Theater Arts

Casem AbuLughod has a Master of Arts degree in Applied Theatre from the City University of New York. He believes that theatre is a tool that can be used for empowerment at the community level and at the individual level. For the community, theatre can be a means of starting a dialogue on issues relevant to the community and a way for a community to create shared memories. At the individual level, theatre allows a participant to learn about themselves and the people around them. Theatre creates moments of learning and self-expression.

During his work on his Master’s degree, Casem co-created an original interactive theatre piece, Honk, for kindergarten classes and co-directed an original work performed by and for senior citizens, Lost in JASA. He co-created and performed an original interactive theatre piece for teens, Standing Up? which was also presented at 2009 AATE/ATHE conference and at the 2010 NYC Arts in Education Roundtable conference.

Before moving back to Wisconsin, Casem taught theatre and film skills to at-risk teens through Dance Theatre Etcetera, a community arts organization in Brooklyn, New York. He also worked with the award-winning Creative Arts Team Youth Theatre, helping create original theatre pieces with teens from every borough in New York City.

He received his Bachelor degree in Communication Arts: Radio, Television and Film from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Casem trained in long-form improvisational technique with the People’s Improv Theatre in New York City.

Casem has participated on and off the stage with Theatre on the Hill at the University of Wisconsin-Washington County, Verona Area Community Theater, Children’s Theatre of Madison, and the Undergraduate Theatre Association as well as other campus groups while attending UW Madison. He has appeared in several short films, some of which were screened at the Wisconsin Film Festival, the Beloit International Film Festival, and Le Giornate del Cinema Muto Film Fair in Sacile, Italy.

Casem is a member of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education.