Justin Thomas

Justin Thomas is Professor of Theatre and Design in the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies at Grinnell College. He earned a Master of Fine Arts in Theatrical Design from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts and Communication from Kalamazoo College. Thomas' courses range theatrical design and technology, theatre history, dramatic literature, collaboration, with a particular focus on disability, accessibility, and inclusive arts practices.  As a professor, Thomas has created original courses for the first-year tutorial at Grinnell College, and prioritizes professional opportunities that involve collaborations with the undergraduate students he advises.  He also supervises students’ credit-bearing practicum work for the creative and production teams engaging in performance-making.  Thomas’  service to the college includes chairing the Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies department, serving as the NCAA Faculty Athletic Representative, and mentoring early career faculty.

As a professional designer, his work includes lighting, scenic, and projection designs presented by the Lincoln Center, Studio Theatre, Signature Theatre, the John F. Kennedy Center, Arden Theatre Company, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Round House Theatre, Olney Theatre Center for the Arts, the 21st Century Consort, the National Cathedral, Theatre Gigante, VSA Arts, the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Rorschach Theatre Company, Imagination Stage, Farmers Alley Theatre, Festival Playhouse, Potomac Theatre Project, Daniel Phoenix Singh/Dakshina Dance Company, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, John Britto Dance Company, and the University of Maryland Opera Studio. Internationally, Thomas has designed work staged throughout France, Bangladesh, India, and Russia.