Dr. Elizabeth Coen

Assistant Professor and Head of the M.A. in Theatre Studies

Dr. Coen is a scholar of theatre history, dramaturgy, and theatre pedagogy. Her research considers how theatrical institutions shape conceptions of national identity and political empowerment within historical contexts, such as the Age of Enlightenment, and the 21st century. Her articles can be found in Theatre History Studies, the Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism and Teaching Performance Practices in Remote and Hybrid Spaces, an anthology edited by Jeanmarie Higgins and Elisha Clark Halpin. Additionally, she has written educational material for The Norton Anthology of Drama and reviews for The Village Voice and Off Off Online. Her current book project surveys arts organizations across the United States to identify and explicate models for integrating social change initiatives into artistic planning and decision-making. Incorporating both research and practical strategy, each chapter offers pragmatic tools for arts practitioners, non-profit administrators, and educators to apply the arts in service to measurable advances in social equity and civic engagement

Dr. Coen has worked with numerous arts institutions throughout her career, including the Alley Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, and Samuel French, Inc. (now Concord Theatricals). At Seattle Children’s Theatre, she oversaw the development and implementation of arts-based health and wellness programming for adolescents. Her school residency program Creative Drama for Mental Wellness is considered a model for applied theatre practice in healthcare and has been showcased at the American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE) and Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA-USA). Dr. Coen sits on the Executive Committee of Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA) and acts as editor of LMDA’s refereed journal Review. A proud alumna of AmeriCorps, she is a champion of public service for the common good.