Emily Cherry Oliver: Preserving human creativity while exploring the future of AI

For Emily Cherry Oliver, professor of Theatre Arts, theater is more than performance—it’s a uniquely human experience built on creativity, collaboration, and connection. As a theatrical director, educator and researcher, Cherry Oliver is helping students prepare for the future of the arts while ensuring that the human element remains central.

A director by trade, Cherry Oliver has built a career staging large-scale productions and working with professional theater organizations, including the historic Black Hills Playhouse in South Dakota, where she will return in the summer of 2027 as a director. At the University of North Dakota, she continues to bring ambitious productions to life, including directing the upcoming “The Addams Family” musical in October 2026.

As co-director of the AI and Human Innovation Initiative, a program supported by the College of Arts & Sciences and the Office of the Provost, Cherry Oliver examines both the opportunities and challenges AI presents for the humanities and fine arts. The initiative explores how emerging technologies can support creative work while encouraging critical discussions about their broader societal impacts.

“The arts and humanities need a seat at the table in AI conversations,” she explained.

Her interest in the topic stems from both curiosity and concern. Cherry Oliver recalls hearing comments from technology leaders about the rapid advancement of AI and recognizing the importance of involving artists and educators in conversations. Through the initiative, she collaborates with faculty and students to provide educational opportunities, host discussions and showcase creative projects that explore AI’s role in artistic practice.

One area of active exploration is how AI can assist, rather than replace, creative work. Justin Montigne, assistant professor of Music, is leading an investigation on how AI tools might be integrated into musical productions, while Cherry Oliver is aiming to incorporate them into the theatrical rehearsal processes. Rather than generating performances, these tools could help streamline routine tasks and support student learning.

For example, an AI assistant might answer practical questions for performers, such as, “If I’m playing Gomez Addams, which song should I memorize first?”

By handling organizational and informational tasks, AI could free up students and directors to spend more time on the deeply creative and collaborative aspects of theater.

“We don’t want to lose the human-centered work,” Cherry Oliver said. “The goal is to find ways AI can support the process while creating more space for creativity.”

At the same time, she remains mindful of the technology’s potential to disrupt creative industries. With AI-generated music, digital performers and other emerging tools already gaining traction, Cherry Oliver believes the arts will experience significant economic and cultural changes in the years ahead. Yet, she remains convinced that theater’s greatest strength lies in the authentic human connection shared between performers and audiences.

For students, these conversations provide a unique educational experience that blends artistic training with emerging technologies. The department has launched an innovative Theatre Communication program, a combined 4+1 pathway that allows students to earn a B.A. in Theatre and an M.A. in Communication. The program—believed to be one of the first of its kind in the nation—prepares graduates for careers in arts administration, digital content creation, social media management and other communication-focused roles within the creative industries.

By combining professional artistic practice, interdisciplinary research and forward-looking discussions about technology, Cherry Oliver is helping students navigate a rapidly changing landscape. Her work demonstrates that while tools and technologies may evolve, the creativity, collaboration and human connection at the heart of theater remain as important as ever.