Allison Talis

Allison was named one of 2015 United States Presidential Scholar's, most influential teachers by the United States Secretary Department of Education. With over 25 years of experience in theatre, Allison served as the Department Head of Movement, Dance and Devising, where she also taught movement at the Professional Performing Arts School of New York City. She has taught intensive Meisner-technique acting courses for both The School of Cinema and Performing Arts and The National Theatre for the Handicapped and was a Teaching Artist with Urban Arts Partnership for 8 years. Allison is a Theater Director and received mentorship, as an Assistant Director at the Steppenwolf Theatre for several years. She was an on-going Resident Director with New York University’s First Look Theatre Company, a member of the Lincoln Center Theatre Directors' Lab and a 2004 SSDC Traube Fellowship nominee. As a trauma specialist Allison consulted with award winning New York City Children's Theatre to oversee and co-develop a pilot literacy and performing arts program, selected by the DOE and Mayors office to serve 18 family shelters across New York City. In her role as National Healing & Wellness Consultant & Practitioner for the Joyful Heart Foundation, Allison co-developed and lead programs, classes, workshops and retreats for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse and the healers working on the frontlines of trauma, addressing vicarious trauma. She was also a consultant with A Thousand Joys, serving organizations working in residential Domestic Violence Shelters and Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation for Incarcerated Women.