Mary Fleischer

Mary Fleischer is a Professor of Theatre Arts and Chair of Visual and Performing Arts at Manhattanville College, where she teaches courses in directing, dramatic literature, performance theory and history, and producing. She is affiliated with the Department of Theatre Arts within the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Educational Background:

• B.A., The State University of New York, College at Purchase
• M.A., Hunter College of The City University of New York
• Ph.D., The Graduate School and University Center, The City University of New York

Her research and teaching focus on interdisciplinary performance practices, with a particular emphasis on the intersections between text, movement, and symbolism in theatre. She explores avant-garde and experimental forms across art, film, and performance, especially in U.S. experimental theatre. Her scholarship includes the book Embodied Texts: Symbolist Playwright-Dancer Collaborations, which reflects her deep engagement with collaborative performance aesthetics.

Mary Fleischer was honored with the MMC Teaching Excellence Award in 2005, recognizing her contributions to pedagogy in the arts.

She advises students and contributes to academic leadership as Chair of Visual and Performing Arts, overseeing curriculum and production activities. Though specific grants or funded projects are not mentioned, her sustained teaching and scholarly output indicate active engagement in the academic theatre community.

She is based in Nugent Hall, Room 152D, and continues to shape theatre education through innovative course design and interdisciplinary inquiry.