Paul Kassel

MFA, May 1983, Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory 

    Thesis Performance: Edmund Kean—A Muse of Fire

BA in Theater and Communications, May 1981, Miami University of Ohio

Check out my Substack – “Playing: Notes on the art and craft of acting” 

Paul Kassel was the Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts from 2016 to 2026 and is currently  a full professor in the School of Theatre and Dance at Northern Illinois University. As dean, Paul managed the operation of the Schools of Art and Design, Music, and Theatre and Dance. He also oversaw the operations of the NIU Museum and the Community School of the Arts (CSA).

In addition to responsibility for the financial management, Paul guided the fulfillment of the mission and vision of the college. Working closely with the School Directors, the Directors of the Museum and CSA, and the Directors of Development and Marketing, Paul  grew the College’s presence on campus and in the region. 

From July 2013 to July 2015 he was Interim Dean for School of Fine and Performing Arts at SUNY New Paltz, and Associate Dean for two years prior to that. Dean Kassel was a professor of Theatre Arts at SUNY New Paltz (2004-2016) and at Stony Brook University (1998-2004) where he taught acting, voice, movement, directing, and directed plays. He was Head of Acting at Bradley University from 1993-1998.

Paul’s book, Acting: An Introduction to the Art and Craft of Playing, was published by Pearson in spring of 2006. He published his second book, The Actor’s Path: An Evolutionary Approach to the Art and Craft of Playing, on his Substack site. In addition to his books, Dean Kassel’s scholarly work includes several publications and many conference presentations on acting and performance theory. Publications include “The Four Fundamental Verbs (Theatre Topics V9. N2) and “Random Acts”–an essay on applying an action-based approach to non-realistic theatre in Method Acting Reconsidered: Theory, Practice, Future (St. Martin’s Press, 2000). He was the managing editor of The Players’ Journal, an e-journal by and for actors and teachers of acting. In New York City for eleven years as a professional actor, director, and writer, Paulworked off, and off-off-Broadway, in regional theaters, and in several films and television shows.

Paul has written four original plays (including The Velvet Pumpernickel, which was produced at the Sanford Meisner Theatre in New York City), and several adaptations (including an updated, musical version of Lysistrata for which he also wrote the lyrics and co-wrote the music). Paul maintained his professional career since entering academia, most recently performing  Swan Song--An Actor's Life in Words in Music at the NIU Recital Hall. In 2019, he played the "Stage Manager" in Our Town, produced by Kane Repertory Theatre (KRT) and directed Romeo and Juliet for KRT in 2020. In the Hudson Valley between 2004 and 2016, he acted and directed for Half Moon Theatre Company and River Valley Rep, two professional theatre companies. On Long Island from 1998 - 2004, he was the founding artistic director of Asylum Theatre Company, for which he performed and directed. He also devised the original play, What Remains—Long Island Voices of 9/11, which toured throughout the area. Professor Kassel received his M.F.A. in Performance from the Florida State/Asolo Conservatory of Professional Actor Training.

He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and the Screen Actors’ Guild/American Federation of Radio and Television Artists. Professional associations include the International Conference of Fine Arts Deans, the Alliance of Arts in Research Universities, the National Conference of Arts Administrators, and the Association for Theatre in Higher Education.

As an Honors Faculty Fellow, Dean Kassel will teach a seminar on the Evolution of Art in fall 2021 in the University Honors Program. The Honors Faculty Fellowship program identifies faculty eager to teach innovative, exciting seminars of interest to highly-motivated students from across the university.

The Marquis Who’s Who Publication Board added Paul to the 2023-2024 Who’s Who in America. Inclusion is limited to individuals who possess professional integrity, demonstrage outstanding achievement in their respective field and have made innumerable contributions to society as a whole.