Cohen, Robert, 1938-....

Robert Cohen is the founding chair of the University of California, Irvine Drama Department and a renowned professor, director, translator, playwright, essayist, and drama critic. In 2001 he was named Claire Trevor Professor of Drama at UCI. Cohen was born in Washington, D.C. in 1938. As an undergraduate he studied at Dartmouth College and UC Berkeley. After earning his Doctor of Fine Arts at Yale University in 1965, he joined the faculty at UCI. Over the course of his career, Cohen has directed over 70 stage productions at UCI. He is also the author of many books on theatre, including Acting One/Acting Two, Acting Professionally, Acting Power, Acting in Shakespeare, Theatre, More Power To You, Creative Play Direction, Giraudoux: Three Faces of Destiny, two dramatic anthologies, and many plays, translations, scholarly articles, and reviews. He has frequently directed productions for the Utah and Colorado Shakespeare Festivals. In 1993 he was awarded the UCI Medal, UCI's highest honor, and in 1999 he received the Career Achievement Award from the Association for Theatre in Higher Education.

Historical Background

Jerzy Grotowski, born in August 1933, was a Polish theatre director and a leading figure in avant garde theatre of the 20th century. He was also the innovator of the "theatre laboratory" and "poor theatre" concepts. In 1983, Grotowski was invited to the University of California, Irvine by Robert Cohen, where he began a course of work called "Objective Drama." This research focused on an investigation of the psychophysiological impact on participants of songs and other performative tools derived from traditional cultures. Grotowski passed away in January 1999.

Robert Cohen was the founding chair of the UC Irvine drama department from 1965 until 1990. He is currently Claire Trevor Professor of Drama at UC Irvine.

Biography

Robert Cohen is the founding chair of the University of California, Irvine Drama Department and a renowned professor, director, translator, playwright, essayist, and drama critic. In 2001 he was named Claire Trevor Professor of Drama at UCI.

Cohen was born in Washington, D.C. in 1938. As an undergraduate he studied at Dartmouth College and UC Berkeley. After earning his Doctor of Fine Arts at Yale University in 1965, he joined the faculty at UCI.

Over the course of his career, Cohen has directed over 70 stage productions at UCI. He is also the author of many books on theatre, including Acting One/Acting Two, Acting Professionally, Acting Power, Acting in Shakespeare, Theatre, More Power To You, Creative Play Direction, Giraudoux: Three Faces of Destiny, two dramatic anthologies, and many plays, translations, scholarly articles, and reviews. He has frequently directed productions for the Utah and Colorado Shakespeare Festivals. In 1993 he was awarded the UCI Medal, UCI's highest honor, and in 1999 he received the Career Achievement Award from the Association for Theatre in Higher Education.