James Schlatter. Ph.D. (Program Director)

University of Pennsylvania
Theatre Arts Program
Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut Street, Room 520
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6219
Telephone: (215) 573-0993

E-mail: jschlattATenglish.upenn.edu
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A proud native of Minnesota, Jim Schlatter has been a member of the Theatre Arts faculty at Penn since 1989.  He received his B.A. from the University of Minnesota, his M.A. from Villanova University, and his PhD from the City University of New York.   He wrote his dissertation on the life and work of the renowned Polish theatre director, Kazimierz Braun.  In addition to teaching courses regularly in acting, directing, advanced acting and directing, and theatre history, Jim directs productions for the Theatre Arts Program, many of which have served as the research site for the Senior Honors Thesis Project in acting.  Those productions range from adaptations of classical Greek plays, modern European dramas, modern American plays, and Shakespeare, including The Cherry Orchard, As You Like It, Trojan Women (in collaboration with fellow faculty member, Dr. Marcia Ferguson), Marriage of Figaro, The Crucible, and most recently Spring Awakening (the play).  Jim has a special interest in modern and contemporary American theatre and drama and has published articles and delivered numerous conference papers on major American playwrights.  He served as Director of the Theatre Arts Program from 2004 to 2007.

 

     A member of Actors’ Equity Association since 1984, Jim has performed in over sixty stage productions.  He worked for several years with the Villanova University Summer Theatre Festival, performing such roles as Malvolio in Twelfth Night, Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, Vladimir in Waiting for Godot, Reverend Morrell in George Bernard Shaw’s Candida, and Ben Franklin in 1776.  He performs, occasionally, with local Philadelphia area theatre companies.

 

Along with the other members of the Theatre Arts faculty, Jim advises students, consults on curriculum development, and helps to promote the educational mission of Theatre Arts throughout the University.  He feels honored to have received the award for Distinguished Teaching by Affiliated Faculty in the 2007-2008 academic year.  He is equally honored to be part of a dynamic theatre program that offers students a comprehensive introduction to the study of theatre in all its aspects—practical, historical, and theoretical—taught by a richly experienced, dedicated, and accomplished faculty.