New Faculty Member Q&A: Rachel Merrill Moss

Theatre Assistant Professor Rachel Merrill Moss’s scholarship focuses on performances of Jewishness in Poland across the past century, in close relation to changing political and identity narratives and memory work. She has an extensive background in international research, dramaturgy and the study of performance in historical and cultural contexts, and she was a 2018-19 Fulbright Student Research Fellow in Poland and the 2022 recipient of the International Federation for Theatre Research New Scholars' Prize. Moss has taught at universities both nationally and internationally, most recently serving as the Murray W. and Mildred K. Finard Visiting Chair in Jewish Studies and a Visiting Assistant Professor of Theater at Colgate University. She holds a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Theatre and Drama from Northwestern University, an M.A. in Theatre and Drama from Northwestern University, an M.A. in Theatre History and Criticism from CUNY Brooklyn College and a B.A. in Theatre from University of California, Santa Cruz.

What attracted you to the Department of Theatre and Dance and The University of Texas at Austin?

I’ve long had the Department of Theatre and Dance at The University of Texas at Austin on my radar as it is a leading department in the field, and I was specifically attracted to the Performance as Public Practice program as it excitingly emphasizes key inquiries into the positionality of theatre and performance within larger cultural and political contexts, which is exactly what I aim to do in my own work. Beyond that, the impressive scope of the department as a whole means that students are offered an extraordinary range of touchstones for developing their interests and study into performance practices – I’m absolutely delighted to join this faculty!  

How did your professional pathway lead to your current research focus?

From a very young age, I’ve been interested in theatre and performance. Fortuitously, during my undergraduate studies, I was introduced to both Yiddish theatre and dramaturgical practice, both of which crystalized my interest in pursuing M.A. and Ph.D. level research into the long historical contextualization of what I call the performance of Jewishness in Poland –a broadly conceived category that includes theatrical and performance materials both from Jewish and non-Jewish spheres, as well as institutional and memorial practices. It’s also been incredibly enriching to continue doing practical work as a dramaturg that allows me to share historical research as a means of supporting dramaturgical development and audience engagement in productions.

What’s something that students and colleagues should know about you?

I’m brand new to Austin and can’t wait to get to know the city.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not teaching/researching/working?

I really enjoy swimming, exploratory walks and flea market excursions.