Stephanie Svarz

Curriculum Vitae
630-542-0911
stephsvarz@gmail.com

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Theatre Studies
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
Advisor: JW Morrissette
Bachelor of Arts, English
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
Advisor: Anna Ivy

ACADEMIC & LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

Teaching Assistant/Instructor, NHSI CHERUBS Program, Northwestern
University, 2014
Teaching Assistant, Center for Talent Development, Northwestern University,
2011-2013
President, The Penny Dreadful Players, University of Illinois, 2014-2015
Vice President, Illini Student Musicals, University of Illinois, 2015
COURSES TAUGHT
Instructor, NHSI Cherubs Program, Northwestern University
Theatership Intensive, Summer 2014
Course designed for High School Juniors and Seniors to introduce them
to the principles of Directing for the stage. Students explored basic ideas
of script analysis and its application to directing. Over the course of 9
sessions, students learned various activities to engage and build
community within the context of a production, directing troubleshooting
skills, and organizational techniques to put together plans for full-scale
productions.

Teaching Assistant, Center for Talent Development, Northwestern University

Get Smart: Summer 2013
This course was designed for 6th & 7th grade gifted students. Over the

course of the summer, students learned about the history and modern

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intelligence gathering organizations in the US, discussed contemporary

ethics issues in the field, built Morse code transmitters, learned a variety
of cipehers and codes including the tap code, pigpen cipher, single and
double substitution ciphers and explored the lives of famous spies.

Teaching Assistant, Center for Talent Development, Northwestern University

Smelly Science: Summer 2013

Course designed for gifted pre-K through 3rd grade students in which the
olfactory system was explored. Students learned how the human body
smells, the strengths and weaknesses of the olfactory system and the
neuroscienific processes by which we identify things by our sense of
smell. Students conducted various experiments and created projects to
help further explore and synthesize their understanding of the olfactory
system.

Teaching Assistant, Center for Talent Development, Northwestern University

Three Bears, Three Chairs: Fairytale Math Summer 2013
Course designed for gifted pre-K through 3rd grade students to further
the exploration of mathematics and local reasoning skills through the lens
of popular fairy tales. Students studied various fairytales including The
Seven Chinese Brothers, Goldilocks and the Three Bears and The Twelve
Dancing Princesses to understand the role of numbers in logical
progression. Throughout the course, students worked together to write
and illustrate their own fairy tale books, acted in a small play and
completed various activities to help enhance their understanding of
numbers and logical thinking.

Teaching Assistant, Center for Talent Development, Northwestern University

Save the Bees!: Summer 2012

Course designed for gifted pre-K through 3rd grade students in which the
community systems and importance of honeybees in the modern
Midwestern ecosystems was explored. Students learned how honeybee
communities operate; honeybee anatomy, and the impact honey bees
have on our agricultural systems through experimentation, hands on
exploration and written and visual materials. Students were also able to
learn about honeybee products through a visit from a local beekeeper.

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GUEST LECTURES, WORKSHOPS, AND PRESENTATIONS

Public Speaking Panel
University of Illinois English Department, October 2015
With Liberty & Theater For All
Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Illinois, April 2015
Contact Improvisation Workshop
Illinois High School Theater Festival, University of Illinois, January 2015
Ballroom Dance Master Class
NHSI CHERUBS Program, Northwestern University, July 2014
Introduction to Theatrical Research
NHSI CHERUBS Program, Northwestern University, July 2014
Give Sorrow Words: Hamnets Death and its Impact on William Shakespeares Work
Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Illinois, April 2014

RESEARCH AND PEDAGOGICAL INTERESTS

Teaching and Research Interests: Hildegard of Bingen and her convent at
Rupertsberg, 20th Century American Literature, The Provincetown Players, Peter
Pan & Mary Poppins, Thornton Wilder, Dance Forms in Theater, Theatrical
Experiences for the common person and theater as a life skill.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Hildegard of Bingen: A Life of Justice for Women Through Rupertsberg
NWSA Conference 2014, Puerto Rico, November 2014

HONORS AND AWARDS

Mary Ramier Research Grant, Department of Gender and Womens Studies
University of Illinois, 2015
Conference Travel Grant, Department of Undergraduate Research
University of Illinois, 2014.
MVP, The Penny Dreadful Players, University of Illinois, 2014-2015

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Deans List
Ball State University (2 Semesters) 2011-2012
University of Illinois in Champaign Urbana (7 Semesters) 2012-2015
Nova Award, I-STAR Program, April 2015

PUBLICATIONS & EXHIBITIONS

The Broken Plate, Photography Expose of Israel, Spring 2012
Embodied Effigies, Always, Spring 2012
Nature v. Nurture, Photography Exhibit, Ikenberry Library, Fall 2014

RELEVANT COURSE WORK (Selected Listing)

University of Illinois:
THEA 211: Playwriting
THEA 208: Dramatic Analysis
THEA 262: Modern Literature of Theater
THEA 412: Directors Workshop
THEA 360: Theater History I
THEA 361: Theater History II
THEA 270: Relationships in Acting
THEA 418: Devising Social Issues Theater
ENGL 428: Dramatic Literature from 1660-1880
ENGL 218: Introduction to Shakespeare
ENGL 459: Native American Literature
ENGL 476: Literature and the Sea
ENGL 301: Critical Theory
ENGL 390: Independent Study: Research Methods & The Provincetown Players

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Fragmentations
Led by: Kelsey McGrath. New Play Development Workshop, University
of Illinois, 2014.
Acting for Film & Television
Led by: Roger W. Smith, Master Class. Ball State University 2012.
Theater Leadership Program

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Supervised by: Nate Silver. Intensive Theater Leadership Program

National Student Leadership Conference, New York, 2010.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS

Tau Sigma Honors Society
National Womens Studies Association

SELECTED PRODUCTION CREDITS (full rsum available upon request)

Academic Credits
The Off-Stage Studio Project
Plays About Mary
Theater Studies Student Showcase
Much Ado About Nothing
Theater Studies Student Showcase

Director, Coordinator
Director
Concept & Choreography
Assistant Dramaturge
Playwright & Director

DIRECTING
Godspell
Illini Student Musicals
Marys Wedding
The Penny Dreadful Players
The N-Town Plays
Festival of Early Drama
The Off Stage Studio Project
UIUC Theater
Avenue Q
Illini Student Musicals
Under Milk Wood
The Penny Dreadful Players
Tis the Season
The Penny Dreadful Players
The Last Days of Judas Iscariot The Penny Dreadful Players
Machinal
NHSI Cherubs Program
Almost, Maine
The Penny Dreadful Players
Our Town
The Penny Dreadful Players
PRODUCTION | RELATED EXPERIENCE
Managing Director
The Penny Dreadful Players
Vice President
Illini Student Musicals
Choreography
The New Revels Players
Assistant Program Coordinator Student Playwright Outreach Theater
Instructor
Ballroom Dance Master Class
Assistant Dramaturge
Much Ado About Nothing
Instructor
Be Direct (Theater Leadership Course)
Set Design
Jack & The Beanstalk
Program Director
The Actors Experience
Scene Shop Practicum
Dept. of Theater & Dance

REFERENCES

Available upon request.

University of Illinois
University of Illinois
Armory Free Theater
University of Illinois
Armory Free Theater
Gregory Hall, 2015
UIUC Stock Pavilion, 2015
University of Toronto, 2015
Armory Free Theater, 2015
University of Illinois, 2015
Institute 4 Creativity, 2015
Channing Murray Foundation, 2014
Institute 4 Creativity, 2014
Northwestern University, 2014
University of Illinois, 2014
University of Illinois, 2013
University of Illinois, 2014-15
University of Illinois, 2015
University of Illinois, 2015
University of Illinois, 2014-15
IHS Theater Festival, 2015
University of Illinois, 2014
Northwestern University, 2014

University High School, 2013

S2 Studios, 2013
University of Illinois, 2012-14