Theatre & Musical Theatre Faculty

Jason Arnold Designer in Residence CAS - Performing Arts

Jason Arnold has been working as a professional lighting designer for more than a decade. He earned a BA from Vassar College in 1995, and an MFA in Theatre Design from Brandeis University in 1998.

  jasona@american.edu

  (202) 885-2773

Nathan Blustein Professorial Lecturer CAS - Performing Arts

Dr. Blustein is a Professorial Lecturer and Music Director for the Theatre/Musical Theatre Program in the Department of Performing Arts at American University. He recently defended his Ph.D. Dissertat

  nblustein@american.edu

  (202) 885-3198

Faedra Chatard Carpenter Assoc Professor CAS - Performing Arts

Dr. Faedra Chatard Carpenter is a theatre and performance studies scholar, professional dramaturg, and cultural critic. Her research, writing, teaching, and creative activities are grounded in her adv

  fcarpenter@american.edu

Tara Giordano Professorial Lecturer CAS - Performing Arts

Tara Giordano is a New York and DC actor, producer, and director. A Helen Hayes Award nominee, her acting credits include roles at the Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Shakespeare Theatre, Folger Theatre,

  giordano@american.edu

Gail Humphries Associate Prof Emerita

Gail Humphries Mardirosian focuses on the arts in the international arena and has been a Fulbright Senior Scholar to Prague, CZ and a Likhachev Fellow to St. Petersburg, Russia. She has also guest lec

  ghumphr@american.edu

  (202) 885-3880

Caleen Jennings Prof Emerita

Caleen Sinnette Jennings is Professor of Theatre Emerita. She joined the faculty in 1989, directed for the main stage and taught thirteen different courses in the theatre and general education program

  (202) 885-3430

Karl Kippola Assoc Professor CAS - Performing Arts

A full-time faculty member at American University since 2003, and program director since 2016, Karl Kippola holds a BA in Drama (University of Montana), an MFA in Acting (Wayne State University), and

  kippola@american.edu

  (202) 885-3464

Carl Menninger Asst Professor CAS - Performing Arts

Carl Menninger holds a master's degree from Emerson College and a bachelor's from Northwestern University. He is a writer, director and playwright and co-author of Minding the Edge: Strategies for

  menninge@american.edu

  (202) 885-3414

Aaron Posner Professor CAS - Performing Arts

Aaron Posner is an award-winning director, playwright, teacher, and former Artistic Director of Philadelphia’s Arden Theatre and New Jersey’s Two River Theatre. He has directed more than 150 productio

  posner@american.edu

Meghan Raham Professor CAS - Performing Arts

Meghan Raham is a Set and Costume Designer with a strong interest in the development of new work. Recent design work includes: My Lord, What a Night (Ford's Theatre), ((astronomia nova)) (Smithsonian

  meghan.raham@american.edu

  (202) 885-3468

Sybil Williams Director of African American and African Diaspora Studies CAS - Critical RGC Studies

Sybil R. Williams has spent the past twelve years cultivating her craft as a playwright and dramaturg. Her work has been professionally produced by Chicago’s ETA Creative Arts Theatre; New York’s Nati

  sroberts@american.edu

  (202) 885-3482

Robert Williams Fight Choreographer in Residence CAS - Performing Arts

Robb Hunter (Williams) holds an MFA in Theatre Pedagogy from The Virginia Commonwealth University, a BA in Theatre from Radford University and is a Certified Teacher for the Society of American Fight

  robertw@american.edu

  (202) 885-3441