Amanda PINTORE, Assistant Professor in Theatre for Youth & Community & Acting

Sam TOWER, Co-Artistic Director of Ninth Planet

Amanda Pintore (she/her) is a director, choreographer, and educator focusing on movement and dance education, devised theatre, and making theatre and dance performances with and for 0-6 year olds. She also specializes in arts integration, creative facilitation strategies, and training in teaching artistry. She is an Assistant Professor in Theatre for Youth and Community and Acting at Arizona State University. She is a Fulbright Specialist and collaborated with the Atlantic Technological University in Ireland in 2023, to explore creative research practices in ‘Theatre and Dance for the Very Young.’ She also serves as the Founder and Chair of the Theatre and Dance for the Very Young Conference (2022). She has an MFA in Theatre for Youth from Arizona State University.

Sam Tower (she/her) is a director, producer, and curator in Philadelphia dedicated to serving women, queer people, people of colour, children and families through arts and culture. As Co-Artistic Director of Ninth Planet, she creates performance directly with these communities, producing dark and cinematic works of theatre for adults and young people, interactive performances for babies and their families, and creative opportunities for teens. Sam uses devised theatre as a tool for activating imagination and advocacy with young people, community organizers and activists, undergrad students, and anyone who wants to use their natural abilities to create art. She is a Program Manager for Cannonball, a grass-roots hub of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, where she also produces the Performance for Young Audiences Cohort and a family-friendly outdoor performance venue. Sam worked with IPAY from 2012-2021, connecting a vibrant global arts presentation membership, and leading IPAY’s International CultureCrew youth selection workshops and panels.