The CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) is proud to announce that Elyse Orecchio, an alum from the MA in Applied Theatre (MAAT) program, has received the 2025 thesis award from the American Alliance for Theatre & Education (AATE) for her thesis project.
The AATE, a non-profit collective dedicated to the transformative power of theatre, hosts an annual ceremony to recognize their members’ work in the field. Their awards for ‘Distinguished Dissertation and Thesis’ honor research that focuses on questions pertinent to informal drama in education or to more formal theatre produced for, by, or with young people and adult participants.
Orecchio, who graduated from the MAAT program in 2023, investigated themes of teenage love and romantic relationships by working with students in the U.S. and Turkey with her winning thesis project, “What’s Your Love Language: Building a Shared Language from Across the World.”
By partnering with a fellow MAAT student living in Turkey, Orecchio could conduct her research on a cross-cultural level. As Orecchio explained, “With a common link of young people as English-Language Learners (ELL) in both Turkish and U.S. high school groups, my research question focused on how two groups from across the world could engage in dialogue about a universal theme of interest to teenagers: love, dating, and relationships.”
Chris Vine, academic director for the MAAT program, was thrilled for his former student. “This is a wonderful achievement. All of us in the MA in Applied Theatre, and our sister company of the Creative Arts Team (CAT), are so proud of Elyse. We celebrate her as someone who has illuminated our two communities for many years. Elyse first came into our orbit when she joined the CAT Youth Theatre as a teenager in 2000,” shared Vine. “Then, some years later, after completing her undergraduate studies, becoming a working adult, and raising a family (with a son and daughter who also followed each other through the Youth Theatre) she entered the Applied Theatre program, where she thrived and shone anew! Among her many achievements was her solo rendition of the National Anthem at Commencement in 2023. And now she has been recognized nationally. What an incredible journey! This award is a fitting testament to her commitment, talent and sheer hard work. She is truly a ‘scholar practitioner,’ and forever a star in our applied theatre firmament!”
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As New York's leading online school since 2006, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) offers the most online bachelor's and master's degree options at the City University of New York and serves as the University's first undergraduate all-transfer college. With 26 degrees and numerous other non-degree and grant-funded workplace learning programs, CUNY SPS meets the needs of adults who wish to finish a bachelor's degree, progress from an associate's degree, earn a master's degree or certificate in a specialized field, and advance in the workplace or change careers. Consistently ranked highly by U.S. News & World Report for its online offerings, CUNY SPS has emerged as a nationwide leader in online education. The School's renowned and affordable online programs ensure that busy working adults may fulfill their educational goals on their own time and schedule.
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