معرفی
Dr. Mara Davis Johnson serves as Lecturer in Contemporary Arts, Performance & Theatre (Career Development Fellow) at the University of Wollongong's School of the Arts, English and Media since 2022, with an additional appointment as Lecturer in Creative and Performing Arts from November 2024. Her academic journey spans both University of Wollongong and University of New South Wales, where she held research and teaching positions including multiple AusStage project roles.
Her educational credentials include:
- PhD, University of New South Wales (2017-2022)
- Bachelor of Music Studies, University of Sydney (2014-2016)
- Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours), University of Wollongong (2011)
- Bachelor of Creative Arts (Performance), University of Wollongong (2008-2010)
- A.Mus.A certifications in Flute and Piano from Australian Musicians Examinations Board
Dr. Johnson's research centers on musical theatre with distinctive Australian perspectives, examining dramaturgical practices, composer legacies, and digital transformations in performance. Her work bridges scholarly analysis with practical application, particularly in digital humanities approaches to theater history and audience studies. Current projects include her monograph 'Australian Musical Theatre: Never Been Better?' and co-authored 'Performing Data: Theatre Practice and Research', reflecting her commitment to both national theater identity and methodological innovation.
Her publication record demonstrates consistent output across academic journals, media commentary, and creative works. Recent scholarship shows increasing engagement with technology-theater intersections, evidenced by 2025 publications on AI's impact on audiences and digital archiving of performance history. This trajectory highlights her role at the forefront of evolving theater scholarship while maintaining strong connections to Australian cultural contexts.
Dr. Johnson's scholarly contributions have been recognized through:
- 2nd Prize, Best Student Paper at Musicological Society of Australia 2018 Conference
- HDR Exceptional Achievement Award from University of New South Wales (2018)
- Vice Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Contribution to Teaching and Learning at University of Wollongong (2018)
As Head of Students since 2024, Dr. Johnson oversees student academic pathways while maintaining active teaching responsibilities across the Bachelor of Creative Arts program. Her supervision approach integrates practical performance training with critical theoretical frameworks, particularly evident in her coordination of CACS304: Creative Research. She balances institutional leadership with ongoing creative practice as vocal coach and musical director, creating synergies between academic and professional theater contexts.
