Gillian McNally

Gillian McNally is a Professor of Theatre Education in the School of Theatre and Dance at the University of Northern Colorado and serves as an Equity Advocate for the Provost. She is dedicated to preparing the next generation of theatre educators, teaching both undergraduate and graduate students, and producing the annual Theatre for Young Audiences production that brings high-quality performances to young audiences.

A leader in the field, Gillian has served as Vice President of TYA/USA and chaired the national conference for the American Alliance for Theatre and Education. Her contributions have been recognized with the Alliance for Colorado Theatre’s Higher Education Theatre Educator of the Year Award.

Gillian’s scholarship explores innovation and advocacy in theatre education. Her work has appeared in Voices of a New World: Legacy and Innovation in TYA, TYA Connect, Youth Theatre Journal, ArtsPraxis, Incite/Insight, and Theatre for Young Audiences Today. She has also contributed essays to the books Signs of Change: New Directions in Theatre Education and The Reflexive Teaching Artist: Collected Wisdom from the Drama/Theatre Field.

A proud Longhorn, Gillian earned her M.F.A. in Drama and Theatre for Youth from The University of Texas at Austin. Her passion for equity, creativity, and community engagement continues to shape her teaching, scholarship, and leadership in the arts.

• M.F.A in Drama and Theatre for Youth and Communities, University of Texas at Austin
• B.F.A in Acting, Webster Conservatory

• Vice President and Board Member, TYA/USA 2009-2019
• National Conference Chair, American Alliance for Theatre in Education, 2014
• Resident Teaching Artist, People’s Light and Theatre, 2002-2006
• Academic Advisor, TRIO program, Colorado State University 2006
• Adjunct Instructor/Guest Artist: Temple University, Arcadia University, West Chester University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Denver, Weber State University
• Registrar and Teaching Artist, Denver Center for the Performing Arts
• Teaching Artist, Goodman Theatre

• Theatre for the Very Young
• Community Engagement
• Theatre for Young Audiences
• Applied Theatre
• Creative Drama
• Youth Theatre

• Early Childhood Education and Theatre for the Very Young: Inspiring Joy and Play in Learning.
  International Theatre for Young Audiences Research Network
  (Co-authors: Amanda Rutter, Tamara Goldbogen)
• Do You Love TVY?
  Alliance Theatre Model for Devising for Developing New Works for the Very Young.
• Can Theatre for the Very Young Dare to Talk About Prejudice and Inclusion?
  ArtsPraxis
• Author/Committee Member:
  Denver School of the Arts 6–12 Grade Curriculum
• When The Publisher Won’t Let You Check Out Tomás and the Library Lady: The Role of Institutionalized Racism in TYA.
  Incite/Insight
• Theatre Arts Standards 2009 (Middle School) 2017–18 (Elementary Education).
  Colorado Department of Education
• The Future of Collaboration: TYA Co-Commissions and Co-Productions.
  TYA Today
• Breaking the Borders of Geography and Low Expectations.
  Youth Theatre Journal
• Can Theatre for the Very Young Dare to Talk About Prejudice and Inclusion?
  ArtsPraxis (Co-author: Amanda Rutter)
• Holding Tight to a Process-Centered Philosophy in a Product-Oriented World.
  The Reflexive Teaching Artist: Collected Wisdom from the Drama/Theatre Field.
  Kathryn Dawson and Daniel Kelin. Wilmington: Intellect Books

• Higher Education Theatre Educator of the Year Award, Alliance for Colorado Theatre.
• Engaged Scholarship and Partnership Award, UNC’s Center for Honors, Scholars, and Leadership.
• Drama Teachers Honor Roll, Children’s Theatre Foundation of America.
• Teacher of the Month, National Residence Hall Honorary.
• Favorite Professor, Mortar Board.
• First Year’s Scholars Award, Center for UNC’s Honors, Scholars and Leadership.
• Honored Faculty for High Achieving Freshmen, Residence Hall Association.