Find Academic Supervisors

Deborah SteinView profile

Professor

• Playwriting
• Theatrical Collaboration
• Experimental Performance
• +5 more

Deborah Stein is a distinguished faculty member in the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), where she teaches playwriting and theatrical collaboration. She is also Co-Artistic Director of Stein | Holum Projects (SHP), a collaborative laboratory for creating innovative performances. Her work bridges academic scholarship and professional theatre, with national commissions and festival premieres. BA, Swarthmore College MFA, Brown University (studied with Paula Vogel) Her research and creative practice focus on playwriting, experimental performance, and interdisciplinary collaboration . She explores narrative innovation through devised theatre, often working with ensembles and MFA students to create original works that challenge traditional forms. Her work emphasizes emotional depth, physicality, and social themes. The 15 most recent creative projects reflect a strong trend in collaborative, experimental, and socially engaged theatre . They span festival productions, commissioned works, and student collaborations, often developed in residency settings. Keywords include immersive storytelling, devised creation, and political resonance, with subfields ranging from physical theatre to identity exploration. Deborah has received numerous honors and grants supporting her artistic research: Drama Desk Award Nomination (CHIMERA) National Theatre Project Award (2015) NYSCA Grant Bush Artist Fellowship Two Jerome Fellowships McKnight Advancement Grant Alumna, New Dramatists She actively mentors MFA students, having co-created THE BITTER GAME with Keith Wallace and MOVERS + SHAKERS with graduate students. Her advising integrates creative development with academic rigor. She has secured external funding from NEFA, ArtsEmerson, and foundations to support collaborative projects. Her work has been developed in partnership with institutions such as Playwrights’ Horizons, HERE, and La Jolla Playhouse. Deborah leads creative research through Stein | Holum Projects, which functions as a performance laboratory. This collective has developed work at major venues including FringeArts, the Playwrights’ Center, and Perry-Mansfield, fostering a national network of experimental theatre makers.

Brittney HarrisView profile

Assistant Professor

• Applied Theatre
• Performance as Activism
• Community-Engaged Theatre
• +5 more

Brittney S. Harris is an Assistant Professor of Applied Theatre and Co-Director of Research at Virginia Tech’s Center for Communicating Science. She holds an M.F.A. in Acting from the University of Georgia and a B.F.A. from Old Dominion University. Her work bridges performance and activism, focusing on racial justice, mental health, and community healing through devised theatre. She co-led a 2023 NEH fellowship on ensemble-based theatre in Rwanda and pioneered workshops like ‘River Stories’ and ‘The Umbrella Method.’ Her research examines social resilience via narrative storytelling, addressing systemic inequities through performances like Pedigree and Being B.A.D. . She has presented at ATHE, NeMLA, and the Global Conference on Women and Gender, and her play The Request (or Prison Fan Fiction) is under development. Awards include an Emmy for Exodus: Homecoming and a C4AA Faculty Fellowship for voter advocacy initiatives. Harris advises collaborative projects like the 4-VA grant-funded Voices Unbound , fostering youth well-being through devised theatre. Her creative scholarship emphasizes sacred spaces for individuality and ensemble-based methods, impacting both academic and community stages globally.

Leah MercerView profile

Associate Professor

• Theatre Directing
• Devising Performance
• 20th Century Theatre
• +3 more

Leah Mercer is an Associate Professor at Curtin University's School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry, part of the Faculty of Humanities. She serves in the Office of the Provost and teaches Theatre Arts, specializing in new work development, directing, and devising performance. Her research focuses on theatre directing practices, feminist performance, and mythology integration. Education: PhD (Performance as Research, Queensland University of Technology, 2009); MFA (Directing for Theatre, California Institute of the Arts, 1999); MA and BA (University of Queensland, 1998/1990). A Fulbright scholar, she has extensive international training in theatre practices. Research interests include collaborative performance creation, feminist thematic exploration, and interdisciplinary performance. Her work with The Nest Ensemble since 2004 emphasizes devised theatre, with notable productions like Joey: the Mechanical Boy (2014 WA Best Director Award) and Home (2015). Her academic work bridges practice and theory, exemplified by her Philip Parsons Prize-winning PhD project The Physics Project (2008). Publications span creative works and scholarly articles, including contributions to Live Research: Methods of Practice-Led Inquiry in Performance and Social Construction in Action . Awards include the Silver Matilda Award for Directing (2007) and recognition for cross-disciplinary educational initiatives. She advises student productions through Curtin's Hayman Theatre Company, directing works by Sarah Ruhl, Bertolt Brecht, and others. Labs/Teams: Co-founder of The Nest Ensemble, a collective producing innovative theatre. Engaged in workshops on mask work, Suzuki training, and Theatre of the Oppressed methodologies.

Rachel Rimmer-PiekarczykView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Critical Reflection in Dance Education
• Agency in Performance
• Embodiment Studies
• +5 more

Dr Rachel Rimmer-Piekarczyk is a Senior Lecturer in Drama and Contemporary Performance at the Manchester School of Theatre, Manchester Metropolitan University. An artist-scholar and core member of the internationally recognized performance group Reckless Sleepers since 2012, she bridges critical theory and artistic practice. Her research centers on agency cultivation through critical reflection in dance training, drawing on Bourdieu and Freire to interrogate embodiment and pedagogical power structures within westernized technique frameworks. Her academic qualifications include: PhD in Dance Studies from Manchester Metropolitan University (2014-2021) MA in Contemporary Arts from Manchester Metropolitan University (2009-2011) BA in Community Arts from Manchester Metropolitan University (2004-2007) Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice from Manchester Metropolitan University (2011-2013), earning Advance HE Fellowship Rimmer-Piekarczyk's research investigates how dialogical reflection subverts dominant discourses in dance education to foster performer agency. Her ethnographic-action research examines social conditions within training environments, exploring how critical consciousness develops through praxical pedagogy. She extends this inquiry into contemporary scored performance, analyzing how choreographic scores like Reckless Sleepers' A String Section create structures for emergent agency while destabilizing habitual power dynamics. Her 2023-2024 publications reveal a concentrated focus on doxic agreements and ethical agility in British dance training, demonstrating how reflexive-dialogical approaches disrupt entrenched pedagogical norms. This work increasingly integrates theoretical frameworks with artistic practice, particularly through performance-presentations that materialize embodied knowledge. Her scholarship consistently emphasizes the transformative potential of critical reflection to cultivate 'somatic authority' and ethical responsiveness in dancers. She currently supervises PhD research in contemporary theatre practice, pedagogy, and musical composition while serving as External Examiner for the University of Wolverhampton's Dance and Creative Performance programme. Her academic leadership extends through postgraduate research supervision and curriculum development informed by her dual expertise as practitioner-scholar. As a core Reckless Sleepers member, she contributes to international touring projects as performer, deviser, and facilitator. The company's collaborative process—especially the long-term development of A String Section —functions as a living laboratory for her research, where theoretical concepts about agency and structure are tested and refined through embodied practice.

Scott ProudfitView profile

Associate Professor

• Collective Creation and Devised Performance
• Modern and Contemporary Drama
• Shakespeare
• +3 more

Scott Proudfit serves as Associate Professor of English and Chair of the Department of English at Elon University's College of Arts and Sciences, where he has held faculty positions since 2010 following appointments at the University of Houston-Downtown and Northwestern University. His academic journey began with dual B.A. degrees in English and Theater from Columbia University (1993), continued with an M.A. in English from Northwestern University (2004), and culminated in a Ph.D. in English specializing in Drama (2008). His research centers on Collective Creation and Devised Performance, Modern and Contemporary Drama, Shakespearean studies, and The Graphic Novel, with particular emphasis on mediatization, postcolonial theory, and theatrical adaptation. Proudfit's scholarly trajectory reveals a consistent focus on how performance intersects with technology, historical consciousness, and identity politics, as evidenced by his analyses of playwrights like Caryl Churchill, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, and Rajiv Joseph across eight major publications between 2013-2022. Among his professional recognitions are the Elon College Excellence in Teaching Award (2019) and the Inspirational Ally Award from Elon's Gender and LGBTQIA Center (2017). His academic service includes mentoring undergraduate researchers through the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience program, securing multiple curriculum development grants including CATL Diversity Infusion and Fund for Excellence awards, and coordinating the Interdisciplinary B.A. in Drama & Theatre Studies. Proudfit actively shapes campus culture as Faculty Advisor for EFFECT (Elon's feminist organization), NewWorks, and the Elon Book Club while contributing to university-wide diversity initiatives.

Richard ChewView profile

Professor

• Contemporary Composition
• Opera and Music Theatre
• Jazz and World Music
• +6 more

Professor Richard Chew is Director of the Arts Academy at Federation University Australia's Camp Street Campus. A composer, pianist, and baritone, he has held academic roles at University of South Australia, Elder Conservatorium of Music, and Federation University Australia since 2018. His work spans orchestral, operatic, and interdisciplinary music-theatre forms, with commissions from English National Opera, Welsh National Opera, and international festivals. PhD in Communication Studies (UniSA, 2014) Master of Music Performance Studies (Royal College of Music London, 1991) Associate Researcher at Lythrum Press and Australian Music Centre Chew's research focuses on contemporary composition practices, blending opera, music theatre, and devised performance. His work integrates visual arts (e.g., Ford Madox Brown's painting), literature (Gerard Manley Hopkins, Michael Ende), and social justice themes. Notable projects include the oratorio Stari Most (commissioned for Salisbury Cathedral's 750th Anniversary) and founding the vocal ensemble The Shout, described by The Times as a blueprint for 21st-century choral singing. Recent publications include chamber works for Inscape Piano Trio and adaptations like Momo (2022). His music is characterized by transparent melodic lines, jazz-inflected harmonies, and collaborations with institutions such as the Art Gallery of Ballarat, Creative Victoria, and the National Theatre (London). Awards include the Royal College of Music's President's Rose Bowl and multiple international performances at venues including Southbank Centre and Her Majesty’s Theatre.

• Augmented Reality
• Virtual Reality
• Artificial Intelligence in Creative Processes
• +5 more

Dr. Shane Pike is a Senior Lecturer in Drama at the School of Creative Arts, Queensland University of Technology. His research bridges creativity and technology, with applications in health, commercial, and performance contexts. He serves as Chief Investigator on the $280,000 ARC Linkage project 'Advancing Digital Innovation in The Australian Live Performance Sector' and collaborates with cultural institutions like Sydney Theatre Company and Meta. Education PhD in Performing Arts (Directing) - Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice - Australian National University LLB - Australian National University BA (Drama Hons. First Class) - Australian National University BCA (Theatre) - University of Tasmania Research Focus Dr. Pike's work centers on emerging technologies in creative practice: Augmented/Virtual Reality applications in live performance AI-enhanced creative processes with commercial/clinical applications Digital dramaturgy and creative leadership frameworks Theatre-based therapeutic interventions for health contexts His research has secured over $400,000 in competitive funding including ARC, IHBI, and Arts Queensland grants. Publication Trends Recent publications (2020-2026) demonstrate strong focus on: Digital performance innovations (AR/VR/AI integration) Pandemic-era creative adaptations (Zoom-based pedagogy/performance) Cultural diversity in Australian dramaturgy Interdisciplinary approaches combining arts, technology and health Awards & Recognition Dr Don Batchelor Award for innovation in live performance (twice) Edith Cowan University Research Excellence Award Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy IHBI Synergy Project Grant ($22,500) Queensland Arts Showcase Program Grant Supervision & Grants Current supervision includes MPhil and PhD projects on nonverbal communication in actor training and Australian female bushrangers storytelling. Major grants include: ARC Linkage: $280,000 for digital innovation in live performance Creative Sparks Grant: $10,000 for 'Alex' holographic production Meta/Queensland Health collaborations: $100k+ for VR healthcare projects Labs & Collaborations As Design Lab investigator, Dr. Pike develops immersive experiences with Queensland Corrective Services and aged care facilities. He maintains ongoing collaboration with Brazil's Taanteatro Companhia, employing their Theatre of Tensions methodology in practice and teaching.

Alex TorraView profile

Visiting Assistant Professor

• Experimental Theater
• Ensemble Devised Performance
• Latinx Theater
• +3 more

Alex Torra serves as a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Theater at Swarthmore College, teaching core courses including Acting 1, Acting 2, Solo Performance, Acting Capstone, Production Ensemble, and the specialized course 'Performance Latinidad: Latinx Theater, Film, and Performance Art.' His academic work integrates professional directing experience from productions like Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle and Churchill's Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. His research centers on experimental theater methodologies and Latinx performance traditions, with emphasis on ensemble-devised creation processes and cross-cultural narratives. This manifests in both classroom instruction and professional projects exploring identity, migration, and political resistance through contemporary performance frameworks. Torra's contributions have earned recognition through prestigious awards: Pew Fellowship in the Arts (2018) Independence Foundation Fellowship Princess Grace Foundation Fellowship Oregon Shakespeare Festival Fellowship Drama League Fellowship Philadelphia Live Arts Festival Fellowship As Co-Founder of Team Sunshine Performance Corporation and former Associate Artistic Director of Obie Award-winning Pig Iron Theatre Company, he mentors students through production ensembles and capstone projects while securing institutional support through fellowship funding. His Philadelphia-based practice bridges academic theater training with professional experimental performance development.

Kevin LandisView profile

Professor

• Theatre Studies
• Performance Studies
• Avant-Garde Theatre
• +7 more

Kevin Landis is a Professor and Director of the Theatre and Dance Program in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. He holds a Ph.D. in Drama from Tufts University, an M.F.A. in Acting from Brandeis University, and an M.A. in Theatre Theory from Brown University. His research spans avant-garde theatre, actor training methods, and the intersection of performance with food culture and religious practices. Education: Ph.D. in Drama, Tufts University (2009) M.F.A. in Acting, Brandeis University (2005) M.A. in Theatre Theory, Brown University (2001) B.A., Colby College (1998) Landis specializes in physical theatre training, blending techniques from Michael Chekhov, Suzuki, and LeCoq. His work emphasizes the actor’s embodiment and vocal expression. His research interests include Eastern European actor training, Nordic art, and the analysis of evangelical church services as performance. He co-authored Cultural Performance: New Perspectives on Performance Studies and is currently writing a manuscript on the Public Theater’s history. His professional experience includes directing plays such as Hair (2020), Peer Gynt (2018), and Salome (2012), as well as acting roles in productions like The Tempest (2016). He has received accolades including the UCCS Making a Difference Award (2020) and the Tufts University Award for Outstanding Contribution to Undergraduate Education (2008). Awards and Grants: UCCS Making a Difference Award (2020) Roser Visiting Artist Grant (2010) Tufts University Teaching Award (2008) Landis leads initiatives in interdisciplinary performance education and has presented globally, including at the International Federation for Theatre Research in Barcelona and Osaka.

Joff ChaferView profile

Assistant Professor

• Theatre Studies
• Digital Performance
• Virtual Environments
• +2 more

Joff Chafer is an Assistant Professor in Theatre at Coventry University, specializing in innovative performance practices that bridge physical and virtual spaces. His work explores the integration of digital environments like Second Life with traditional theatre, focusing on interactive pedagogy and cross-platform storytelling. Academic Rank: Assistant Professor Department: Theatre Institution: Coventry University Research interests include: Digital performance and virtual reality applications Collaborative devising across physical and digital mediums Adaptation of classical texts in virtual spaces Interactive educational theatre Intercultural and international artistic partnerships Publication trends highlight a consistent exploration of: Hybrid real/virtual staging techniques Shakespearean and classical adaptations Partnerships with avant-garde companies like Trestle Theatre and Birmingham Contemporary Music Group Long-term collaborations with theatre-makers such as Tom Wilsher and artists from Ukraine and Australia

Cass FlemingView profile

Academic

• Actor Training
• Directing
• Devised Theatre
• +3 more

Dr. Cass Fleming is Reader in the Department of Theatre and Performance at Goldsmiths, University of London, and Founder/Co-Director of The Chekhov Collective Practice Research Centre. With over 25 years of experience, she specializes in actor training, directing, and devised theatre-making, focusing on the methodologies of Michael Chekhov and Suzanne Bing. Her research explores actor training and directing in contemporary and historical contexts, with emphasis on collaborative creation, theatre historiography, and non-canonical training approaches. Dr. Fleming co-edited 'Michael Chekhov in the Twenty-First Century: New Pathways' and guest-edited the 'Against the Canon' special issue for Theatre, Dance and Performance Training journal.

Chiara D'AnnaView profile

Lecturer

• Physical theatre
• Devised theatre
• Commedia dell'Arte
• +4 more

Chiara D'Anna is a Lecturer in Theatre Arts at the School of Art, Architecture and Design, London Metropolitan University, where she conducts research on Commedia dell'Arte's legacy in contemporary performance while maintaining an active career as an actress and director. Her educational background includes: BSc and MSc in Geology, University of Turin MA in Physical Theatre, Royal Holloway University, London PhD in Performing Arts, London Metropolitan University Her research pioneers the 'Experiential Mask' methodology, reimagining Commedia dell'Arte principles for 21st-century devised theatre through autobiographical material and actor-centered creation. This work bridges physical theatre, movement spirituality, and screen acting techniques, challenging traditional masked performance while emphasizing ensemble collaboration and postdramatic innovation. She has received significant recognition for screen work including the Los Angeles Film Award for 'Inspiring Woman in a Film' and Toronto International Film Festival accolades highlighting her among '13 Actors to watch out for'. Professional engagements span teaching at Goldsmiths University, RADA, and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama alongside artistic direction of Panta Rei Theatre. Her productions—from Pleasance Theatre to Teatro Stabile di Torino—explore grotesque and surrealist aesthetics through immersive installations and Commedia-inspired performances, complemented by film roles in Berberian Sound Studio (2012) and The Duke of Burgundy (2014).

• Improvisational Theater
• Educational Theater
• Theater Pedagogy
• +3 more

Michael Bernard is a Continuing Lecturer in the Theater Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and Santa Barbara City College (SBCC). He has held roles with LitMoon Theater Company, performing in international productions of The Tempest , The Cherry Orchard , and Julius Caesar across locations like Albania, Georgia, and Armenia. His recent roles include Sorn in Stupid F-ing Bird and Richard Nixon in Nixon's Nixon with Elements Theater Collective. Bernard holds a BFA in Acting from Boston University and an MA in Educational Theater from New York University. His research focuses on improvisational theater pedagogy, reflected in courses like Theater Games Ensemble and Advanced Acting. He teaches at UCSB, SBCC, the Young Playwrights Festival ETC, and the Creative Arts Workshop. Active in LA's Immediate Theater improv company, he bridges professional performance with educational initiatives.

Yinghui WuView profile

Associate Professor

• Database Systems
• Data Management
• Data Mining
• +5 more

Yinghui Wu is the Theodore L. & Dana J. Schroeder Associate Professor in Computer Science & Engineering at Case Western Reserve University, affiliated with the Department of Computer and Data Sciences within the Case School of Engineering. His research focuses on devising novel data management and analysis techniques for applications in materials science, cyber-physical systems, cybersecurity, and energy systems. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Edinburgh (2011) and a BSc from Peking University (2007). Education: PhD Computer Science, University of Edinburgh, 2011 Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Peking University, 2007 His research interests span Database Systems , Data Mining , and Applied Machine Learning , with multidisciplinary applications in energy systems and cybersecurity. Notable contributions include work on photovoltaic performance prediction using graph neural networks and anomaly detection in transmission protection systems. His awards include the 2023 IEEE Best Reviewer Award, 2020 IEEE BigData Best Paper Award, and 2015 ACM Google Faculty Research Award. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in data systems and data management. Recent publications highlight advancements in cyber-physical security analytics, knowledge graph fact checking, and ensemble-based anomaly detection in smart grids.

Mike GriffinView profile

Assistant Professor

• Theatre Education
• Physical Theatre
• Commedia dell’Arte
• +3 more

Mike Griffin is an Assistant Professor and Undergraduate Program Officer in the Department of Dramatic Arts at Brock University, where he has taught acting, directing, and physical theatre for eight years. He holds a BFA and BEd from the University of British Columbia, and an MFA in Directing from the University of Calgary. His research focuses on Commedia dell’Arte’s relevance to contemporary contexts, student-centered pedagogy, and the intersection of theatre with mental health issues. He has directed numerous productions at Brock, including The Mysterious Mind of Molly McGillicuddy , a physical theatre exploration of brain injury. Griffin is a recipient of the 2023 Faculty of Humanities Teaching Excellence Award and has presented at international conferences on topics ranging from brain injury representation to ensemble methodologies. Education : BFA (Acting) and BEd (Drama/English), University of British Columbia MFA (Directing), University of Calgary Research Interests : Commedia dell’Arte adaptation Physical theatre techniques Student agency in performance education Mental health narratives Immersive ensemble creation Key Contributions : Published in Routledge Companion to Commedia dell’Arte (2015) Creator of award-winning plays like Pantalone’s Palace and Molly McGillicuddy Organizer of interdisciplinary research events linking brain injury studies to the arts Awards : 2023 Faculty of Humanities Award for Teaching Excellence