Faculty Profiles

Colleges and Departments

Kara-Lynn Vaeni

  • Associate Professor - School of Theatre, Dance, & Film
Portrait of Kara-Lynn Vaeni
  • 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. Physical Theatre, Meadows Summer Research Fellowship, Southern Methodist University, Institutional (Higher Ed), $10000. (Funded: December 2021). Grant.
  • Vaeni, Kara-Lynn. Ath(literature); Equitable, Accessible Physical Theatre, University Research Council, Southern Methodist University, Institutional (Higher Ed), $15000. (Funded: August 2021). Grant.
  • Vaeni, Kara-Lynn (Co-Principal), Percent Contribution: %50, Herrington, Yesenia Yadira (Co-Principal), Percent Contribution: %50. Get in SHAPE: Centering Safety and Consent in Immersive Performance, Research Enhancement Program, Division of Research, TXST, Texas State University, $24000. Grant.
  • Vaeni, Kara-Lynn (Co-Principal), O'Gara, Bevin (Co-Principal). Arts Project Grant for production of SHAPE a new play by Kara-Lynn Vaeni, National Endowment for the Arts, Federal, $10000. (Funded: January 2020 - June 2021). Grant.
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  • Intimacy Coordinator and Script Supervisor, Auteur by Christina Pumariega, Puma Libre Productions. November 1, 2025 - December 22, 2025.
  • Director/choreographer, The Persians. February 2024 - May 2024.
    Performances:
    • May 2, 2024 - May 26, 2024 Undermain Theatre, Dallas, TX.
    • (Peer) Reviewed by: Rich Lopez.
    • (Peer) Reviewed by: Christopher Sodden.
  • Director, POTUS: or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive, Regional Premiere. January 2024 - March 7, 2024.
    Performances:
    • Theatre Production. March 7, 2024 - March 30, 2024 Stage West, Fort Worth, TX.
    • (Peer) Reviewed by: Manuel Mendoza.
    • Reviewed by: Sam Lisman.
    • (Curated) Reviewed by: Jan Farrington.
  • Director, playwright, Shape, Regional Premiere. August 2023 - February 2024.
    Performances:
    • Season 33 Out of the Box. February 8, 2024 - February 25, 2024 Kitchen Dog Theatre, Dallas, TX.
    • (Peer) Reviewed by: Richard Lopez.
  • Theatrical Residency, Arteles Creative Center, Finland, Arteles Creative Center, Finland. Writer/Director. May 2, 2022 - May 28, 2022.
View all scholarly/creative works
  • Award / Honor Nominee: 2025 Zelda Fichandler Award, Society of Directors and Choreographers Foundation. December 2025
  • Award / Honor Nominee: Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching, Texas State University Faculty Awards Program. November 2025 - Present
  • 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; #9, Noises Off, directed by Kara-Lynn Vaeni, Dallas Voice. December 30, 2019
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  1. Undergraduate Advisor

    BFA P&P Directing Track Coordinator

  2. Member

    Faculty Search Committee: Assistant/Associate Professor of Acting BFA Stage & Screen

  3. Chair

    Departmental Presidential Excellence Awards Selection Committee

  4. Member

    Theatrical Intimacy Committee, School of Theatre, Dance and Film

  5. Member

    Season Selection Committee

  6. Participant

    Phase Two, Curricular Review, all undergraduate directing courses

  7. View all activities