The Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute (TRI) has announced that Dr. Elizabeth Wellman, Assistant Professor of Theatre History at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, is the recipient of 2022-23 Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute Research Award.
Wellman received a PhD in Theatre from The Ohio State University in 2015. Her dissertation, Taught it to the Trade: Rose La Rose and the Re-Ownership of American Burlesque, 1935-1972, grew from research that Wellman conducted in TRI’s Charles H. McCaghy Collection of Exotic Dance from Burlesque to Clubs. She is returning to TRI to conduct additional research in this collection in hopes of turning her dissertation into a book.
“It will be wonderful to welcome Dr. Wellman back to the Theatre Research Institute,” says Beth Kattelman, curator of TRI. “We think her project is very exciting and will add new knowledge to the field of performance. Wellman’s work in the Charles H. MacCaghy Collection is an excellent example of how University Libraries’ Special Collections make an impact upon students while they are here at Ohio State and also continue to support them as they move into their professional careers.”
Dr. Wellman will be in residence during the month of July. During that time, she plans to share her work with the university community through a lecture or other means.
The Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Research Award is one of two awards offered annually by TRI. The $3000 award was established by a bequest from Jerome Lawrence to support research projects in the performing arts that require substantial onsite use of TRI collections. The second award, the Irwin and Jane Spector Research Award, supports research that requires significant use of TRI’s collections on Dalcroze Eurhythmics. Visit the TRI awards page to learn more.