Since March 2022, Emma Alderman has served as the Technical Coordinator for the Theatre of the Arts and the Lighting Supervisor for the Theatre and Performance program at the University of Waterloo. This fall, Emma will be moving on to an exciting new chapter: pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Technical Design and Production at the prestigious David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University.
Emma’s acceptance into this very competitive three-year program followed a rigorous application process, which included a personal interest essay, a Zoom interview, and two in-person interviews. The program has a strong reputation for producing some of the most respected theatre technicians in North America. For Emma, the decision to pursue further education in theatre was deeply intentional. With a partner already working in the entertainment industry in the United States, the timing felt right.
Beyond Yale’s stellar reputation, what truly resonated with Emma were the school’s values—particularly its commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Yale’s emphasis on cultivating changemakers in the theatre industry aligns closely with Emma’s own principles. Teaching and mentoring students at UWaterloo has reminded Emma how much there still is to learn, fueling their desire to grow even further in their field.
Reflecting on their time with the program, Emma holds fond memories of the people they worked with.
They are especially grateful for the supportive team and the students whose passion and curiosity
made every project meaningful. New students entering the program reminded Emma of the joy and creativity that drew them to theatre in the first place. Emma says they will deeply miss collaborating with students on productions and seeing the culmination of their theatrical journeys. They also expressed heartfelt appreciation for the faculty and staff in the Theatre and Performance program, whose encouragement helped inspire Emma to reach higher.
Over the last three years, Emma has achieved much of which to be proud. A particular highlight has been seeing their students grow and thrive in the industry. Co-creating a capstone plan with student Lilian Adom stands out as a particularly rewarding experience, one that underscores Emma’s commitment to mentorship and student success.
As they look ahead to their time at Yale, Emma hopes to strengthen their problem-solving and technical instincts, as well as build confidence in advocating for their ideas. They’re also excited to gain the kind of formal mentorship that is often only found in dedicated learning environments. Long-term, Emma envisions using these experiences to work on larger productions—and possibly return to teaching and mentorship in the future.
We wish Emma all the best as they take this next step.
Emma - your contributions to the Theatre and Performance program have been invaluable, and we’re excited to see how you continue to grow—just as you’ve helped so many of us grow along the way.