Michael Rau is a live performance director specializing in new plays, opera, and digital media projects. He has directed projects internationally in Germany, the UK, Brazil, Ireland, Denmark, Mexico, Canada, Australia and the Czech Republic. He has created work in New York City at Lincoln Center, and The Public Theater. Regionally, his work has been seen at the American Repertory Theatre, and the Humana Festival at Actors Theater of Louisville. His work with composer Kate Soper has been performed at the Seattle Symphony and The New York Festival of Song. He is an assistant professor at Stanford University, where he teaches directing and devising.

Assistant Professor, Stanford University Theater, Opera, Digital Media Director

"My hopes for the dialogue include

real conversation about the state of the field! and honest perspective and a plan for change! a wish that at the end of the conference we have 95 theses to nail on the door of academia and the performing arts institutions."