Faculty Profile for Kara-Lynn Vaeni

profile photo for Kara-Lynn Vaeni
Kara-Lynn Vaeni
Associate Professor — School of Theatre, Dance, & Film
THEA 101
phone: (512) 245-2147

Selected Scholarly/Creative Work

  • Director/choreographer, The Persians. February 2024 - May 2024.
    Performances:
    • May 2, 2024 - May 26, 2024 Undermain Theatre, Dallas, TX.
  • Director, POTUS: or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive, Regional Premiere. January 2024 - March 7, 2024.
    Performances:
    • March 7, 2024 - March 30, 2024 Stage West, Fort Worth, TX.
  • Director, playwright, Shape, Regional Premiere. August 2023 - February 2024.
    Performances:
    • February 8, 2024 - February 25, 2024 Kitchen Dog Theatre, Dallas, TX.
  • Director/Choreographer, Dance Nation. April 2023 - October 18, 2023.
    Performances:
    • Southern Methodist University Theatre Season. Margo Jones Theatre, SMU, Dallas, TX.
  • Director, He’s Born, He’s Borne, a world premiere by Tony winner David Rabe. April 12, 2023 - May 2023.
    Performances:
    • Undermain Theatre, Dallas, TX.

Selected Awards

  • Award / Honor Recipient: Best Theatre Director, The Dallas Observer. September 24, 2020
  • Award / Honor Recipient: The Kilroys List, The Kilroys. July 7, 2020
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Top Ten Dallas Theatre Productions; #8, Lela & Co, directed by Kara-Lynn Vaeni, Dallas Voice. December 30, 2019
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Top Ten Dallas Theatre Productions; #9, Noises Off, directed by Kara-Lynn Vaeni, Dallas Voice. December 30, 2019
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Top Ten Dallas Theatre Productions; NUMBER 1, Reykjavik, directed by Kara-Lynn Vaeni, Dallas Voice. December 30, 2019

Selected Grants

  • Vaeni, Kara-Lynn (Principal). Professional Enhancement, Athena at Undermain Theatre, School of Theatre, Dance and Film, Texas State University, $300. (Funded: September 27, 2024). Grant.
  • Vaeni, Kara-Lynn (Principal). Professional Enhancement, Constitution at Stage West, School of Theatre, Dance and Film, Texas State University, $400. (Funded: September 27, 2024). Grant.
  • Vaeni, Kara-Lynn. Staging Theatrical Intimacy, Theory and Technique, Meadows Summer Research Fellowship, Southern Methodist University, Institutional (Higher Ed), $2500. (Funded: May 2023). Grant.
  • Vaeni, Kara-Lynn. Embodied Research; Intimacy Staging for Directors, Faculty Development, Meadows School of the Arts, SMU, Institutional (Higher Ed), $1000. (Funded: May 30, 2022). Grant.
  • Vaeni, Kara-Lynn. Anti-Racist Theatre making (ART) and Theatrical Intimacy, Meadows Summer Research Fellowship, Southern Methodist University, Institutional (Higher Ed), $10000. (Funded: December 2021). Grant.

Selected Service Activities

Member
Departmental Presidential Excellence Awards Selection Committee (Teaching)
November 2024-Present
Member
Faculty Search Committee: Assistant/Associate Professor of Lighting Design
November 2024-Present
Member
Theatrical Intimacy Committee, School of Theatre, Dance and Film
September 2024-Present
Member
Season Selection Committee
September 2024-November 2024
Gave feedback to JTLT season applicants on their live pitch presentations
Jeremy Torres Lab Theatre
November 18, 2024