A teaching team of five led by Roadside's Dudley Cocke offered students at the College of William and Mary a crash course in grassroots theater theory and playmaking.

The theme for the two semester course was "Race Relations in Williamsburg, 1955-1975," and the exciting mainstage play that resulted from the undertaking focused on the desegregation of the Williamsburg public schools.

"From Community to Stage: Creating Theater Through a Grassroots Endeavor," placed the Williamsburg community at the center of both the pedagogical and playmaking process. For many students, it was their first real acquaintance with the Williamsburg community, whose residents they relied upon for the oral history of the civil rights era.

Joining Dudley as instructors were Theresa Holden, a former college theater teacher and current director of the Artist and Community Connection based in Austin, Texas; Robbie McCauley, Bessie and Obie award-winning writer, director, and performer from New York City; Bruce McConachie, Professor of Theater and American Studies at William and Mary; and Robin Veder, a doctoral candidate in American studies at the college. The course's design evolved from Roadside's teaching theater at Cornell University, 1990-93.

Because of the success of the course, it will be continued next year with resident college faculty. Meanwhile, Roadside will be exploring theater curriculum initiatives with new higher education partners.