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Vanessa Stalling

Directing Faculty / Head of Graduate Directing

Biography

Vanessa Stalling is an Associate Professor of Directing at UCSD and a professional theatre director. She received her M.F.A. from Illinois State University where she was a recipient of an Outstanding University Teacher Award and an Impact Award. She was the Associate Artistic Director of Redmoon Theater in Chicago, the 2016 Michael Maggio Fellow at The Goodman Theatre, has been listed on the “Players” list of The Fifty People Who Really Perform for Chicago, is a 2019 honored finalist of the Women in the Arts & Media Coalition Collaboration Award, and is a former company member of The House Theater of Chicago. She is also known for directing United Flight 232 which she adapted from Laurence Gonzales’ Flight 232: A Story of Disaster and Survival. The production received six Jeff Award nominations, winning for Best Production Midsize and for Best Ensemble.

For ten years, Vanessa was a primary artist at Redmoon Theatre, an internationally recognized maker of large-scale outdoor spectacles. While at Redmoon, she developed all original works of theater as an actor, director, and ultimately as Associate Artistic Director. Memorable experiences at Redmoon include directing Mickle Maher’s The Cabinet, which toured Brazil as part of the FILO Festival, and directing ephemeral performances for President Obama’s initial Halloween Celebration at the White House. Professor Stalling has held teaching positions at Roosevelt University, Columbia College, and the University of Chicago. At UC San Diego, she will advise and instruct graduate directing and acting students, teach undergraduate directing courses, and direct productions.

Office

Galbraith Hall 324

 

Office hours

Mon. 9am - 10am
Wed. 3pm - 4pm
and by appointment