Sean Bartley is an Assistant Professor of Theatre History in the School of Creative and Performing Arts at Northwestern State University. He previously held teaching appointments at Florida State University, The University of California Riverside, California State University Bakersfield, and The University of Florida.

His research centers on contemporary American site-based, immersive, and experiential theatre practices. His work has been featured in Routledge’s Sporting Performances: Politics in Play, Methuen’s Performing Statecraft: Theatre of Public Diplomacy, TDR: The Drama Review, Theatre History Studies, Theatre Journal, PARtake: The Journal of Performance as Research and Borrowers and Lenders: The Journal of Shakespeare and Appropriation.

Recent directing projects include Sophocles’ Antigone and Gogol’s The Government Inspector for Northwestern State, Will Eno’s Tragedy: a tragedy, performed on Zoom for Florida State, and Caryl Churchill’s Drunk Enough To Say I Love You?, staged in an actual hotel room for audiences of eight. Dramaturgy credits include work with American Repertory Theatre (Julius CaesarRomance), New Repertory Theatre (BOOM), and Company One (Learn to be Latina).

He received his PhD in Theatre Studies at Florida State. He holds a BA in Theatre Arts Management from American University and an MFA in Dramaturgy from the American Repertory Theatre/Moscow Art Theatre School Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University.