Jennifer Barclay

Jennifer Barclay is an Associate Professor and Head of Theatre Performance at the University of Maryland's School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies (TDPS). She transitioned from acting to playwriting and holds a B.S. from Northwestern University and an M.F.A. in Playwriting from UC San Diego. Her work focuses on political theatre, site-specific performance, and solo performance, often addressing social issues through innovative narratives.

Her plays, including Ripe Frenzy (Smith Prize winner) and the National Parks Trilogy (Yellowstone, This Profound Abyss), explore themes like human trafficking, environmental politics, and gender dynamics. Her research involves collaborative, interview-based processes funded by UMD grants. Recent projects include workshops at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Co. and residencies at MacDowell Colony and New Harmony Project.

• Education: B.S. Theatre (Northwestern, 1999), M.F.A. Playwriting (UC San Diego, 2006)
• Affiliations: Dramatists Guild, NNPN Affiliated Artist

Her awards include the Kennedy Center National Science Playwriting Award and residencies at South Coast Rep and Arena Stage. Current projects involve researching Costa Rica and Glacier National Park to develop her trilogy, supported by the International Program for Creative Collaboration and Research.