- Biography
- Teaching
- Research and Creative Activity
- Grants
- Honors and Awards
- Service
Education
Ph.D., Theatre and Performance, The Graduate Center, CUNY New York United States
M.A., Theatre History and Criticism, Brooklyn College, CUNY Brooklyn United States
B.A., Liberal Arts, Bennington College Bennington United States
| Semester | Course Prefix | Course Number | Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | ENG | 6001H | Honors-English I |
| Fall 2025 | ENG | 3770 | Modern Drama |
| Fall 2025 | THE | 3770 | Modern Drama |
| Spring 2025 | ENG | 3780 | Cont Drama: New Thea |
| Spring 2025 | ENG | 5000 | Independent Study English I |
| Spring 2025 | ENG | 2850 | Great Works of Literature II |
| Fall 2024 | ENG | 3770 | Modern Drama |
| Fall 2024 | FYS | 1000 | Freshman Seminar |
| Fall 2024 | FYS | 1000 | Freshman Seminar |
| Fall 2024 | FYS | 1000 | Freshman Seminar |
| Fall 2024 | FYS | 1000 | Freshman Seminar |
| Spring 2024 | ENG | 3780 | Cont Drama: New Thea |
| Fall 2023 | ENG | 2850H | Honors Great Works II |
| Fall 2023 | ENG | 3770 | Modern Drama |
| Spring 2023 | ENG | 2850 | Great Works of Literature II |
| Spring 2023 | ENG | 2850 | Great Works of Literature II |
| Fall 2022 | ENG | 5000 | Independent Study English I |
| Fall 2022 | ENG | 3770 | Modern Drama |
| Fall 2022 | ENG | 2100 | Writing I |
Books
Vella, S. (2027). Primitivism, Embodiment, Performance: Performance Research Methods in Colonial Modernity. In Progress.
Journal Articles
Vella, S. (2022). Performance, Colonialism, and Survivals: Aby Warburg and the Matachines Dance in the US Southwestern Territories . TDR: The Drama Review , 66(1). 80-101.
Vella, S. Antonin Artaud’s Oceanic Cruelties: Eroding Anthropological Certainty in two Performances from 1933-1934. Theatre Journal,
Book Chapters
Vella, S., & Wickstrom, M. (2013). The New Manifesto of Occupy Wall Street. Manifesto Now! Instructions for Performance, Philosophy, Politics (pp. 37-50). Chicago, IL. Intellect, The University of Chicago Press.
Presentations
Vella, S. (2026, June 30). Richard Schechner’s Bacchaes: Speculative History and Performance Studies. International Federation for Theatre Research. Cologne, Germany
Vella, S. (2026, September 30). Primitivism, Embodiment, Performance: Performance Research Methods in Colonial Modernity. Columbia University Seminar in Drama, Theatre, and Performance.
Vella, S., Caplan, D. L., Kastleman, R., & Shulman, M. (2026, November 30). Generating Scholarly Genealogies. American Society for Theatre Research. Denver, CO
Vella, S. (2026, July 30). Oceanic Cruelties and Primitivist Temporalities: Antonin Artaud Erodes the Boundaries of Empire. International Federation for Theatre Research Annual Conference. Manila, The Philippines: International Federation for Theatre Research.
Vella, S. (2026, April 30). Oceanic Cruelties, or Antonin Artaud Stages the Erosion of Empire. Works-In-Progress Talk. Baruch College: Department of English.
Vella, S., Caplan, D. L., Schulman, M., & Kastleman, R. (2026, November 30). Speculative Historiographies in Times of Change. American Society for Theatre Research Annual Conference. Seattle, WA: American Society for Theatre Research.
Vella, S. (2026, November 30). Richard Schechner's Potential Bacchaes: Speculating on Unrealized Histories of Performance Studies. American Society for Theatre Research. Seattle, WA
Vella, S. (2026, November 30). Primitivism, Colonialism, and Disability: Antonin Artaud’s Methodologies for Performance Research. American Society for Theatre Research Annual Conference. Providence, RI: American Society for Theatre Research.
Vella, S. (2026, October 30). Oceanic Feeling, Maritime Modernism, and Anti-Imperialism in the Aesthetics of Antonin Artaud. Modernist Studies Association Annual Conference. Brooklyn, NY: Modernist Studies Association.
Vella, S. (2026, November 30). Rehearsing Ecological Catastrophe in the Pastoral Mode at the Supermarket . American Society for Theatre Research Annual Conference. New Orleans, LA: American Society for Theatre Research.
Reviews
Vella, S. (2026,May 30). Walking, Decay, Endurance: Two Year-Long Works by Yuji Agematsu. PAJ: A Journal of Performance and Art.
Vella, S. (2026,May 30). Reconsidering Archives and Performance. PAJ: A Journal of Performance and Art.
Vella, S. (2026,January 30). Review of The Avant-Garde: Race, Religion, War by Mike Sell. Theatre Survey.
Vella, S. (1970,January 1). Review of Jews and the Making of Modern German Theatre, edited by Freddie Rokem and Jeanette Malkin. New England Theatre Journal.
| Title | Funding Agency Sponsor | Start Date | End Date | Awarded Date | Total Funding | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primitivism, Performance Studies, and Modernist Time | PSC-CUNY 54 | 07/01/2023 | 06/30/2024 | 04/18/2023 | 6000 | Funded - In Progress |
College
| Committee Name | Position Role | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Committee on the Library | Committee Member | Present | |
| WSAS Pre-Tenure Faculty Governance Focus Group | Committee Member | Present | |
| Joel Segall Great Works Staged Reading Q&A - Miss Julie | Attendee, Meeting | Present | |
| Joel Segall Great Works Staged Reading Q&A - Mojada | Attendee, Meeting | Present | |
| Curriculum Committee | Committee Member | Present | |
| WSAS Strategic Planning Community Summit | Attendee, Meeting | Present | |
| Junior Faculty Meet-and-Greet for Job Candidates | Host | 3/21/2024 |
University
| Committee Name | Position Role | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSC CUNY Award Grants Panel in Performing Arts | Grant Panelist | 1/28/2024 | Present |