Lisa Haas
Adjunct Lecturer
Speech, Communications and Theatre Arts
EMAIL: lhaas@bmcc.cuny.edu
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Lisa Haas is a comedy writer and actor working in film, television, theatre, voiceover, and education. She has been teaching at BMCC since 2017 and is a former teaching artist with the Metropolitan Guild’s Creative Original Opera Program. Lisa also worked as a writing specialist at the Harlem Children’s Zone. To learn more about her performing arts work, she invites you to pay a visit to her website: www.lisa-haas.com
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THE FALL 2024 COURSE SPE 220-1400 ADVANCE PUBLIC SPEAKING? This course will introduce personal storytelling as a critical communication method. We will examine three dominant modes of communication through personal stories: visual, auditory and written language.
Did you arrive here because of a “for more information” QR code on a flyer? Here is that info: At the end of the semester students will have a 3-part portfolio of their own original personal stories and the experience of using public speaking skills to present them in a visual, auditory (AKA speaking), and written format. To gather our original, personal story material, we will utilize automatic-writing, self-reflections, group reflections, simple drawing, and brainstorming techniques.
We will also watch, listen and read a multitude of personal storytellers and analyze their techniques for presenting their work in a visual, spoken word and/or written/reading format.
Tools you will learn in this class are transferable to many careers, e.g., if you are interested in being a lawyer, any kind of medical professional, teacher, performing artist, director of stage, film or new media, journalist, politician (and/or a political speech writer) and more.
The prerequisite for this course is SPE 100. However, if you have not taken SPE 100, it is possible to enroll in this class for your SPE credit with the permission of the department.
The syllabus will be available soon! If you would like a copy of the syllabus or have any questions please contact me at lhaas@bmcc.cuny.edu
Expertise
Comedy writing and storytelling. Automatic writing & drawing as the basis for creating fiction, non-fiction, drama and essays.
Degrees
M.F.A. University of Montana, Drama
B.F.A. Loretto Heights College, Directing
Long-form improv levels 1-4, Upright Citizens Brigade UCB/NYC
Courses Taught
- The aim of this course is to develop effective skills in speech communication. The student examines how to generate topics and organized ideas, masters elements of audience psychology and practices techniques of speech presentation in a public forum. All elements of speech production and presentation are considered.
- The collaborative nature of the theatrical event will be explored in readings, presentations, play attendance, papers and creative projects. Contributions of the playwright, actor, director, designer, architect, critic, producer and audience will be investigated through selected periods, genres, theatre spaces and styles of production. The student's potential roles and responsibilities in creating theatre will be emphasized.
Research and Projects
Lisa is currently the writer for IN HEAT, a narrative comedy podcast that launched in 2021.
Publications
“The Turkey.” Life Stories section. Salon.com 2019.
“A Brief History of Lesbian Theatre.” Curve Magazine, print edition, December 2010
“Lesbian Theatre Beyond the Coasts.” Curvemag.com, December 2010
“In Heat.” Queer Ramblings Vol. 5 No 3, p. 16-25, Winter 2004-2005
Entertainment Editor for Hip Ink magazine, print edition, 1995-96
Honors, Awards and Affiliations
Dramatist’s Guild of America, 1997 – Present
Member of SAG-AFTRA, 2018 – Present
Artist-in-Residence at the Emerson Gallery Berlin, 2012
Member of the National Academic Advising Association, 2006 – 2008
Recipient of a Jerome Foundation Fellowship, 2001
Artist-in-Residence at the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center, New York Mills, MN, 2001
Additional Information
NEWS! Lisa recently completed filming in the lead role of the feature “Requiring Gig”, which is currently in post-production during 2024.
