Rebecca Rovit

Dr. Rebecca Rovit is an Associate Professor in the Department of Slavic, German, and Eurasian Studies at the University of Kansas, within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Her expertise centers on German theatre with a focus on post-War legacies and Holocaust-related cultural activity. She holds a Ph.D. in Theatre from Florida State University and an M.A. in German (Drama) from the University of Virginia.

Her research explores modern European theatre history, Jewish cultural production during the Holocaust, and the intersection of trauma and performance. Key themes include Nazi-era theatre under oppression, post-War cultural reconstruction, and the role of performance in preserving community identity. Her work frequently examines the ethical dilemmas faced by Jewish artists during the Nazi period, particularly through institutions like the Jüdischer Kulturbund Theatre.

Her scholarship trends coalesce around three pillars: 1) Holocaust-era theatrical survival strategies, 2) post-War German theatre's political reorientation, and 3) the performative representation of historical trauma. She has contributed significantly to understanding how theatre served as both a site of resistance and a tool for cultural preservation in oppressive contexts.

Rovit has held affiliations with the Max Kade Center for German-American Studies and the KU Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies. Her extensive publication record spans 40+ years, with notable works analyzing Berlin's post-War artistic revival, the Wannsee Conference's cultural impact, and the Brundibár children's opera's legacy in Theresienstadt.