My name is Karen Cotton.
In my professional life:
I’m a full-time entertainment/features reporter for the Wyoming Tribune Eagle.
I write primarily for the ToDo and Journey sections of the newspaper.
I have held that position for nine years.
Fellowship 2008: Certificate of completion from the University of Southern California Annenberg National Endowment of the Arts Journalism Institute of Musical Theater and Theater.
www.nea.gov/news/news07/aji.html.
In my private life:
I am a writer, artist, photographer, musician, dancer and aspiring author.
My Education:
Degrees held: Bachelor’s degree in communication and mass media with an emphasis in journalism from the University of Wyoming. Associate’s of arts degree in communication from Western Wyoming Community College.
In February I was chosen to participate in the National Endowment for the Arts University of Southern California Annenberg National Endowment of the Arts Journalism Institute of Musical Theater and Theater fellowship.
www.nea.gov/news/news07/aji.htmlThe training I received was a 10 day-long intensive, learning experience in Los Angeles, Calif. On a daily basis I participated in writing workshops, saw one, two or three plays, wrote critiques, listened to lectures and took acting, theater history and theater-related courses. I also learned about all of the aspects of the theater by listening to the lectures of theater producers, actors, costume designers, choreographers, lighting technicians and playrights.
The following people were members of the fellowship’s guest faculty and presenters:
Ben Cameron, program director for the arts, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; Gil Cates, producing director, Geffen Playhouse; Thomas Leabhart, theater professor, Pomona College; Steven Leigh Morris, theater editor, L.A. Weekly; Dominic Papatola, theater critic, St. Paul Pioneer Press; Misha Berson, chief theater critic, Seattle Times; Charles McNulty, chief theater critic, Los Angeles Timesand Jack Viertel, artistic director of City Center Encores!Carey Perloff, artistic director of San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theater.
Here are some of the productions that I saw during my fellowship:
“The Color Purple,” “Orson’s Shadow,” Los Angeles Premiere of “The Wooster Group: Hamlet,” World Premiere of “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,” “Carnage, A Comedy,” World Premiere of “Dickie & Babe: The Truth About Leopold & Loeb,” The World Premiere of “Joan Rivers: A Work in Progress by a Life in Progress,” written by and starring Joan Rivers, at the Geffen Playhouse and The World Premiere of “Voices From Okinawa.”