Professor Erith Jaffe Berg is a theater scholar, performer, and educator whose passion for historical performance traditions brings the past vividly into the present.

With a Ph.D. in Performance Studies and over two decades of experience teaching at university and conservatory levels, Professor Jaffe Berg specializes in early modern and Renaissance theater, with a particular focus on Commedia dell’arte and masked performance. Her research explores how improvisation, physicality, and stock characters shaped the evolution of Western theater—and continues to influence actors and creators today.

Professor Jaffe Berg’s work bridges academic rigor and hands‑on practice. She has directed numerous stage productions rooted in historical performance methods and has led workshops on movement, mask work, and ensemble play for students and professional actors alike. Her writing has appeared in leading theater journals, and she frequently speaks at national and international conferences about the intersection of historical forms and contemporary practice.

As a guest on Curtains Up!, Professor Jaffe Berg shares her deep knowledge of Commedia dell’arte’s origins, its cultural impact, and why its spirit of improvisation and character work still resonates in modern performance. Her conversation invites listeners to experience this vibrant tradition with fresh curiosity and excitement.