Photo from a production of The Little Prince, directed by Dr. Jan Lewis in Fall 2008.

    Dr. Jan Lewis came to Wesleyan in Fall 2006 from Los Angeles, where she worked for  many years in professional theatre as an actor, director, dramaturg and producer.  She also taught theatre courses at several universities in the Los Angeles  area.  At Wesleyan she teaches performance classes as well as courses in theatre literature, history and theory.  She finds her greatest joy in directing live theatre and teaching students that art form.  In 2008, Dr. Lewis won the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival's Meritorious Achievement Award for Excellence in Directing.

Education

Ph.D. in Dramatic Art, University of California, Santa Barbara
M.F.A. in Theatre Arts, UCLA School of Theatre
M.A. in Dramatic Art, University of California at Berkeley
B.A. with Honors in Theatre Arts, Brandeis University

More About Dr. Lewis

    I came to Wesleyan because of the opportunities to work closely with students and teach them about the many aspects of working in theatre, both academically and professionally.  At Wesleyan, I enjoy the small class sizes and the close relationships I develop with my students.  My favorite part of teaching here is that I get to mentor actors, directors, dramaturgs, producers, stage managers and technicians as well as teach complex and challenging critical thinking classes.  It is impossible for me to pick a “favorite” course, because I’ve learned that any course that I teach can be a wonderful experience.
    Away from Wesleyan, I enjoy seeing live theatre, listening to music (classical, popular, opera, and Broadway musicals), seeing films, attending music and dance concerts, visiting art museums, reading, and exploring new restaurants.  I’m a cat lover; my partner Robert Fieldsteel and I have three cats that we adore.  I also enjoy gardening when I have the time.