Laura Dougherty

Laura Dougherty is an Associate Professor of Theatre Arts at Hamline University, where she teaches performance and theory as an artist/activist. She holds a Ph.D. in Theatre and Performance of the Americas and an MFA in Theatre from Arizona State University, along with a BA in Theatre Arts from Drew University.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Theatre and Performance of the Americas, Arizona State University
  • MFA in Theatre, Arizona State University
  • BA in Theatre Arts (cum laude and with honors), Drew University

Her research focuses on belonging and nationhood, performance and civic action, and the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality in theatre. She explores voice and sound methodologies, burlesque performance, and performance’s role in citizenship and social justice. Her work has appeared in Theatre Journal, The Humanities Review, and edited collections like Playing with Theory in Theatre Practice and Performing Utopia. She has taught, directed, and coached at institutions including Drew University, Illinois State University, and Arizona State University.

In her pedagogy, Dougherty emphasizes radical empathy, critical interrogation of boundaries, and interdisciplinary approaches to history, literature, and performance. She advocates for artists to engage deeply with diverse identities and epistemologies, fostering a commitment to academic and artistic integrity.