Danielle Bainbridge

Danielle Bainbridge is an Assistant Professor of Theatre at Northwestern University with courtesy appointments in Performance Studies and Black Studies. Her research bridges historical performance, Black feminist theory, and cultural studies.

She investigates African American performance histories, particularly 19th-century freak show performers who were enslaved, and analyzes Caribbean theatrical traditions. Her interdisciplinary approach connects archival research with contemporary performance theory.

Publications explore archival methodologies, diasporic cultural production, and decolonial performance. Recent work examines sound in historical archives, Sylvia Wynter's theatrical contributions, and transitions in African American literature.

• Ford Foundation Pre-doctoral Fellowship (2014-2017)
• Barry Lopez Prize for Creative Nonfiction (2015)
• Gerald Kahan Scholar's Prize Honorable Mention (2021)
• ATHE Outstanding Article Honorable Mention (2023)
• Uplift Voices Nonfiction Prize (2024)

No information is provided regarding student advising or research grants.