Theatre & Musical Theatre Faculty

Program Director 

Jason Arnold Professorial Lecturer CAS | Performing Arts

Jason Arnold joined the faculty at American University in 2008, first as an Artist in Residence and then, in 2019, as a full time professorial lecturer. He is now the Program Director for the Theatre/

  jasona@american.edu

  (202) 885-2773

Faculty

Nancy Bannon Professorial Lecturer CAS | Performing Arts

Nancy Bannon, performer/writer/director, has written and directed multiple short films and stage plays including site-specific, interactive and immersive works. She is a recipient of The 2023 Washingt

  bannon@american.edu

Faedra Chatard Carpenter Associate 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

Sarah Hall Theatre Designer-in-Residence CAS | Performing Arts

Sarah Beth Hall is a scenic designer based in the greater DC area, serving as a Designer-in-Residence this academic year. Sarah Beth relocated to the DC area in 2018 to obtain her MFA in Scenic Design

  shall@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 Associate Professor CAS | Performing Arts

A full-time faculty member at American University since 2003, and program director from 2016 to 2023, Karl Kippola holds a BA in Drama (University of Montana), an MFA in Acting (Wayne State University

  kippola@american.edu

  (202) 885-3464

Carl Menninger Assistant 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

  raham@american.edu

  (202) 885-3468

Sybil Roberts Director of African American and African Diaspora Studies CAS | Performing Arts

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

Kristin Stowell Professorial Lecturer CAS | Performing Arts

Kristin Stowell is a music director, pianist, composer, arranger, copyist, and educator based in Washington, D.C. Recent credits include serving as music supervisor for the first National Tour of The

  stowell@american.edu

Robert Hunter 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