Michael Mehler
Title: Associate Professor
Department: Communication Arts/Theatre
Degrees: B.S. Northwestern University, M.F.A. University of Texas-Austin, Ph.D. University of Pittsburgh
Email: mmehler@allegheny.edu
Phone: (814) 332-2302
Office Location: VCCA 308
Office Hours:
Michael has designed scenery, lighting, and sound in Atlanta, Austin, Charleston, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Hampton Roads. Favorite designs include Remembrances (world premiere with Ballet Austin), The Importance of Being Earnest (separate productions in Atlanta and Pittsburgh), Waiting for Godot (Pittsburgh), Alchemy of Desire/Dead Man’s Blues and Romeo and Juliet (Hampton Roads). At Allegheny, he serves as the resident designer, with emphasis on scenic and lighting design.
Michael holds a BS in theatre from Northwestern University, an MFA from the University of Texas at Austin, and a PhD from the University of Pittsburgh. His research examines the intersection of performance, identity, and space – with an emphasis on early twentieth-century America. Prior to returning to Allegheny in 2008, he taught theatre design at Allegheny College (1994-1999), the College of Charleston, the University of Pittsburgh, and the College of William & Mary.
He serves as the Vice President of Programming for the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT). In this position he oversees all sessions at the annual conference each spring. In past years, he has presented on scene design history, focusing on the work of Josef Urban and Boris Aronson, examining their role as immigrants and designers in the early twentieth century. From his position on the USITT Board of Directors, Michael also serves as liaison to both the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA) and the Association of Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE). With the latter organization he has served as the Focus Group Representative for Design & Technology and is an active member of Theatre as a Liberal Art. At past ATHE conferences, he has presented numerous times about theatre pedagogy, design history, and design theory.
