After Sydney Cheek-O’Donnell’s valiant leadership, Professor Chris DuVal is stepping up to serve as the new Interim Chair of the Department of Theatre as of July 1, 2023.

“As Interim Chair, I feel very honored to serve, collaborate, and create with our extraordinary faculty, staff, and students,” DuVal said. “The Department of Theatre has long been my scholarly and creative home – and I am excited to continue to deepen our commitments, our goals, and our growth as a nationally recognized department for a wide variety of theatre studies, scholarly work, and creative activity.  Our students inspire me as the next generation of theatre-makers — and I am proud to be a part of their development at the University of Utah.”

DuVal is a Full Professor, with a specialization in movement, voice, and acting methods.  He has taught in the Department of Theatre for 11 years, as well as having served as both the Head of the Actor Training Program and as Associate Chair. DuVal has additionally worked extensively as an actor, director, and fight director at regional theatres across the country, including at such nationally recognized venues as Syracuse Stage, Asolo Repertory Theatre, South Coast Repertory, Dallas Theatre Center, Denver Theatre Center, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Great Lakes Theater, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, and 19 years at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, among many others. 

As an educator, he has held faculty positions or guest taught workshops at such institutions as Stanford University, Southern Utah University, Southern Oregon University, University of Idaho, and California State University – Fullerton. He is the author of “Stage Combat Arts: An Integrated Approach to Acting, Voice, and Text Work,” published by Bloomsbury Methuen.

Join us in welcoming Chris DuVal and celebrating his new leadership role!