Nancy Smithner

Nancy Smithner is a Clinical Professor of Educational Theatre at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University. She specializes in physical theatre, devised theatre, and community-engaged performance, with a focus on applied theatre practices in prisons and educational contexts. Her academic affiliations include the Music and Performing Arts Professions department, where she teaches courses such as Advanced Directing and Physical Theatre Improvisation.

Dr. Smithner holds a Ph.D. in Theatre with a dissertation on directing methodologies of Meredith Monk, Elizabeth LeCompte, and Anne Bogart. Her research integrates postmodern and feminist theory with practical applications in pedagogy and performance. She has led international workshops and study abroad programs in China, Korea, Taiwan, Puerto Rico, and Australia, emphasizing global perspectives in theatre education.

Her creative work includes devising site-specific environmental theatre productions (e.g., Hear Them Roar: The Fight for Women’s Rights in Washington Square Park) and collaborative projects with incarcerated populations. She co-founded the Ensemble of Movement Theatre and has directed over 30 productions spanning classical, avant-garde, and community-based theatre forms.

Smithner’s scholarly contributions address applied theatre’s role in social justice, prison rehabilitation, and youth education. She received the Steinhardt Teaching Excellence Award (2005) and chairs international forums on topics like Theatre for Public Health. Her courses emphasize physical theatre techniques, drama in education, and the intersection of performance with cultural identity.