Mattea Muench

Which grant that you received do you want to talk about?
Summer URG

Please provide a brief summary of your research.
My research was focused on theaters for young audiences in Berlin, Germany, and the best practices they implement in order to serve a multi- and intercultural audience. It was structured around interviews with arts administrators and observations of productions at 5 different theaters, from which I was able to gather a more holistic understanding of TYA (theatre for young audiences) in Berlin and the ways in which many artists and companies there work to prioritize theatre that is engaging and impactful for all of the young people living in Berlin. I sought to understand further the ways in which Berlin’s socio-cultural landscape influences the companies and artists creating theatre for young people, as well as identifying room for growth in this area and what plans those companies and artists have to further develop.

What made you initially interested in researching your project in particular?
In addition to my work as a theatre artist positioning me uniquely in both TYA spheres and spaces devoted to the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the theatre industry, Berlin is a city close to my heart. My mother is German, and I have spent all of my life visiting Germany, particularly Berlin. I spent 6 months living there with family friends as an au pair after I graduated from high school in 2020, and learned much about the specific socio-political contexts that exist in both past and present Berlin. The combination of my academic and professional interests and my personal history and culture led to the development of my research.

What made you interested in pursuing (interdisciplinary) research more broadly?
I found that in addition to my personal interest in the subject and the desire to learn more about it, I was enthusiastic about how the research process could help be become a better student and person. The opportunity to meaningfully engage with a subject and industry that I was excited about and to explore new skills and perspectives was attractive to me for my academic and professional development but also for my personal growth.

Describe your experiences with research thus far. Was it tricky? What skills do you think you’ve gained?
I found the research process to be time-consuming but rewarding. Being able to learn and further develop a number of skills, such as the ability to analyze qualitative data, the ability to interview people in a personable yet direct manner, speaking confidently to large groups of people, and taking meaningful notes while staying engaged in an experience, will allow me to continue to grow in my academic and professional careers. I also found particularly meaningful the relationships I was able to build with a number of the theatre artists and companies that I connected with in Berlin, the opportunity to bear witness to so many artists pursuing their dreams and working day in and day out to create theatre that will resonate with and uplift young people of all backgrounds, and the chance to make discoveries and experience them in practice, as opposed to just in theory.

Any tips or advice you have for students similar to you that are interested in pursuing undergraduate research?
I would absolutely encouraged anyone interested in undergraduate research to go for it. The point of undergraduate research, in my opinion, is not to discover world-changing findings; it is to allow undergraduate students to engage with subjects they are excited about and to develop important life and career skills. I would recommend that students are genuinely interested in the subject of their research, as it is time-consuming, but that if they really are excited about what they’re engaging with, research is a truly rewarding process.

What is something that you could give a 10 min presentation on right off the cuff?
Cassandra of Troy

What was your favorite childhood story (written, spoken, or film)?
Momo by Michael Ende