CURTAINS UP!
- a historical perspective on drama -

​Kathy A. Perkins is an internationally renowned lighting designer, theater historian, and educator, whose work has illuminated both the stage and the archives of theater history. With over 300 lighting design credits spanning regional theaters, universities, and international festivals—including in the U.S., Africa, and the Caribbean—her artistry has helped shape the visual language of modern theater.

A Professor Emerita of Theater at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Professor Perkins is also a trailblazing scholar whose research focuses on African American and African diaspora theater, with a special emphasis on the contributions of Black women playwrights and designers. Her influential books include Black Female Playwrights: An Anthology of Plays before 1950, Telling Our Stories, and Women in African Theatre, which have become foundational texts in theater studies programs worldwide.

Its an honor to have her as a guest on Curtains Up. Professor Perkins shares her journey through the worlds of design and academia, offers insight into the cultural significance of light and space in storytelling, and reflects on the responsibility of preserving and amplifying marginalized voices in theater.

(Image credit: Amos Adams).

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Go to Spotify episode  

Illuminating the Stage: A conversation with Kathy A. Perkins

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Scott Magelssen is a Professor of Theatre History and Performance Studies at the University of Washington, where he specializes in immersive performance, historical reenactment, and the intersection of theater and lived experience. With a deep passion for exploring how performance shapes our understanding of history, identity, and culture, Professor Magelssen brings a unique perspective to the stage—and the classroom.

He is the author of several influential books, including "Simming: Participatory Performance and the Making of Meaning" and "Enacting the Past: Historical Performance Across the Disciplines." His research delves into everything from living history museums to escape rooms and themed environments, bridging academic insight with the visceral power of performance.

On this episode of Curtains Up, Professor Magelssen joins us to explore the theatricality of everyday life, the role of the audience in immersive storytelling, and what theater can teach us about truth, memory, and imagination.

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Go to Spotify episode  

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4klfIM1jqxKZbYxWXFQNme?si=3sc5f8kaTXiwOFYemvilMA

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We are honored to welcome Dr. Carol Symes to Curtains Up. A distinguished historian, author, and theater scholar, Dr. Symes is a Professor of History and Medieval Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she specializes in the history of performance, communication, and the role of theater in shaping medieval and modern societies.

Her groundbreaking work explores the intersection of theater, politics, and the written word, shedding light on how performance has long been a vital part of cultural expression and collective memory. Dr. Symes is the author of A Common Stage: Theater and Public Life in Medieval Arras, and is widely recognized for her contributions to rethinking how we understand early drama and its enduring legacy.

In this episode, she shares her insights into the origins of European theater, the power of storytelling in pre-modern communities, and why understanding historical performance traditions enriches our contemporary stagecraft.

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Go to Spotify episode https://open.spotify.com/episode/0hjtyMR84IlFtITfGA9XXP?si=Dy-F_xWuSeug9CqkhefPxg

Dr. Xing Fan is a leading scholar in Chinese drama and theater, currently serving as a Professor in the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Toronto. Her research bridges classical performance traditions with contemporary interpretations, shedding light on the rich history, aesthetics, and cultural significance of Chinese drama—from Yuan zaju and Ming-Qing chuanqi to the evolution of modern stagecraft in China.

She is the author of several acclaimed works on Asian performance studies and has presented internationally on topics such as actor training, intercultural theater, and the role of politics and identity in theatrical expression. Professor Fan’s work invites global audiences to engage with Chinese theater as both a historical treasure and a living, evolving art form.

In this episode of Curtains Up, she takes us on a journey through the poetic structure, symbolic design, and performative depth of classical Chinese drama, and discusses why these traditions still resonate on the world stage today.

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Go to Spotify episode  https://open.spotify.com/episode/7MzyAJSbizG7k74HnEowoX?si=HUSK_HTRT82I7TiWLdOQiQ