Teaching
ANNUAL LOAD: EVALUATION FROM DEPARTMENT CHAIR:
2025 -- 2026 45% in progress
2024 -- 2025 45% 5: outstanding
"Professor Olivia de Guzman is a highly effective teacher whose students value her opinion and expertise. She is direct and clear, bringing a strong sense of quality to her work. Students often thrive and rise to the challenges she offers in coursework and production."
2023 -- 2024 45% 5: outstanding
"Watching Professor de Guzman work with students in class and in rehearsal is a treat. They are responsive and work hard for themselves and her. Her Acting the Song Forum for students, faculty, and guests was absolutely a joy. It made it clear where we can take this program!"
Courses Taught
Playscript Analysis
TPP 2653
Fall 2023
Practical methods of script analysis employing structural, dramaturgical, and creative approaches. Emphasis on preparing for live production of a play.
History of Musical Theatre in America
THE 3243
Fall 2024, Fall 2026
Study of historical sources tracking the development of Musical Theatre with emphasis on research, analytical and critical thinking, writing, and presentation skills.
Introduction to Acting
TPP 2100
Fall 2023, Spring 2024
Acting fundamentals, improv, voice & movement, and scene work. For non-majors, emphasis on identifying and developing acting skills that are applicable to other fields of study.
Senior Projects
TPP 4971
Spring 2026
Devising, rehearsing, and producing the Senior Showcase for BFA Musical Theatre Majors as a performance-based culmination of their training and an opportunity to network with industry professionals.
Upper Division Production and Performance
TPP 4195
Spring 2024, Spring 2025, Spring 2026
Exploration of the acting process through rehearsal and performance of a play.
Courses Created + Taught
Acting the Song
TPP 3276
Spring 2024, Spring 2025,
Spring 2026
Integration of acting and singing techniques to craft performances of musical theatre works. Emphasis on building a repertoire and preparatory practices.
Musical Theatre Workshop I
TPP 3923
Fall 2024, Fall 2025
First of a 3-course sequence of upper division musical theatre training with a survey on theatrical comedy, improvisation, musical theatre scene work, and ensemble work, as well as foundational sightsinging and aural skills.
Musical Theatre Workshop II
TPP 3924C
Spring 2025, Spring 2026
Second of a 3-course sequence of upper division musical theatre training with a survey on advanced solo work, active listening, active breath based on Miller Voice Method, ensemble work, as well as intermediate sightsinging and aural skills.
Advanced Musical Theatre Studies
TPP 4253
Fall 2025
Third of a 3-course sequence of upper division musical theatre training with a survey on musical theatre audition techniques, devised theatre and new work development, ensemble work, as well as advanced sightsinging and aural skills.
Forum Clips
Each of my BFA performance based classes -- Acting the Song, Workshop I, Workshop II, and Advanced Musical Theatre Studies -- culminate in a forum for an invited/internal audience. With live accompaniment, students perform highlights of their work over the semester. The forum is more theatrical than a recital. Students collaborate to build a fast-paced, ensemble presentation with considered transitions. After a progression of forums through this curriculum, students are more confident and savvy in devising and producing a full senior showcase in their last semester of training.
Student Perceptions of Teaching (SPOTs)
response rate: overall assessment:
2025 -- 2026 in progress in progress
2024 -- 2025 52.8% 4.9 out of 5.0
2023 -- 2024 43% 4.82 out of 5.0
"What was the most successful aspect of this course?"
Areas of development and improvement based on student feedback:
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additional exercises and in-class activities to explore and physically embody the Tenet vocabulary and other concepts (performance classes)
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additional rubrics for progressive repertoire work (performance classes)
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consolidation/reduction of weekly group assignments (MT History)