John Stephen Hoey

John Stephen Hoey is an Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of the Arts at the American University in Cairo. With a distinguished career spanning decades, he has designed over 300 productions worldwide and collaborated with renowned institutions including the New York City Opera, New York City Ballet, and Spoleto Festival. His work has been featured in the movie "Center Stage," and he has collaborated with legendary artists like Luciano Pavarotti.

His educational background includes:

• BFA from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts
• MFA from Temple University
• Special independent study with Czech scenographer and architect, Josef Svoboda, in 1988

Hoey's research interests focus on the intersection of theater design, human perception, and ritual studies. His work explores how visual elements in performance affect audience experience and emotional response. He has been developing a book titled "Why We Feel What We See," which examines human ritual and expression from ancient times to advanced symbolic language. His "Discover the World" project uses arts and culture to connect people globally, exploring how cultural expressions shape human understanding and connection.

His significant contributions to the field have been recognized with numerous awards:

• Two Barrymore Awards (with five total nominations)
• Helen Hayes nomination
• Several Best of Philadelphia Awards
• Pew Foundation grant
• Prix Millennium award

At AUC, Hoey has led numerous theater productions including "Isaac's Eye," "Sima Awanta," "Waiting for Godot," and "Fuddy Meers," demonstrating innovative approaches to scenic and lighting design. He previously served as head of the lighting design program at Temple University from 2006-2015 and has taught master classes at Carnegie-Mellon and UC Berkeley. His teaching encompasses design for theater and film, sound design, CAD drafting, and cultural history.

Hoey is currently involved in significant cultural projects in Egypt, including renovations of the historic Kasr El Nile Theatre, which was once home to legendary performer Umm Kulthum. He is also developing a global concert initiative inspired by Bob Marley's music that would connect musicians worldwide through satellite technology, building on the success of projects like Playing for Change.