University of Southern California 2002-2011: Adjunct Theatre Professor


Taught: “Solo Performance,” “Introduction to Acting,” “Intermediate Acting," "Movement for Actors, "Solo Performance," and “Improvisation and Theatre Games.”

American Academy of Dramatic Arts: Theatre and Movement Instructor 1997-2011


Developed and Taught: "Movement for Actors," "Developing the One-Person Show," and "Acting & Directing Exam Plays and Grad Plays."

LA Film School 2010-2011

Taught "Working With Actors" to the film directing students.  Help with casting thesis films.

California State University, Los Angeles: Theatre and Dance Professor / Lecturer 1990-1997 & 2001-2009

Taught: "Emotion in Theatre and Film," "Creative Expereince, “Theatre and Dance in the 21st Century Urban Context,” “Staging Violence in World Theatre,” "Play Analysis," “Developing Dance Literacy, Grades K-6,” and “Living Theatre."

Rio Hondo College 1998-2010: Adjunct Theatre Professor

Taught: "Principles of Acting," "Acting Workshop - The Classics," "Introduction to Theatre," "Musical Theatre Workshop," "Touring Theatre" taking 20 students to perform at the Edinburgh Festival, Scotland.  
Director and Producer of Original One Act Play Festival and co-director and choreographer for Summer Musical Theatre.  Also, Workshop Leader for Project Reach, teaching theatre to elementary school students.

Elephant Theatre Training Lab 2006-2007

Developed and Taught: “Solo Performance Workshop: Developng the One-Person Show

East West Players Theatre Summer Acting Conservatory 2005

Taught: Scene Study

Rio Hondo College 1998-2006: Adjunct Theatre Professor

Taught: “Principles of Acting,” “Acting Workshop - The Classics,” “ Introduction to Theatre,” “Musical Theatre Workshop,” Also, Workshop Leader for Project Reach teaching theatre to elementary school students grades K-6th, directed and choreographed college productions

A.S.K. now called “Playwrights in Schools” 1999-2004

Taught: Acting to at-risk teens and gifted teens in playwriting projects, direct student written scenes
Also developed and teach Teacher Training Program “Playwriting Through Movement.”

Cerritos College: Theatre Professor 1998-1999

Taught: Theatre Appreciation
California Arts Council Grant - Artist in Residency 1998-2000
Taught: “Playwriting” and “Performance and Production Lab” at the California Rehabilitation Center at Norco Prison

Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum 1999, 2003

Taught: “Movement for Actors” and “Elizabethan Dance” in Shakespeare Intensive

University of California, Los Angeles Artsreach Extension Program: Acting and Dance Instructor 1997-1998

Developed and Taught: “Acting: Improvisation to Scene Study” “Dance- Creating Through Movement” at the California Rehabilitation Center at Norco Women’s Prison

Theatre of Hearts- Youth First Program: Dance Instructor 1997

Developed and Taught: Dance to abused teens at the Booth Memorial Center, Lincoln Park

Braille Institute of Los Angeles: Dance Instructor 1997-1998

Developed and Taught: Creative Movement to blind and visually impaired students

University of California, Los Angeles: Theatre Movement Instructor 1996 - 1997

Developed and Taught: “Movement for Actors” to Graduate and Undergraduate Theatre majors

Los Angeles County High School for the Arts: Physical Education Department Chair 1986-1994
 
Developed and Taught: “Creative Movement” the curriculum including dance (ballet, modern, jazz, and cultural dance), gymnastics, fencing, conditioning, and team and individual sports.

East Los Angeles Community College: Acting and Gymnastics Instructor 1993-1994
 
Developed and Taught: “Acting for Children”, “Gymnastics: Beginning through Intermediate”

Mark Taper Forum’s Improvisational Theatre Project: Teacher and Performer 1982
 
Taught: Theatre Improvisation Workshop tour of Los Angeles Unified Schools

Lafayette Cooperative Dance Group: Gymnastics Instructor 1973-1977, Gymnastics teacher and judge.


Guest Artist
 
Building Bridges, After school teacher training program for USC Theatre Students, 2005

Weber Vocal Studios “How To Act a Song” 2004

Mark Taper Forum’s Other Voices Project Playwright’s Disabled Through Violence Workshop 1999-2001

UCLA Colloquium Samovar Millennium Conference “Developing the One Person Play” 1999

U.S.C School of Theatre, Justice in Theatre Course“ Artist’s Working in Correctional Facilities” 1998

Hudson Guild Theatre - Michael Arabian Acting Workshop: “Movement for Actors Seminar” 1998

California Rehabilitation Center, Norco - Men’s Prison - Acting Coach for original play - 1998

Howard Fine Acting Studio, Hollywood: Heidi Davis Class “Movement for Actors Seminar” 1997

California State Thespian Conference: “Fencing Seminar” 1991-1992
 

Artist in Residence / Grants
 
California Arts Council Grant - Theatre Artist Residency 1998-2001

Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Los Angeles: Educational Outreach Program grades K-6, Dance Instructor -1998

California Rehabilitation Center at Norco: Theatre and Dance Instructor 1997-1998
 

Directing Includes:
 
Up From the Downs – Watts Village theatre Project- Inside the Ford Theatre, Holllywood
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change – Secret Rose Theatre, N. Hollywood
Cock Tales – Zephyr Theatre, Hollywood, director/producer
That Certain Cervantes – El Portal Circle Theatre, North Hollywood
The Versus of Ogden Nash – Coronet Studio Theatre, Los Angeles
Original Solo Performance Plays (over 200) – USC, AADA, Elephant Theatre Training Lab
Slaughterhouse Sleepover . . . The Musical!! – Rio Hondo College, Whittier
Charley’s Aunt and Spoon River Anthology and Stepping Out – American Academy of Dramatic Arts
The Merry Wives of Whittier – (An Adaptation of Shakespeare’s Comedy) Rio Hondo College, Whittier
10 One Person Shows - at the El Portal Studio Theatre and Theatre of Hope for Noho Festival
Beds – (Co- directed with Leon Katz) – Stella Adler Theatre, Hollywood
Chavez; Going Toward the Light - Co-Director/Choreographer - Tracy Roberts Acting Studio
One Shoe Untied - Reading for National Play Award Playwright’s Festival, Finalistfor the 1999 Award
The Other Door - Original Student One-Act, American Theatre Festival Finalist 2000, Rio Hondo College
The Buckners and From the Family - Original plays by Inmates of the Calif. Rehabilitation Center, Norco

“Curative Yoga” an instructional yoga DVD
 
“The Tyrants in Therapy” four episodes of a public access cable comedy show
 
The Burglary - Fifth Estate Theatre Los Angeles
And Miss Reardon Drinks A Little - Arena Theatre, CSULA
Thick Crust  - Original Comedy sketches, Exploritorium, CSULA
The Apple Tree - (Assistant Dir. and Choreographer) Edinburgh Festival, Scotland
 
Academic Writing
 
“Developing the One Person Show” Curriculum writing for American Academy of Dramatic Arts, 1998
“Movement for Actors” Curriculum writing for American Academy of Dramatic Arts, 1997
“The Physicalization of A Role” an acting methodology for Theatre Master’s Thesis Cal. State L.A., 1994
“Creative Movement” Curriculum writing for the Physical Education Dept., L.A. County H. S. for the Arts
 
Education and Training

Debra’s Acting/Choreography/Playwriting resumes available on request
 
Debra De Liso is listed in The Selective Hollywood Acting Coaches and Teachers Directory. Also a certified Hatha Yoga instructor, she has been a professional reader for The National Repertory Theatre Foundation Playwright’s Festival Award. She is a volunteer reader for Screen Actors Guild Book Pals, a judge for USC’s Songfest Talent Show, Debra is a member of  A.E.A./A.F.T.R.A./ S.A.G. and the California Teachers Association.