Stephanie Sandberg Associate Professor

Lenfest Center 309
540-458-8004
sandbergs@wlu.edu

Education

Ph.D., Theatre History, University of California, Santa Barbara
M.A., Dramatic Art, University of California, Santa Barbara
B.A. Theatre, Westmont College

Research

Current research in Applied Theater including: Theater for Social Justice, Contemporary issues in theater, Human Trafficking, Human Sexuality and its representations on stage, Adapting Theater into film production. My research takes a relevant and pressing cultural topic such as modern day slavery or housing discrimination, or racial lines in a city and turns that research into social justice theater. The goal of these plays and productions is so that the theater (and perhaps the film) might become a catalyst for social change. I also research contemporary directing, and direct theater using new techniques and methodologies, particularly related to the movement of the human body. I am a certified Yoga trainer and use yoga based movement to train actors for the stage. As I continue this work and research on the effective movement of the human body, I am compiling the notes and ideas to write a book about this in the future.

Teaching

Theater 210 History of Theater and Drama I
Theater 211 History of Theater and Drama II
Film 233 Global Cinema

Selected Publications

Writing and Directing:

Stories in Blue: A Pilgrimage to Heal Human Trafficking, ArtPrize 2016
Lines: The Lived Experience of Race 2016 Edition, ADAPT Theatre Company, Welathy Street Theatre
Grains of Hope: Refugee Experiences, Calvin Theatre Company,
Check Your Privilege: Race and Education in the University, Western Michigan University
My Love Thou Art My Love I Think (Rock opera adaptation of Midsummer Night's Dream), Calvin Theatre Company
Hildegard Trumpet of God, with Linn Maxwell Keller and Rasiki Productions

Directing:
King Lear: A Clown Play, Calvin Theatre Company
Frozen, Actor's Theatre Grand Rapids
Metamorphoses, Calvin Theatre Company

Dramaturgy:

Maria Sybilla Merian, A Play with Ensemble Studio Theatre and Arlene Hutton
Paradise, with Ensemble Studio Theatre and Laura Maria Censabella

Memberships and Affiliations

American College Theatre Festival Member
Association for Theatre in Higher Education Member
International Association for Theatre in Higher Education Member
International Theatre Research Member
American Applied Theater Conference Member

Recent Presentations

Nagel Institute, Human Trafficking, Faith and Progress in Ghana
ArtPrize 8, Critical Discourse Series on Stories in Blue: A Pilgrimage to Heal Human Trafficking