Tracey Brent-Chessum holds a Ph.D. in Theatre and Performance Studies from the University of Maryland, and her scholarship focuses on propaganda and nationalism on the theatrical stage, audience reception, theatre historiography, and American musical theatre (with an emphasis on six “Salesmen of Americanism”: Sousa, Cohan, Ziegfeld, Hammerstein II, Sondheim, and Miranda). She is passionate about cultivating both theatre professionals and sustainable theatre audiences. She is the co-host of The Dr. Broadway Podcast(“Educating Theatregoers, Enhancing Theatregoing”) and is currently working on two monographs for Methuen Drama’s Essential series.

In the past 15 years, she has been privileged to work with faculty and students in the theatre programs at UMD, Ball State, Point Park, Columbus State, Emory, and Brenau’s Gainesville Theatre Alliance, rising to the rank of Associate Professor and Chair. Professional affiliations include the American Theatre & Drama Society (Treasurer, Board Member), the Journal of American Drama & Theatre (Board Member, External reviewer), and the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (Leadership Institute). Tracey was the Artistic Director of Pallas Theatre Collective in Washington, D.C. from 2011-2019, developing new works to ensure the continuance of America’s musical theatre legacy (Helen Hayes Award Nominee, John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company).