Joni Starr

Assistant Professor of Performing Arts Education

Joni Starr

Joni Starr, Assistant Professor of Performing Arts, has practiced educational theatre in a variety of engaging settings. After receiving her BFA in Theatre Education and MFA in Theatre for Youth from the University of Texas, Austin she joined in regional Theatre for Youth settings including the Charleston Stage Company and The Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, NC, where she served as Director of Education. In these roles Joni participated in state and local curriculum writing focusing on interdisciplinary learning and the development of theatre standards. She also chaired the Charlotte conference for American Alliance for Theatre Education.

Joni has taught educational theatre at the College of Charleston and at Wintrhop University. She also taught at the Shanghai International Studies University where she worked with Chinese school teachers to include the arts in their daily lessons and overall curriculum. Additionally, Joni spent time teaching in schools in La Cumbre, Guatemala where students with no arts opportunities created their own productions for their communities.

Artistically Joni has directed and choreographed a number of productions including Alice in Wonderland, To Kill a Mockingbird, Guys and Dolls, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Night of the Pterodactyls, Peter and the Wolf and others.

Additionally Joni has served as Director for the Artist in Residence and Earth Arts summer program for the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association and as Executive Director for Four Winds summer camp on Orcas Island.

Joni is happy teaching and managing MSU’s educational theatre outreach with Lansing area schools and organizations, including the Arts Bridge Scholars, a national program placing University students in local schools to integrate the arts in everyday learning.