Guest Artist Program

The Theatre Department exposes students to as broad and sophisticated an understanding of contemporary theatre practice and scholarship as possible. In addition to a permanent faculty and staff who are working theatre professionals as well as academics, we also bring guest instructors and artists into the mix of study and production whenever possible.

In many ways this program has evolved from our unique relationship with Riverside Theatre, a professional regional theatre in nearby Iowa City. Ron Clark and Jody Hovland , the founders and artistic directors of that company, have long been associated with the department as distinguished artists-in-residence.

We have seen first-hand the benefits of students working closely with seasoned professionals. Our guest artists each bring unique, well-developed talents and experiences to enrich our students’ understanding of theatre practice.  The Guest Artist Program also helps students build networks that may lead to professional or further educational opportunities.

We seek to involve guest artists in each area of the department’s activities: in performance (acting and directing); in production (design, stage management, and technical direction); and in dramaturgy (playwriting and theatre scholarship).

Recent Guest Artists 

• Matthew Allar
  Guest professor and scenic designer, New York

• David Apitchel
  Professional stage management consultant, New York

• Maggie Baker-Atkins
  Costume designer, Chicago

• Leslie Charipar
  Actor – Chicago

• David Combs
  Featured Equity actor, Los Angeles

• Stan Crocker
  Lighting designer, Los Angeles/Mount Vernon

• Jason Grubbe
  Actor, Iowa City

• Brent Hazelton
  Arts administrator, workshop leader, Milwaukee

• Kristin Horton
  Director, workshop leader, New York

• Keith Huff
  Playwright, playwriting professor, Chicago

• Stephanie Braun Jacobson
  Puppeteer, Omaha

• Galen Joseph-Hunter
  Arts administrator, workshop leader, New York

• Graham Kindred
  Lighting designer, New York

• Sean Christopher Lewis
  Playwright, actor, Iowa City

• Matt Lindstrom
  Choreographer, dance instructor, Iowa City

• Tom Roe
  Transmission artist, workshop leader, New York

• Benjamin Schmidt
  Scenic designer, Iowa City

• Steven Smeltzer
  Choreographer, New York

• Michael Sokoloff
  Director, fight choreographer, Iowa City

• C. Denby Swanson
  Playwright, workshop instructor, Austin

• Jeremy Van Meter
  Acting instructor, Chicago

• Naomi Wallace
  Playwright, London

• Wendi Weber
  Featured equity actor, workshop leader, Chicago

• Scot West
  Actor, Iowa City

• Bryon Winn
  Scenic and lighting designer, Iowa City