Biography

Alison Dobbins is a Professor of Theatre and Chair of Music, Theatre & Dance at Christopher Newport University. Dobbins is the project director and creator of Dance Engine, Shark! The Interactive Musical, BranchOut, and other interdisciplinary art projects that focus on audience engagement and creating community through performance. She is an interdisciplinary project creator focused on integrating elements of dance, media, music, theatre, and computer science in performance.

Dobbins received her M.F.A. in Digital Cinema from National University and her A.B. in Mathematics from Oberlin College. Her work focuses on exploring community building and audience engagement through the use of mobile applications, dance, music, and design. She is also a projection designer and her recent work includes projection design for Mitch Albom’s Ernie and Hockey the Musical and world premieres at Flint Repertory Theatre, Williamston Theatre and Wharton Center for the Performing Arts.

Dobbins was formerly a faculty member at Michigan State University's Theatre Department where she served as the Faculty Excellence Advocate for the College of Arts and Letters. Community building is an essential part of Dobbins’ scholarship, teaching, and service. Her research projects focus on the creation of community through performer/audience interactions. She works with artistic collaborators from multiple disciplines at various institutions and includes these collaborations in her teaching.