Valleri J Robinson

Valleri J. Robinson is an Associate Professor of Theatre at the University of Illinois. Her academic roles include affiliate faculty positions in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures and the Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center. She specializes in Russian-American cultural exchange, Cold War performances, transnational theatre historiography, and Chekhov adaptations. Her research explores intersections between theatre and political history, particularly Soviet-American relations and Eastern European cultural movements.

Robinson’s publications include the book Russian Culture and Theatrical Performance in America, 1891-1933 (2011) and articles in journals like Theatre Survey and Contemporary Theatre Review. Notable works address Soviet propaganda in WWII, Belarusian protest theatre, and Nikolai Kolyada’s Ekaterinburg productions. She has received prestigious awards, including the 2012 American Theatre and Drama Society Travel Award and a Fulbright grant (2014) for collaboration with the Kolyada Theatre in Russia.

Her teaching spans courses like 20th Century Russian Theatre and Dramaturg’s Workshop. As a professional dramaturg, she has advised U.S. theatre companies and playwrights. Robinson frequently presents keynote lectures at conferences, including talks on Cold War theatre historiography and Chekhov’s transnational reception.