Faculty Faculty members are working professionals in their fields and in many cases graduates of the school themselves. As of fall 2015, there are 79 faculty members. Acting department faculty include Gregory Wallace, Ron Van Lieu, Erica Fae, Christopher Bayes, Cynthia Santos-DeCure, Tlaloc Rivas, Walton Wilson, and Tamilla Woodard, who also serves as chair of the program. Directing department faculty include Emily Coates,
Yuri Kordonsky,
Robert Woodruff, and department chair Liz Diamond. Designers include
Jane Greenwood,
Jess Goldstein,
Wendall K. Harrington, and
Jennifer Tipton. Playwrights include
John Guare,
Michael Korie,
MJ Kaufman,
Lisa Kron,
Tina Landau,
Richard Nelson,
Lynn Nottage,
Peter Parnell,
Adam Rapp,
Paula Vogel, and
Derek Walcott. Critics include
Allardyce Nicoll. Music consultants include
Rusty Magee. Former faculty includes dancer/choreographer
Carmen de Lavallade, set designer
Ming Cho Lee, actor
Earle Gister and directors
Robert Brustein,
F. Curtis Canfield,
Keith Fowler, and
Nikos Psacharopoulos.
Alumni This is a list of alumni of the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University and its predecessors. It is not exhaustive of all attendees of the drama school, only of notable persons who can be reliably sourced as students.
Acting • Kimberleigh Aarn – Acting (1986);
1988 Tony nominee •
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II – Acting (2015) •
David Ackroyd – Acting (1968) •
Bruce Altman – Acting (1990) •
Amy Aquino – Acting (1986) •
Mamoudou Athie – Acting (2014) •
Jayne Atkinson – Acting (1985) •
Dylan Baker – Acting (1985) •
Patrick Ball – Acting (2022) •
Raymond J. Barry – Acting (1965) •
Martine Bartlett – Acting (1948) •
Gary Basaraba – Acting (1982) •
Angela Bassett – Acting (1983) •
Ralph Bates – Acting (1965) •
Chris Bauer – Acting (1992) •
Alan Baxter – Acting (1932) •
Richard Bey – Acting (1976) • Ato Blankson-Wood – Acting (2015);
2020 Tony nominee •
Sorrell Booke – Acting •
Ruth Brinkmann – Acting (1963) •
Jabari Brisport – Acting (2014) •
Brennan Brown – Acting (2000) •
Andrew Burnap – Acting (2016) •
Kate Burton – Acting (1982) •
Trai Byers – Acting (2011) •
Rob Campbell – Acting (1990) •
Juliana Canfield – Acting (2017) •
Charise Castro Smith – Acting (2010) •
Reg E. Cathey – Acting (1981) •
Esther K. Chae – Acting (1999) •
James Chen – Acting (2008) •
Chung King-fai – Acting (1962) •
Caitlin Clarke – Acting (1978) •
Patricia Clarkson – Acting (1985) •
Christian Clemenson – Acting (1984) •
David Clennon – Acting (1968) •
Chris Henry Coffey – Acting (1999) •
Enrico Colantoni – Acting (1993) •
Forrest Compton – Acting (1953) •
Suzanne Cryer – Acting (1995) •
Alma Cuervo – Acting (1976) •
Seán Cullen – Acting (1990) • James Cusati-Moyer – Acting (2015);
2020 Tony nominee •
Brett Dalton – Acting (2011) •
Jason Davis – Acting (2004) •
Stephen DeRosa – Acting (1995) •
Peter Donat – Acting (1952–1953; left) •
Jeff Donnell – Acting •
Polly Draper – Acting (1980) •
Winston Duke – Acting (2013) •
Charles S. Dutton – Acting (1983) •
Jill Eikenberry – Acting (1970) •
Rick Elice – Acting (1979) •
Melissa Errico – Acting (left) •
Christine Estabrook – Acting (1976) •
Stephanie Faracy – Acting •
Melanie Field – Acting (2016) •
Bridget Flanery – Acting (2002) • Patrick Foley – Acting (2018);
2021 Pulitzer finalist •
Jodie Foster - Acting (1984) •
Joseph Fuqua – Acting (1990) •
Willie Garson – Acting •
Malcolm Gets – Acting (1992) •
Marcus Giamatti – Acting (1987) •
Paul Giamatti – Acting (1994) •
Susan Gibney – Acting •
Robert Ginty – Acting (1972; left) •
Jay Goede – Acting (1991) •
Eve Gordon – Acting (1981) •
David Marshall Grant – Acting (1978) •
Karron Graves – Acting (2003) •
David Alan Grier – Acting (1981) •
Joe Grifasi – Acting (1975) •
Michael Gross – Acting (1973) •
Kathryn Hahn – Acting (2001) •
Julie Harris – Acting (1944–1945) •
Don Harvey – Acting (1985) •
Marcus Henderson – Acting (2011) •
Brian Tyree Henry – Acting (2007) •
Ken Howard – Acting (left 1969) •
Ernie Hudson – Acting (1975–1976; left) •
Matthew Humphreys – Acting (2003) •
Moses Ingram – Acting (2019) •
Louisa Jacobson – Acting (2019) •
Jane Kaczmarek – Acting (1982) •
James Keach – Acting (1970) •
Stacy Keach – Acting (1966; left) •
Warren Keith – Acting •
Mike Kellin – Acting •
Patrick Kerr – Acting (1987) •
Aja Naomi King – Acting (2010) •
Robert Klein – Acting (1965; left) •
Dudley Knight – Acting (1965) • Chalia La Tour – Acting (2016);
2020 Tony nominee •
Sanaa Lathan – Acting (1995) •
Sabrina Le Beauf – Acting (1984) •
C. S. Lee – Acting (1998) •
Sydney Lemmon – Acting (2017) •
Charles Levin – Acting (1974) •
Mitchell Lichtenstein – Acting (1981) •
Jennifer Lim – Acting (2004) •
Mark Linn-Baker – Acting (1979) •
John Bedford Lloyd – Acting (1982) •
Jim MacLaren – Acting (1989) •
Peter Macon – Acting (2003) •
Jonathan Majors – Acting (2016) •
Delbert Mann – Acting (1973) •
Mary Mara – Acting (1989) •
Mozhan Marnò – Acting (2005) •
Richard Masur – Acting •
Heather Mazur – Acting (2003) •
Tom McCarthy – Acting (1995) •
Tom McGowan – Acting (1988) •
Frances McDormand – Acting (1982) •
Peter McRobbie – Acting (1966) •
Anne Meacham – Acting (1947) •
Fred Melamed – Acting (1981) •
William Mesnik – Acting •
Philip Moon – Acting (1987) •
James Naughton – Acting (1970) •
Marissa Neitling – Acting (2013) •
Obi Ndefo – Acting (1997) •
Paul Newman – Acting (1951–1952) •
Kristine Nielsen – Acting (1980) • Joshua Miguel Noble (
formerly Bermudez) – Acting (2013) •
Tom Noonan – Acting (1973) •
Elizabeth Norment – Acting (1979) •
Chris Noth – Acting (1985) •
Carrie Nye – Acting •
Lupita Nyong'o – Acting (2012) •
Barbara O'Neil – Acting (1931) •
Dick Orkin – Acting (1958) •
Maulik Pancholy – Acting (2003) •
Evan Parke – Acting (1997) •
Ilia Isorelýs Paulino – Acting (2020) •
Geoff Pierson – Acting (1980) •
Bryce Pinkham – Acting (2008) •
Joel Polis – Acting (1976) •
Michael Potts – Acting (1992) •
Addison Powell – Acting (1948) •
Sarah Rafferty – Acting (1996) •
Da'Vine Joy Randolph – Acting (2011) •
Lance Reddick – Acting (1994) •
Adam Richman – Acting (2003) •
Tijuana Ricks – Acting (2004) •
Laila Robins – Acting (1984) •
Michael Rogers – Acting (1985) •
Reg Rogers – Acting (1993) •
Alan Rosenberg – Acting (1974) •
John Rothman – Acting (1975) •
Adam Saunders – Acting (2005) •
Liev Schreiber – Acting (1992) •
Kimberly Scott – Acting (1987) •
Louise Shaffer – Acting (1965) •
Tony Shalhoub – Acting (1980) •
Talia Shire – Acting (1969; left) •
Steven Skybell – Acting (1984) •
Roger Guenveur Smith – Acting (1983) •
Sarah Sokolovic – Acting (2011) •
Meryl Streep – Acting (1975) •
Robin Strasser – Acting (1965) •
John Turturro – Acting (1983) •
Joe Urla – Acting (1985) •
Joan Van Ark – Acting (1964; left) •
Courtney B. Vance – Acting (1986) •
Gary Waldhorn – Acting (1967) •
Sharon Washington - Acting (1988) •
Sigourney Weaver – Acting (1974) •
Michael Whaley – Acting (1977) •
Peter White – Acting (1962) •
Isuri Wijesundara – Acting (2023) •
Henry Winkler – Acting (1970) •
Bess Wohl – Acting (2002) •
D. B. Woodside – Acting (1996) •
Jeff Yagher – Acting (1984; left) •
Yao – Acting (2023)
Design •
Christopher Akerlind – Lighting Design (1989) •
Dede Ayite – Costume Design (2011) •
John Lee Beatty – Scenic Design (1973) •
Robert Blackman – Costume Design (1970) •
Montana Levi Blanco – Costume Design (2015) •
Mel Bourne – Scenic Design (1948; left) •
Herbert Brodkin – Scenic Design (1940) •
Tom Broecker – Costume Design (1992) • Jiyoun Chang – Lighting Design (2008);
2020 and
2022 Tony nominee •
Linda Cho – Costume Design (1998) •
Pat Collins – Lighting Design (1958) •
John Conklin – Scenic Design (1966) •
Jean Eckart – Scenic Design •
William Eckart – Scenic Design •
Heidi Ettinger – Scenic Design (1976) •
John Ezell – Scenic Design (1960) •
Ed Flesh – Scenic Design (1956) •
Paul Gallo – Lighting Design (1977) •
Jess Goldstein – Costume Design (1978) • Palmer Hefferan – Sound Design (2013);
2022 and
2025 Tony nominee •
Gilbert Vaughn Hemsley Jr. – Lighting Design (1960) • Riccardo Hernández – Scenic Design (1992);
2020 Tony nominee •
Susan Hilferty – Costume Design (1980) •
Donald Holder – Lighting Design (1986) • Nicholas Hussong – Scenic Design (2012);
2022 Tony nominee •
Suzanne Jackson – Scenic Design (1990) •
Peter Larkin – Scenic Design (1947) •
Tambi Larsen – Scenic Design (1935) •
Eugene Lee – Scenic Design (1986) •
Adrianne Lobel – Scenic Design (1979) •
William Ivey Long – Scenic Design (1975) •
Santo Loquasto – Scenic Design (1972) •
Derek McLane – Scenic Design (1984) •
Skip Mercier – Scenic Design (1983) • Jennifer Moeller – Costume Design (2006);
2022 and
2023 Tony nominee •
Tharon Musser – Lighting Design (1950) •
Scott Pask – Scenic Design (1997) • Fitz Patton – Sound Design (2001);
2019 Tony winner and
2020 Tony nominee • Emily Rebholz – Costume Design (2006);
2020 Tony nominee • Adam Rigg – Scenic Design (2014);
2022 Tony nominee •
Constanza Romero – Costume Design (1988) •
Jean Rosenthal – Lighting Design (1934) •
Todd Rosenthal – Scenic Design (1993) •
Adam Stockhausen – Scenic Design (1999) • Hannah Wasileski – Lighting Design (2013);
2025 Tony nominee •
Robert Wierzel – Lighting Design (1984) •
Michael Yates – Scenic Design (1941) •
Michael Yeargan – Scenic Design (1973) • Yi Zhao – Lighting Design (2012);
2022 Tony nominee •
Donna Zakowska – Costume Design (1983) •
Catherine Zuber – Costume Design (1984)
Directing •
May Adrales – Directing (2006) •
A. J. Antoon – Directing (left) •
John Badham – Directing (1963) •
Melvin Bernhardt – Directing (1955) •
Lileana Blain-Cruz – Directing (2012) •
Ralf D. Bode – Directing •
Sandra Boynton – Directing (1979; left) •
Mark Brokaw – Directing (1986) •
Arvin Brown – Directing (1967) •
James Bundy – Directing (1995) •
James Burrows – Directing (1965) •
Lawrence Carra – Directing (1935) •
Robert Cohen – Directing (DFA 1965) •
Edward Cornell – Directing (1968) •
Jan Eliasberg – Directing (1981) •
James W. Flannery – Directing (1961) •
Shannon Flynn – Directing (2002) •
Keith Fowler – Directing (DFA 1969) •
Jonathan Frid – Directing (1957) •
Dennie Gordon – Directing (1977) •
Ulu Grosbard – Directing (1952–1953) •
Joseph Hardy – Directing (1958) •
Jon Jory – Directing (1963–1965) •
Robert Kalfin – Directing (1957) •
Asaad Kelada – Directing (1964) •
Romulus Linney – Directing (1958) •
Richard Maltby Jr. – Directing (1962) •
Lynne Meadow – Directing (1971) •
Tom Moore – Directing (1968) •
George Morrison – Directing (1953) •
Jonathan Moscone – Directing (1993) •
Francine Parker – Directing (1959) •
Nikos Psacharopoulos – Directing (1954) •
Steven Robman – Directing (1973) •
Boris Sagal – Directing •
Anna D. Shapiro – Directing (1993) •
John Shea – Directing (1973) •
Rebecca Taichman – Directing (2000) •
Steve Zuckerman – Directing (1974)
Dramaturgy and dramatic criticism (formerly dramatic literature) •
Allan Albert – Dramatic Literature/Criticism (left 1969) • Michael Breslin – Dramaturgy/Criticism (MFA 2019, DFA candidate);
2021 Pulitzer finalist •
Robert Brustein – Dramatic Literature/Criticism (1948–1949) •
Ernest Ferlita – Dramatic Literature/Criticism (DFA 1969) •
Rocco Landesman – Dramatic Literature/Criticism (MFA 1972, DFA 1976) •
Michael Lassell – Dramatic Literature/Criticism (1976) •
James Magruder – Dramaturgy/Criticism (MFA 1988, DFA 1992) •
Charles McNulty – Dramaturgy/Criticism (MFA 1993, DFA 1995) •
Madeline Miller – Dramaturgy/Criticism (2009–2010) •
Philomena Muinzer – Dramaturgy/Criticism (1980) •
Kate O'Toole – Dramaturgy/Criticism (1985) •
Andrew Paulson – Dramaturgy/Criticism (1981–1982) •
Nahma Sandrow – Dramatic Literature/Criticism (DFA 1970)
Playwriting •
Liz Duffy Adams – Playwriting (1997) •
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa – Playwriting (2003) •
Christina Anderson – Playwriting (2011) •
Lewis Black – Playwriting (1977) •
Brother Blue – Playwriting (1953) •
E. Roger Boyle – Playwriting (left) •
Janet Burroway – Playwriting (1963) •
Vincent J. Cardinal – Playwriting (1990) •
Fred Coe – Playwriting (1940) •
Bill Corbett – Playwriting (1989) •
Owen Dodson – Playwriting (1939) •
Christopher Durang – Playwriting (1974) •
Erik Ehn – Playwriting (1983) •
Leslie Epstein – Playwriting (DFA 1967) •
Femi Euba – Playwriting (1973) •
Charles Evered – Playwriting (1991) •
Michael Feingold – Playwriting (1972) •
Lindsey Ferrentino – Playwriting (2016) •
Richard Foreman – Playwriting (1962) •
Kimon Friar – Playwriting (1932) •
Marcus Gardley – Playwriting (2004) •
Stephen Geller – Playwriting (1964) •
Melissa James Gibson – Playwriting (1995) •
Frank D. Gilroy – Playwriting (1953; left) •
Richard Greenberg – Playwriting (1985) •
John Guare – Playwriting (1963) •
A. R. Gurney – Playwriting (1958) •
Jeremy O. Harris – Playwriting (2019) •
Allan Havis – Playwriting (1980) •
Amy Herzog – Playwriting (2007) •
M. Carl Holman – Playwriting (1954) •
Slade Hopkinson – Playwriting (1966) •
David Henry Hwang – Playwriting (1983; left) •
Albert Innaurato – Playwriting (1974) •
David Ives – Playwriting (1984) •
Talbot Jennings – Playwriting (1931) •
Rolin Jones – Playwriting (2004) •
Hansol Jung – Playwriting (2014) •
Lee Kalcheim – Playwriting •
Sam Kelley – Playwriting (1990) •
Frederick R. Koch – Playwriting (1961) •
Harry Kondoleon – Playwriting (1981) •
Kenneth Lin – Playwriting (2005) •
Wendy MacLeod – Playwriting (1987) •
David Madden – Playwriting (1960) •
Martyna Majok – Playwriting (2012) •
Albert Maltz – Playwriting (1932) •
William Marchant – Playwriting •
Grace McKeaney – Playwriting •
Tarell Alvin McCraney – Playwriting (2007) •
David J. McDonald Jr. – Playwriting (1964) •
JP Miller – Playwriting (1954) •
Meg Miroshnik – Playwriting (2011) •
Michael Mitnick – Playwrighting (2010) •
Tad Mosel – Playwriting (1950) •
Brighde Mullins – Playwriting (1987) •
Lynn Nottage – Playwriting (1989) •
OyamO – Playwriting (1981) •
a. k. payne - Playwriting (2020) •
David Rayfiel – Playwriting (1950) •
Keith Reddin – Playwriting (1981) •
Ola Rotimi – Playwriting (1966) •
Joanna Russ – Playwriting (1960) •
Robert Sandberg – Playwriting (1977) •
David Shaber – Playwriting (1954) •
Betty Shamieh – Playwriting (2009) •
Susan H. Schulman – Playwriting (1967) •
Michael Shurtleff – Playwriting (1952) •
Roger L. Simon – Playwriting (1968) •
William Snyder – Playwriting (1955) •
Ron Sproat – Playwriting (1958) •
Leslie Stevens – Playwriting •
Michael Stewart – Playwriting (1953) •
Milan Stitt – Playwriting (1963) •
Jon Stone – Playwriting (1955) •
Peter Stone – Playwriting (1953) •
Ted Tally – Playwriting (1977) •
Sarah Treem – Playwriting (2005) •
Rodolfo Usigli – Playwriting (1936) •
Donald Vining – Playwriting (1941) •
Wendy Wasserstein – Playwriting (1976) •
Ron Whyte – Playwriting (1967) •
Asiedu Yirenkyi – Playwriting (1971) •
Alexander Woo – Playwriting (1997)
Stage management •
James F. Ingalls – Stage Management (1976) •
Thomas R. Bruce – Stage Management (1979)
Technical design and production •
Michael P. Price – Technical Production (1963)
Theatre management •
Charles Dillingham – Theatre Management (1968) •
Anne Hamburger – Theatre Management (1986) •
Jenn Lindsay – Theatre Management (2004–2005; left) •
Leslie Urdang – Theatre Management (1981) •
Stephanie Ybarra – Theatre Management (2008)
Other •
Carmen Capalbo (1948) •
Michael David (1968) •
Richard Fleischer – Drama (1942) •
Ernest K. Gann – Drama (1930–1931; left) •
Elia Kazan – Drama (1933; left) •
Barnet Kellman (1972) •
Gertrude Prokosch Kurath – Drama (1930) •
Andrew Nelson Lytle – Drama (1929) •
H. C. Potter – Drama (1926) •
Burt Shevelove – Drama (1940) •
Janice Torre – Songwriting (1936) •
Max Wilk – Drama (1941) ==References==