Jody McAuliffe

Jody McAuliffe serves as Professor of the Practice of Theater Studies at Duke University's Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, with a joint appointment in Slavic & Eurasian Studies since 2005. She teaches across multiple disciplines including Theater Studies, English, Dance, Neuroscience, Russian, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach that bridges artistic practice with academic scholarship. Her extensive course offerings include 'Writing Movies and Plays: Adaptation' and 'The Art of Improvising' taught across multiple semesters through Spring 2025.

Her educational background features:

• M.F.A. from Yale University (1980)
• B.S. from Northwestern University (1976)

McAuliffe's research integrates theater direction, film, documentary, literary adaptation, and dramaturgy with particular expertise in Slavic and Eurasian performance traditions. As an award-winning director, writer, adapter, dramaturg, translator, and scholar, her work spans theatrical productions at major venues including Abrons Arts Center, Mark Taper Forum, and South Coast Repertory. Her writing encompasses short fiction, film and literary criticism, cultural criticism, and literary non-fiction.

Her publications reveal consistent exploration at the intersection of personal narrative, neurological conditions, and theatrical expression. Works like 'The Mythical Bill: A Neurological Memoir' demonstrate her unique approach to blending medical humanities with creative nonfiction, while her scholarship on Ibsen shows deep engagement with Scandinavian drama and its contemporary relevance across cultural contexts.

Her notable achievements include:

• Gulag Follies Research grant from Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation (2008-2009)

McAuliffe actively mentors students through independent studies and has developed innovative cross-disciplinary courses that attract students from diverse academic backgrounds. Her artistic work demonstrates commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration across musical and theatrical forms, with recent projects including the 'Tapestry Room opera project' and adaptations of Don DeLillo's work.