Stephanie Sandberg

Sandberg teaches courses on screenwriting, documentary filmmaking and an ethnographic study of modern-day slavery in Ghana. Her current research focuses on theater for social justice.

Stephanie Sandberg

Stephanie Sandberg

Associate Professor of Theater/Film

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