¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ Theatre Chair Matt Omasta awarded $300,000 contract to evaluate national touring theatre program
¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ Theatre Chair Matt Omasta awarded $300,000 contract to evaluate national touring theatre program
Matt Omasta, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Theatre at ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ, has been awarded a $300,000 contract to lead a three-year program assessment of Imagination Stage’s touring theatre initiatives, including the acclaimed productions Empathy Quest and Ghosted and the professional development program RISE UP.
The partnership between ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ and Imagination Stage — a leading theatre for young audiences and arts education organization based in Bethesda, Maryland — will assess how live theatre experiences foster empathy, inclusion, and social awareness among young audiences.
“Imagination Stage uses theatre to inspire understanding and compassion,” said Omasta. “Our evaluation will help them measure the impact of that mission and strengthen the ways their performances and programs connect with ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs, educators, and communities nationwide.”
Beginning in fall 2025 and continuing through 2028, Omasta and a team of ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ researchers will collaborate with Imagination Stage to define goals, develop assessment tools, and collect both quantitative and qualitative data. The team will observe performances, facilitate focus groups, and analyze survey responses using professional research platforms such as Qualtrics, SPSS, and NVivo.
Throughout the project, ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ will maintain a secure data portal to share ongoing insights with Imagination Stage. Interim reports will be issued twice each year, culminating in a comprehensive final report in 2028.
“Dr. Omasta's groundbreaking work in theatre for young audiences and his commitment to evidence-based arts education continue to elevate the field,” said Dean of the College of Creative Arts Ryan Fisher. “This grant underscores his national reputation and the impact of his scholarship in shaping meaningful creative experiences for young people.”