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Photo of Lucien Douglas

Lucien Douglas, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Acting

Department of Theatre and Dance

College of Fine Arts

UT Austin

I view teaching as a sharing of visions between teacher and students.

Acting students must bring emotional investment to their work. Because each student is unique to his/her personal life experiences, my teaching does not dictate a single way of working; rather, through the practice of fundamental acting techniques I strive to help students see things in ways they have not yet imagined. This leads to a deeper understanding of the use of self in performance—it opens up the creative imagination. That’s key for me—imagination. Einstein said it best—“imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” The actor must discover the power of imagination. The more I can tailor things to the uniqueness of each individual, the more effective I am in my teaching. It requires listening and imagination on my part. I like the challenge. For me, that’s teaching.