Dassia N. Posner

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About

Dassia N. Posner is a leading scholar in theatre and performance studies, whose work has fundamentally reshaped how we understand puppetry, material performance, and the agency of objects on stage. Her most influential contribution is the edited volume *The Routledge Companion to Puppetry and Material Performance* (2014), which has garnered over 70 citations and stands as a landmark text in the field. This collection brings together diverse voices to re-evaluate the theoretical, historical, and theatrical significance of performance that foregrounds inanimate objects, challenging traditional hierarchies between performer and puppet. Posner’s research bridges historical and contemporary practice, illuminating how material performance—from traditional glove puppetry to avant-garde object theatre—offers profound insights into human agency, labor, and representation. Her work has been instrumental in elevating puppetry studies from a niche interest to a vital area of scholarly inquiry within theatre and performance studies. For students and researchers, Posner’s scholarship provides an essential framework for understanding the dynamic interplay between human performers and the objects they animate, making her a pivotal figure in the ongoing redefinition of what constitutes live performance.