offsite training)

1998 EXTEMPO Systems, Inc. (software company)- Six week course for employees on "Creating Characters Through Improvisation"

1998 Collaborative Economics - Workshop on Creativity and Team Building

1999 Digital Impact, Inc.  - Workshop on Creativity and Team Building

1999-2002 Guest Lecturer- Mayfield Fellows- Stanford

2001 The Lucille and David Packard Foundation - Workshop on "Listening to Each Other - Spontaneity and Teamwork"

2001-2007  The Esalen Institute, Big SurCalifornia -  "Improvising Our Lives" a weekend workshop on the value of play and attention

1999-2004 Guest Lecturer “Creativity and Entrepreneurship”for Engineering 145

2003- May   Keynote Speaker -  Stanford Women's Health Initiative  "Healthy Living Conference- Lake Tahoe"     Topic:  "Improvising Our Lives During Crazy Times"
2003 - September  "A Day of Naikan Practice"  A workshop led for the Palo Alto Buddhist Women's Association
2004 - March - Keynote speaker  "Spontaneous Living:  Parenting, the Ultimate Improvisation"  for the Palo Alto Mothers' Symposium,  Stanford University
 
2004- March - Plenary Presenter  "Improvisation: Thinking INSIDE the Box"  for the National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance (NCIIA)  San Jose, CA
2004 December - The Gap Leadership Team -offsite- Torrey Pines Lodge, San Diego  "Improvising: Tools for Rethinking Customer Service"
2006 Banff Centre for Leadership Studies - "The Leader as Improviser" Workshop for Design Symposium

2006 International Society for Performance Improvement - Plenary Speaker _ Improvising Our Performance: "Faking It or Making It Better?" 

2006 Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Association of YMCA Professionals - Keynote speaker - "When You Need to Improvise"

2006 Konya, Turkey - Rumi Symposium - "Listening to Rumi:  Advice for Everyday Life"

2006 Istanbul, Turkey - Creativity workshop for Intekno Group

2007 IDEO- Palo Alto - Improvisation workshops - "Play Opens the Mind"

2007 Carnegie Mellon West - Software Engineers Offsite Retreat - “The Magic of Teamwork: Making Your Partner Shine”

2007 The Woods Institute for the Environment - Stanford University - "Building a Creative Team"

2007 Health, Work and Wellness Conference Toronto, Canada "Making Friends with Chaos" Preconference Workshop

Theatrical Experience:

1963 The Virginia Museum Theatre, Richmond - Courtesan, COMEDY OF ERRORS, directed by Eric Christmas

 1963 UNTO THESE HILLS, (Outdoor Drama) Ashville, NC - Wilani (Leading role)

 1964 THE LOST COLONY, (Outdoor Drama) ManteoNC - Dame Coleman, Joe Layton, director

 1967-69 Hilberry Classic Repertory Theatre, Detroit :(three years as an actress) representative roles include: Helena -A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM, Lysistrata -LYSISTRATA, Maria- TWELFTH NIGHT, Lady Britomart- MAJOR BARBARA, Calpurnia- JULIUS CAESAR, Lucienne-A FLEA IN HER EAR

1972-73 Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Boulder (two seasons) Paulina -THE WINTERS TALE, Olivia - TWELFTH NIGHT, Thaisa- PERICLES, Charmian- ANTHONY AND CLEOPATRA

 1974 -75 Timberlake Playhouse, Mt. Carroll, Illinois (two seasons) Mama Rose - GYPSY, Joanne - COMPANY, All roles -TWIGS

 1975 Denison University Evy- THE GINGERBREAD LADY

 1977 Pennsylvania State University - Helen-A TASTE OF HONEY

 1977 The Nebraska Repertory Theatre (guest artist) Dolly Levi - THE MATCHMAKER, Maxine-THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA, Fr. Schneider-CABARET

 1978 Stanford University Department of Drama - Louise Rafi -THE SEA

 1982 Stanford University Department of Drama - Goneril - KING LEAR, Directed by Goeffrey Reeves

 1987 and 1993 Stanford University Office of Development - JANE STANFORD: The Idea of the University (a one woman show) directed by Professor Charles Lyons for the Cornerstone Celebration [Selections performed at inauguration of President Caspar]

 1997 - Olga Knipper - "Readings from the Letters of Anton Chekhov" BROTHER CHEKHOV Continuing Studies Celebration (July)

As Director:

1976 OtterbeinCollege, guest director: TOBACCO ROAD,Les FOURBERIES de SCAPIN

 1976 PennsylvaniaStateUniversity - HAY FEVER

 1969-75 Denison University (Fifteen Productions ) including - THE CHERRY ORCHARD, THE GOOD PERSON OF SETZUAN, AND MISS REARDON DRINKS A LITTLE, ANTIGONE, PATIENCE, and ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD

 1978 Theatreworks , Palo Alto - THE GOODBYE PEOPLE

 1980 and 1985 Stanford University THE MADNESS SHOW directed for Dr. Philip Zimbardo for presentation to Psychology I classes.

 1990-present - The Stanford Improvisors founder and coach. 30-40 performances per year and 20+ workshops led.
 

Other Professional Activities:

Invited Lectures

1969 Denison University : British Fine Arts Festival "Peter Brook and the British" Theatre

 1970 Mansfield, Ohio - Industrial Management Club "Woman in a Man's World"

 1974 Denison University "Woman and Financial Independence"

 1974 Ohio Wesleyan University "On Directing for the Theatre"

 1975 Ohio University "Chekhov's THE SEAGULL"

 1985 Western Psychological Association "On Psychology and Drama-The Interface" a joint address with Professor Philip Zimbardo

 1986 American Association of Drama Therapists, Antioch University "Psychology and Drama: Tools for Conscious Change" a joint address with Professor Philip Zimbardo

 1987 The Nijubashi Society of San Francisco "The Oomoto Experience"

 1989 Duke University - Asian Pacific Studies Institute - Triangle East Asia Colloquium "A Plain Talk about Two Eastern Therapies-Morita and Naikan: Common Sense from Japan" [I was the keynote speaker for the Fall Symposium on Buddhism and Psychotherapy]

 1990 International Association of Morita Therapy (Japan) paper on "Morita Therapy for the Well: Towards a Superior Life" presented in April in Hammamatsu, Japan

 (also published in the Journal of Morita Therapy, Vol. 1, No., October, 1990)

 1990-2002 (yearly) "Improvisation: Open Your Mind" : a lecture and demonstration class - Stanford's Department of Mechanical Engineering (Department of Product Design) guest lectures for Professor Rolf Faste undergraduate course in Visual Thinking and graduate course in Ambidextrous Thinking

 1991 International Naikan Congress (Tokyo, Japan) Invited lecture on "Naikan in America" September at Aoyama University- Gakuin Congress Hall in Tokyo

 1992 and 1994 Meaningful Life Therapy Group - The Pasteur Institute, Kyoto - Invited lecture on "Living Well Today"

 1992 Stanford Sierra Camp - Faculty speaker - "Improvisation- Don't Be Prepared"

1994 (June) Julia Morgan Theatre in Berkeley - Symposium on Improvisation. Paper - "Improvisation-The New Paradigm"

 1997 (June) "Creativity in Business" - a keynote speech for Sun Microsystems - Nihon Branch Managers group

1997 (September) "Taming the Voice of Judgment" for Stanford's Graduate School of Business course: CREATIVITY IN BUSINESS

1998 (January) Distinguished Lecturer Series (Palo Alto) "Improvisation: Don't Be Prepared"- Public Lecture

1999 Stanford Sierra Camp - Faculty speaker - "Improvisation- Don't Be Prepared"

2002 (May) Stanford Sierra Camp's ninth annual Healthy Living Women's Retreat during the weekend of May 15 -18, 2003- Guest Presenter

University Service:

Denison University

 1971-73 University Senator

 1972-73 Coordinator of the Arts (University wide administrative position)

 1972-75 Chair, Faculty Research Development Council

 1973-74 Director of Recruiting- Great Lakes Colleges Association- New York Arts Program

 1975 Chair, Senate Amendments Committee

 1975 University Governance Review Commission

 1969-74 Director of Experimental Theatre

 1969-75 Admissions Committee, Library Committee and Freshman Advisor

 1972 and 1974 Director London Theatre Trip (January Term)

 1974 Director - New York Theatre Trip

PennsylvaniaStateUniversity

 1976-77 Vocal Coach to the University Theaters 

 1976-77 URTA MFA Acting Referee 

StanfordUniversity

 1980 - Freshman Advisor (several other years as well) 

 1979-1994 Audition coach for URTA national auditions 

 1981 & 84 Drama Department Production Committee 

 1985, 1989 and 1994 Head of Undergraduate Acting Program 

1989-90 Freshman Orientation -Program leader

 1990 - "The Voice of Jane Stanford" for the Stanford Development Office 

 1990 - Workshop for the American House on Improvisation 

 1991 - Founded the STANFORD IMPROVISORS (ongoing group which I coach) 

 1992 - Performed as Jane Stanford for the Centennial Green Commemoration Ceremony 

 1992 - Improvisation School for Kids - (July, 1992) Director and faculty 

 1993 and 1994 - STANFORD SUMMER IMPROVISATION SCHOOL- Director and faculty 

 1997 - Founder and Coordinator of the "Creativity Initiative" (Stanford)

2002-2005 Performed as Jane Stanford for Community Day, Founders Celebration - Stanford

Public Service:

1982 San Francisco Mayors Task Force on GGNRA Development- Arts Utilization subcommittee 

 1985-87 President Board of Directors THE APPRENTICE ALLIANCE,San Francisco

 1985-2001 Board of Directors (Treasurer) Bay Area Theatresports

 1987-88 Board Member, The California School of Traditional Japanese Arts

 1986-96American Coordinator THE OOMOTO SCHOOL OF TRADITIONAL JAPANESE ARTS KameokaKyotoJapan [I go over yearly to assist in the administration of this program] 

 1982-87 Volunteer teacher of speech (weekly) to Corpus Christi Monastery (cloistered nuns) 

 1987 -present Director of the San FranciscoCenter for Constructive Living 

 1988-present Volunteer - delivering meals to AIDS patients (weekly) for Project Open Hand, San Francisco 

 1982 Master class in American Voice methods to the National School of Drama in New DelhiIndia (during leave of absence) 

 1992 - OMI Neighbors In Action - Tree Planting Committee 

 1992 – 1999 San Francisco Broom Brigade (Neighborhood cleanup) 

 1997 HAASCENTER - Participant - Service Learning Institute

2000 – Half Moon Bay Rotary Club – Guest Speaker “Improvising, a Way of Life”

2003-07 Zen Center of San Francisco Financial Advisory Board

Grants Received:

1970 and 1971 DenisonUniversity Research Foundation Grant 

 1980 East Asian Studies grant to attend the Oomoto School of Traditional Japanese Arts in Japan (summer 1980) 

 1981 Stanford H and S grant to study in Asia (Dean Norman Wessells

 1984 Matching grant from H & S and Drama Dept. to attend training in Paris

 1987 Dean's grant to attend Constructive Living Certification Training, MauiHawaii

 1989 Matching grant from H and S and Drama Dept. to attend InternationalImprovisationSchool in Calgary with Professor Keith Johnstone

 1995 Private Grant to the Department of Drama (Mrs. Billie Achilles) for a writing sabbatical to work on book: IMPROVISING: A New Way

 1998 Winner of Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel Award for Distinctive and Innovative Contributions to Undergraduate Education at Stanford 

Publications:

Patricia Ryan Madson.  IMPROV WISDOM: Don't Prepare, Just Show Up. New York: Bell Tower. May, 2005  ISBN: 1-4000-8188-2

Patricia L. Ryan.  "You Don't Need Confidence To Improvise" Interactive Theatre, Summer
, 1995, Vol 4, No. 3.


                           "Constructive Living," MINDFULNESS AND MEANINGFUL WORK. Claude Whitmyer, ed., Parallax Press, Berkeley, 1994.

                           "Constructie Living for the Well: Toward a Superior Life," PLUNGING THROUGH THE CLOUDS. Dr. David K. Reynolds, ed., StateUniversity of New York Press, 1993.

                                [This article was first presented as a paper to the First International Congress of Morita Therapy in HammamatsuJapanApril 21, 1990]

________________"Shidosha," PLUNGING THROUGH THE CLOUDS. Dr. David K. Reynolds, ed., StateUniversity of New York Press, 1993.

________________"The Dancing Lesson," RAINBOW RISING FROM A STREAM. Dr. David K. Reynolds, ed., William Morrow & Co., NY, 1992.

________________"Naikan at Senkobo," FLOWING BRIDGES, QUIET WATERS: Japanese Psychotherapies, Morita and Naikan. Dr. David K. Reynolds, ed., StateUniversity of New York Press, 1989.

_____________________"A Plain Talk about Two Eastern Therapies- Morita and Naikan: Common Sense from Japan," a paper delivered as the keynote speaker of the Triangle East Asia Colloquium on 'Buddhism and Psychotherapy,' -DUKE University, October 28, 1989, Department of East Asian Studies.

______________________"Naikan in America," a paper given at the First International Naikan Congress, Aoyama University-Gakuin, Tokyo, Japan, September 15, 16, 1991.

_______________________"Using Morita Therapy in Education," a paper given at the International Congress of Morita Therapy in BeijingChina in April of 1995.