Alumna Haroula Rose '98 Shares Expertise with Loyola Theatre Students

Rose is a musician, writer, director, and filmmaker. Her work has been supported by a Fulbright Fellowship in Madrid, Almanack Screenwriters, WarnerMedia, Warner Brothers Directing Workshop, and Tribeca Film Institute. She received her BA and MA from the University of Chicago and attended USC's MFA program. Her second feature film All Happy Families, was released in September. It is executive produced by Michael Shannon and stars Josh Radnor, Becky Ann Baker, Chandra Russell, Rob Huebel, and John Ashton.

In Honors Acting Studio, Rose began with a Q&A and discussed her journey from Loyola to Los Angeles. Students were surprised to learn that Rose didn’t major in theatre or film, it was her work in the music industry and the relationships she built there that propelled her into film, which led her to pursue an MFA in the field. She spoke to students about using different shots and perspectives in her filmmaking to help tell the story. After students shared scenes they developed in class, Rose demonstrated how she would take them from stage to screen. This exercise particularly excited Ramblers so much that they are now reimagining those scenes for film and sending them to Rose for her feedback.

In Honors Theater Studio, where Ramblers have been learning playwriting techniques, Rose shared insights into the "But, therefore" technique to change up routines in a plot and create complex narratives. She then led students through physical warmups and guided them to create scenes using the new technique. Students presented their finished products to Rose for her feedback. This lesson gave students an additional tool to use in their playwriting that helps open new pathways to create character choices.

We are incredibly grateful to Haroula Rose for taking the time to share her expertise. Her hands-on lessons and real-world insights provided Ramblers with valuable tools to refine their craft, and her guidance will continue to inspire their work.