John Newman

Faculty Member

Dr. John Newman

Biography

Dr. John Newman earned his BFA at the University of Utah, MA at the University of Texas, and PhD at New York University. He taught at Highland High for 18 years and served as Artistic Director for the Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts. Dr. Newman is the Director of the Theatre for Youth and Education (TYE) Center and a Full Professor in the Utah Valley University Department of Theatrical Arts, which he chaired for three years. His book, Playwriting In Schools_ Dramatic Navigation, is published with Intellect and received the 2020 Distinguished Book Award from the American Alliance for Theatre and Education.

Education

PhD, New York University, 2006

Major: Educational Theatre

MA, University of Texas at Austin, 1999

Major: Drama and Theatre for Youth

M Ed, University of Utah, 1994

Major: Critical and Cultural Studies

BFA, University of Utah, 1991

Major: Theatre Teaching

Teaching

THEA 2100

Teaching Theatre For Children FF, Spring 2025

THEA 2211

Theatre for Children and Youth, Spring 2025

THEA 481R

Theatre Internship, Spring 2025

THEA 481R

Theatre Internship, Spring 2025

THEA 481R

Theatre Internship, Spring 2025

THEA 481R

Theatre Internship, Spring 2025

Presentations

Newman, John , AATE 2024 National Conference, "Illuminating Disabled Characters", American Alliance for Theatre and Education, Chicago. (July, 2024)
Newman, John , AATE Utah TIOS Conference_ Theatre & Disabilities, "Plenary Session on Characters & Actors with Disabilities, Hosted Conference", American Alliance for Theatre and Education, Utah Valley University. (March, 2024)
Newman, John , TYA-USA 2024 National Conference, "Illuminating Disabled Characters", TYA-USA aka ASSITEJ-USA, Atlanta. (March, 2024)
Newman, John , AATE 2023 National Conference, "Illuminating Disabled Characters", American Alliance for Theatre & Education, Seattle, WA. (July, 2023)
Newman, John (Co-Chair), Millinger, Jenny (Co-Chair), Laurenseon, Julia Hogan (Co-Chair), AATE 2022 National Conference, "I Have a Story_ Collaborative Playwriting Between Youth and Adults", American Alliance for Theatre and Education, Providence RI. (August 6, 2022)
Newman, John , Gourley, Wendy , Stewart, Mahonri , Chappel, Drew , AATE 2021 National Conference online, "Noorda Theatre Youth Plays_ Tailoring Plays for Young Actors", America Alliance for Theatre and Education, Online. (July, 2021)

Scholarly/Creative Works

Newman, John , "Griffin and Darcy" .
Newman, John , "The Patchwork Girl of Coronado" .
Newman, John , (2025) "Romeo & Juliet_ Adapted from William Shakespeare by J.D. Newman" . Newport, Maine: Leicester Bay Theatricals.
Newman, John , (2023) "Sandy and the Dance of Faith, Stage Adaptation" .
Newman, John , Perry, Michael , (2021) "Clara and the Mermaids" . Newport ME: Leicester Bay Books. https://leicesterbaybooks.com/
Newman, John , Perry, Michael , (2021) "Four Plays for Teen Actors & Audiences by J.D. Newman" (vol. Theatre for Young Audiences Series Volume 7). Newport ME: Leicester Bay Theatricals. 897 East 7945 South

Awards

Faculty Senate Teaching Award

UVU Faculty Senate - April 18, 2025

Recognized for "outstanding performance and dedication at UVU," nominated by the School of the Arts based on their reviews of submitted portfolios.

Recognition for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Works

UVU Office of Academic Affairs - November 20, 2024

Faculty members from across the university, nominated by their department chairs, were recognized at a reception on November 20, 2024.

Special Award to a Professor of Theatre Education in Utah

Utah Theatre Association - January, 2023

Annual award given by the Utah Theatre Association to a professor of theatre education for service to secondary school theatres in the state.

Distinguished Book Award

AATE - July, 2020

The Distinguished Book Award is the top distinction for books about theatre for children and youth in North America. I received the 2020 award for my book Playwriting in Schools_ Dramatic Navigation published by Intellect Books.

Dina Rees Evans Theatre In Our Schools Award

American Alliance for Theatre and Education - August, 2017

Recognition for organizing and hosting three outstanding Utah Theatre In Our Schools conferences at UVU_ 2014 Playwriting & Devising; 2015 Creative Responses to Creative Work; 2017 Theatre & Autism

Lynn Wright Secondary School Teaching Grant 2016

American Alliance for Theatre and Education - August, 2016

Mentoring secondary school teacher Adam Slee at DaVinci Academy in Ogden, Utah in playwriting and play development projects with his students and presenting his work at an AATE national conference