Claire Syler

Theatre Educator I Artist I Scholar

Hi, I’m Claire Syler. I’m an Associate Professor at the University of Missouri (MU) with appointments in the School of Visual Studies and the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies. At MU, I teach a variety of graduate and undergraduate courses, direct theatre productions, coordinate the Arts Entrepreneurship Certificate, and publish research.

Claire Syler directing a table read.

I have an interdisciplinary background as a: 

  • Theatre Educator – I have over 20 years of experience teaching and making theatre with young people and professional artists. I also have a background as a community-based arts administrator, serving as the Educator Director for the Nashville Shakespeare Festival from 2006-2010. See my CV.

  • Theatre Artist – I am a stage director and dramaturg who received a MFA in Directing from the University of Memphis. See production highlights.

  • Theatre Scholar – I received a PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Pittsburgh with an emphasis in Critical Education Studies. My research focuses on applied theatre—forms of socially-engaged performance used to develop individual growth, collaborate with local communities, and foster positive social change. See my published research.