Irene Gasarah

Irene Gasarah is a Graduate Instructor at the Department of Theatre, University of Missouri. Previously, she served as an Instructional Assistant Professor at Illinois State University and Adjunct Faculty at Illinois Central College. She also worked as a Stage Manager for the Nomad Theatre in Normal, IL. Her roles include dramaturg, stage manager, and theatre activist with a focus on Children’s Theatre and Theatre for Development.

Education:

• BA Theatre Arts, Benue State University, Nigeria
• MS Theatre Studies, Illinois State University, Normal, IL

Research Interests: Irene’s work centers on Dramaturgy, Performance Studies, and the comparative analysis of non-Western theatre traditions. She explores Contemporary Theatre through post-colonial and cultural studies lenses, emphasizing global perspectives in performance.

Awards:

• Recipient of the “Dramaturg of the Year Award” for her work on Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People.

Advising & Professional Work: Irene’s career includes freelance production management for Abuja film houses and dramaturgical contributions to productions like Kushner’s The Illusion. She actively bridges academic and applied theatre through teaching and stage management roles.

Labs/Teams: Collaborated with Nomad Theatre and various Nigerian theatre groups, fostering community engagement through performance.