Instructor makes Debut New theater teacher to direct season’s first play

MIRANDA LOPEZ Reporter @Miranda_rpnews

For new professor Shaheen Vaaz-Chamarbagwala, her first year teaching at Pierce College has begun with directing the season’s first play.

Vaaz-Chamarbagwala will also be teaching various courses such as “Introduction to Theatre” and “Voice Articulation for the Theater” this semester.

Vaaz-Chamarbagwala began to incorporate theatre into her life after she left Bombay, India at the age of 18, and began began attending Smith College, a private women’s liberal arts college in Northampton, Massachusetts.

“That was a shock, to be with all women. It was so different and so cold. I’d come from the tropical heat to experiencing my first fall and winter with ice and snow, with no clothes to really work with the weather,” VaazChamarbagwala said.

Although she was a political science major, acting and performing was always involved in her life.

During her undergraduate program, she performed in at most two plays a semester. Soon she was accepted to a new acting program at Columbia University, and her parents decided to let her stay in America.

“I made a deal with them that they’d let me stay in America if I would try to work as a director instead of being an actress. So I did that for a year after college, and then I got into Columbia University for their new acting program,” Vaaz-Chamarbagwala said.

Sleepless nights came alongside new knowledge about theatre in the Big Apple. She was surrounded by many artists who were teaching for the first time. This led to her attraction towards stage acting and soon, TV began to happen.

In New York, VaazChamarbagwala worked in TV shows such as Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and The Education of Max Bickford. She then moved to Los Angeles and was a part of Gilmore Girls, Eve, and 24. Being a part of the acting world has created many influences for Vaaz-Chamarbagwala.

“I did a show with Sandra Oh, and she just blew me away with her amazing work ethic, and also Maggie Gyllenhaal. She was very focused and rigorous while doing her work, and kept the drama on stage,” Vaaz-Chamarbagwala said.

Having a professor with a background in television, who has worked side by side with professional actors, is entertaining and inspiring, Sonya Morris said.