Emily Schuman is Philadelphia-based artist whose work ranges across disciplines as an actor, props designer and folk musician/singer-songwriter. She is passionate about creating live theatre and performance through collaboration, and believes art has the power to bring empathy, joy and connection to our society. 

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She has performed over the years with such companies as Delaware Shakespeare, Walnut St. Theatre, EgoPo Classic Theatre and Revolution Shakespeare. Prop design credits include works with Nichole Canuso Dance Company, 1812 Productions, Applied Mechanics, InterAct Theatre Company, Theatre Horizon, and EgoPo Classic Theatre.

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As a folk musician, she has performed for wedding ceremonies and at numerous music venues in the area including the Philadelphia Folk Festival and Johnny Brenda's. Her work in composition and songwriting began in 2015 as a member of the musical duo, Chickabiddy, where she collaborated with Almanac Dance Circus Theatre to write Songs From Exile, the original, live musical score for the Philadelphia Fringe Festival production Exile 2588. She went on to partner with Delaware Shakespeare to compose and perform live musical scores for community tour productions of Merchant of Venice with composer Liz Filios in 2018, and Romeo and Juliet in 2019.

 

She is currently developing her latest songwriting project Full Fathom Five, which began during the pandemic, and features songs about change, growth and heartache, inspired by the sonnets and characters of William Shakespeare. She also co-hosts a local open mic night with James Haro in Storage and Kat Rivers.

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Originally from New York City, Emily majored in Drama at the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. She holds a BA in Theater from Denison University and studied Shakespeare in performance at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, UK. She is a graduate of the Arden Theatre Professional Apprentice Program and has worked alongside Applied Mechanics and Delaware Shakespeare as an associate artist.

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