Andrew Papa

Andrew Papa

Department Chair
Associate Professor of Theatre
University Honors Program Affiliate Faculty

Andrew Papa
Contact Info:
Campus: McNichols Campus
Building: Briggs Building
Room: 210
Phone: 313-993-3220
Andrew Papa
Areas of Expertise:
Voice and Speech
Accents/Dialects
Improvisation
Acting

Degrees

  • M.F.A. from Wayne State University
  • B.F.A. from Central Michigan University

Biography

Andrew Papa earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Broadcast & Cinematic Arts at Central Michigan University, a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre at Wayne State University and holds a Certificate in Advanced Theatre Training from The Moscow Art Theatre School in Moscow, Russia. Papa is also a Fitzmaurice Voicework® certified teacher and has studied at the Stratford Festival in Ontario and The Second City Training Center in Chicago, Illinois. He regularly teaches Fundamentals of Acting, Fundamentals of Human Expression, Introduction to the Arts, Voice and Movement and several other courses.

Papa has performed as an actor with the Williamston Theatre, Shakespeare Royal Oak, and the Matrix Theatre Company, among several others. He has also worked as a dialect/text/speech coach on professional theatre productions and with clients one-on-one. Recent research interests include dramaturgy, performance anxiety, and performance theory and pedagogy. His research and other scholarly publications have appeared in the Voice and Speech Review and Methods: A Journal of Acting Pedagogy. Papa joined Detroit Mercy in 2015 and became chair of the Department of Performing Arts in 2023.

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    Courses Taught at University of Detroit Mercy

    • Acting II: Realism
    • Acting and Directing for the Camera
    • Acting Styles
    • Computer Animation and Voice Acting
    • Directed Studies in Acting
    • Fundamentals of Acting
    • Fundamentals of Human Expression
    • Improvisation
    • Introduction to the Arts
    • Introduction to Theatre
    • Script Analysis
    • Senior Seminar in Theatre Studies
    • Voice and Movement
    • Voice and Diction
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    Research Leading to Creative Activity & Scholarship

    Acting

    • Pride and Prejudice – Detroit Mercy Theatre Company
    • 66 Trips to Lansing - National Audio Theatre Festival
    • Alabama Story - Detroit Mercy Theatre Company
    • It's A Wonderful Life - Detroit Mercy Theatre Company
    • Motherhood Out Loud - Matrix Theatre Company
    • The Complete History of America [abridged] - Detroit Mercy Theatre Company
    • The Foursome - Tipping Point Theatre
    • True West - Tipping Point Theatre
    • The 39 Steps - Tipping Point Theatre

    Directing

    • The Norwegians - Detroit Mercy Theatre Company
    • Bus Stop - Detroit Mercy Theatre Company
    • Check Please - University of Detroit Mercy
    • Ebenezer - Detroit Mercy Theatre Company
    • Hitchcocked: An Audio Serial - Detroit Mercy Theatre Company
    • War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast - Detroit Mercy Theatre Company

    Dialect Directing/Text Coaching

    • Pride and Prejudice – Detroit Mercy Theatre Company
    • Assassins – The Ringwald Theatre
    • 100 Saints You Should Know - Detroit Mercy Theatre Company
    • Alabama Story - Detroit Mercy Theatre Company
    • Midsummer Night’s Dream – Detroit Mercy Theatre Company

    Dramaturgy

    • The Light – Tipping Point Theatre

    Publications

    • Papa, Andrew. Review of “The Complete Business Speaker: How to Prepare and Deliver Effective Business Presentations," written by Mitchell J. Tropin, M.A.. Voice and Speech Review.
    • Papa, Andrew, Cabral, Adriano, and Gonzales, Elisa. “Intellectual, Emotional, and Spiritual Approaches to the Fitzmaurice Voicework Focus Line.” Voice and Speech Review. DOI: 10.1080/23268263.2020.1840143.
    • Papa, Andrew. Review of Feldenkrais for Actors: How to Do Less and Discover More," written by Victoria Worsley. Methods: A Journal of Acting Pedagogy, Fall 2018, p. 153-155.
    • Papa, Andrew. Review of The Successful Voice: Strategies, Drills and Exercises for Public Speaking, Acting and Everyday Conversation, written by John Ross, Jr. Voice and Speech Review, 24 Apr. 2018, p. 224-226.
    • Papa, Andrew. Review of Book of Sides II: Original Two-Page Scenes for Actors and Directors, written by Dave Kost. Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group), 2017

    Academic Conferences (Presentations, Panels, & Papers)

    • Papa, Andrew. “Consider the Source: A Citational Deliberation on Impulse vs. Spontaneity in Performance.” Association for Theatre in Higher Education Conference, 30 July 2022, GMRenCen, Detroit, MI. Conference Paper as a Contribution to a Panel.
    • Papa, Andrew. “Utilizing the New Play Exchange for Inclusive Actor Training.” Association for Theatre in Higher Education Conference, 30 July 2022, GMRenCen, Detroit, MI. Presentation as a Contribution to a Panel.
    • Papa, Andrew. “Conversing with Artists/Scholars: In Defense of Pencil-to-Paper Marginalia.” Association for Theatre in Higher Education Virtual Conference, 06 Aug. 2021, Conference Paper as a Contribution to a Panel/Roundtable.
    • Papa, Andrew and Conrad, Megan. “Faculty Conversations: Theater and Mechanical Engineering.” University of Detroit Mercy, Scholarly Achievement Week, April 20, 2021. Presentation as a Contribution to a Panel.
    • Papa, Andrew. “Driven to Love: Finding Combustible Characters, Energetic Scenes, and Resilient Performances.” Association for Theatre in Higher Education Digital Conference, 24 Jul. 2020, Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, Detroit, MI. Conference Presentation.
    • Rothacker, Thomas and Papa, Andrew, et. al. “How to Teach & Reach: A Sharing of Ideas When Working in the Acting Studio with Non-Majors.” Association for Theatre in Higher Education Digital Conference, 01 Aug. 2020, Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, Detroit, MI. Conference Presentation.
    • Aliano, Kelly and Papa, Andrew, et. al. “Transforming the Teacher-Student Relationship Through Assessment in the Theatre Classroom.” Association for Theatre in Higher Education Digital Conference, 24 Jul. 2020, Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, Detroit, MI. Conference Presentation.
    • Chang, Megan and Papa, Andrew, et. al. “Teaching Resilience in the Performance Studio.” Association for Theatre in Higher Education Digital Conference, 01 Aug. 2020, Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, Detroit, MI. Conference Presentation.
    • Papa, Andrew, Cabral, Adriano, and Gonzales, Elisa. “Emotional, Intellectual, and Spiritual Approaches to the Fitzmaurice Focus Line.” Connectors Communicators and Culture, Voice and Speech Trainers Association Conference, 06 Aug. 2019, Embassy Suits, Orlando, FL. Conference Presentation.
    • Hague, Daydrie and Papa, Andrew. “Anxiety and the Performer.” Soma & Science: Bridging the Gap in Interdisciplinary Voice Training, Voice and Speech Trainers Association/Pan-American Vocology Association Joint Conference, 13 Aug. 2018, Cornish Playhouse, Seattle, WA. Conference Presentation.
    • Browne, Mary Maxine and Papa, Andrew, et. al. “Voice-Speech-Action: Connecting Truth to Power in Performance.” Theatres of Revolution, Association for Theatre in Higher Education Conference, 05 Aug. 2018, The Westin Boston Waterfront, Boston, MA. Conference Presentation and Panel.
    • Hague, Daydrie, Chaffee, Amy, and Papa, Andrew. “Anxiety and the Performer: History, Hypotheses, and Help.” Spectacle: Balancing Education, Theory and Practice, Association for Theatre in Higher Education Conference, 04 Aug. 2017, Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV. Conference Panel and Paper.
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    Awards & Honors

    • Gallery Award Winner – Edward the Second (Best Rogue-Actor)
    • Harriet Kanter Award – Wayne State University
    • Irene Ryan Nominee (Semifinalist) – American College Theatre Festival
    • Jacqueline Eckhous Award – Wayne State University
    • Riecker Interpretive Theatre Award – Central Michigan University
    • Second City Immersion Scholarship – Second City Conservatory
    • The Silver Award – 66 Trips to Lansing – National Audio Theatre Festival
    • The Wilbur Moore Prize – Central Michigan University
    • Wilde Award Nominee – Alabama Story (Best Performance, Supporting Actor)
    • Wilde Award Nominee – The Cider House Rules (Best Actor in a Drama)
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    Grants

    • 2021 - The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning - Flame Grant supporting “Computer Animation/Voice Acting” course.
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    Organizations & Affiliations

    • Actor’s Equity Association (EMC)
    • Applied Improvisation Network
    • Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE)
    • New Play Exchange (NPX)
    • Productions Plus Talent Agency
    • Theatre Communications Group
    • Voice and Speech Trainers Association (VATSA)