University of Southern California 2002-2009: Adjunct Theatre Professor
Teach: “Solo Performance,” “Introduction to Acting,” “ Intermediate Acting,” and “Improvisation and Theatre Games.” Served as Faculty Mentor for theatre students, and Faculty Advisor of Improv Co. ’04-‘07.
California State University, Los Angeles: Theatre and Dance Professor/ Lecturer 1990-1997 & 2001-2009
Teach: “Theatre and Dance in the 21rst Century Urban Context,” “Emotion in Theatre and Film,” “Play Analysis,” “Staging Violence in World Theatre,” “Creative Experience,” “Living Theatre” “Developing Dance Literacy, Grades K-6” and “Dance Movement and Human Awareness,” “Creative Drama for the Elementary Classroom”
American Academy of Dramatic Arts: Theatre and Dance Professor 1997-2009
Developed and Teach: “Developing the One-Person Show,” “Movement for Actors,” and “Acting I”
Also Direct Exam and Grad Plays
Elephant Theatre Training Lab 2006-2007
Developed and Teach: “Solo Performance Workshop”
East West Players Theatre Summer Acting Conservatory 2005
Teach: Scene Study
Rio Hondo College 1998-2006: Adjunct Theatre Professor
Teach: “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, direct and choreograph college productions
A.S.K. now called “Playwrights in Schools” 1999-2004
Teach: 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
Teach: Theatre Appreciation
California Arts Council Grant - Artist in Residency 1998-2000
Teach: “Playwriting” and “Performance and Production Lab” at the California Rehabilitation Center at Norco Prison
Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum 1999, 2003
Teach: “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 Teach: “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 Teach: Dance to abused teens at the Booth Memorial Center, Lincoln Park
Braille Institute of Los Angeles: Dance Instructor 1997-1998
Developed and Teach: Creative Movement to blind and visually impaired students
University of California, Los Angeles: Theatre Movement Instructor 1996 - 1997
Developed and Teach: “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 Teach: “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 Teach: “Acting for Children”, “Gymnastics: Beginning through Intermediate”
Mark Taper Forum’s Improvisational Theatre Project: Teacher and Performer 1982
Teach: 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
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University of California, Los Angeles
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MFA Acting 1997 Awarded Fellowship Jack Nicholson Prize
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California State University, Los Angeles
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MA Theatre 1994 Graduated Phi Kappa
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California State University, Los Angeles
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BA Theatre 1979Best Actress Award
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Royal National Theatre, London
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Professional Programme 1990 Hosted by Sir Ian McKellan
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Studio Training - Acting
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Jose Quintero, Mel Shapiro, Augusto Boal, Jim Kirkwood
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Film/Television
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Gil Cates, Larry Eric
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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.