About
Paul Kassel is the Dean for the College of Visual and Performing Arts and a full professor in the School of Theatre and Dance at Northern Illinois University. Dean Kassel manages the operation of the Schools of Art and Design, Music, and Theatre and Dance. He also oversees the operations of the NIU Museum and the Community School of the Arts (CSA). In addition to responsibility for the financial management, Dean Kassel guides the fulfillment of the mission and vision of the college. Working closely with the School Directors, the Directors of the Museum and CSA, and the Directors of Development and Marketing, Dean Kassel has grown the College’s presence on campus and in the region. He has newly established the Advisory Council, which membership spans the arts disciplines, business partners, and major cultural institutions including the Goodman Theatre and the Chicago Sinfonietta. Education
MFA– Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory—Theatre: Acting
BA –Miami University of Ohio–Theater and Communications: Theatre
Publications
Books
- The Actor’s Path: An Evolutionary Approach to the Art and Craft of Playing. Manuscript in revision.
- Acting: An Introduction to the Art and Craft of Playing. Pearson. Boston. April 2006.
- “Random Acts.” in Method Acting Reconsidered: Theory, Practice, Future. Ed. David Krasner. New York. Palgrave MacMillan, 2000.
refereed articles
- “The Four Fundamental Verbs: An Approach to Playing Actions.” Theatre Topics. 9 (1999): 181-195.
reviews/e-zines
- “Something Rotten” Theatre review. The Players’ Journal. May 2015.
- “Art and Evolution—A Darwin Day Celebration.” EvoS Newsletter. Vol 4, #2. June 2015.
- “John Barrymore, Shakespearean Actor.” Book Review. Theatre History Studies. 18 (1998): 173-174.
miscellaneous published materials
- Rationale Task Force. Theatre Studies in Higher Education: Learning for a Lifetime. Booklet. Association for Theatre in Higher Education. August 1997.
editorship
- The Players’ Journal. For and by members of the community of actors and acting teachers. Editor. Created and maintained website: theplayersjournal.org. 2005-present.
- The Beat: The official newsletter for the Acting Program focus group of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education. 1993-1997.
Projects
“Acting is Predicting”
Journal article on re-assessing assumptions about theatrical performance and audience reception.
Creative Path to College Success
Passages. A cycle of plays about the German Jewish immigration experience from 1938 to the present.
Upcoming Talks and Conferences
Invitation to Learning: Emotions, Inclusivity, Community
Assumption College
16 May 2019
Presentation: “The Power of Presence: harnessing Action to Engage Students”
