Independence Community College is proud to announce the appointment of Cooper Sivara as the new Associate Professor for Theatre Performance and Theatre Director. Sivara brings an extensive background in theatre performance, directing, and arts education, coupled with a deep passion for collaboration and community engagement.
Born in Los Angeles, California, Sivara earned his Bachelor of Arts in Theater (Acting) from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, & Television. Following graduation, he became the Associate Artistic Director of Ark Theatre Company while teaching acting classes at Theatre of Arts in Hollywood. He went on to receive his Master of Fine Arts in Directing from Baylor University, where his thesis production was Joan Ackermann’s Ice Glen. At Baylor, he also taught movement, musical theatre, and introductory courses as a Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Theatre Arts.
Sivara’s professional training includes The Viewpoints and The Suzuki Method with Anne Bogart and the SITI Company at their Summer Theater Workshop, as well as Japanese Noh performance at Kyoto Art Center’s Traditional Theater Training. His directing credits range from devised works such as Harp with Human Head (Kundi) to classic and contemporary productions including The First Celestial Adventure of Mr. Antipyrine, Fire Extinguisher, Grand Concourse, and Honeymoon in Vegas.
After Baylor, Sivara served as a Visiting Instructor of Theatre at Hastings College, teaching acting, movement, and directing. Favorite directing credits there include Abigail/1702, She Kills Monsters, and The Whale. His academic and artistic contributions also include conference presentations at the Comparative Drama Conference and the Texas Educational Theatre Association, as well as a published review in the Asian Theatre Journal. His research interests span Japanese Noh Theatre, physical and devised theatre, Shakespeare in performance, and the intersections of ritual, mythology, and folklore.
“I'm most excited to meet and collaborate with the people at ICC and in the Independence community,” Sivara said. “I believe that an essential part of the theatre-making experience is working together as a team, and I'm looking forward to fostering connections between the Theatre Program, the students, and the Indy community.”
Taylor Crawshaw, ICC Vice President for Academic Affairs, expressed enthusiasm for Sivara’s arrival. “Cooper brings an incredible combination of artistic vision, teaching excellence, and community-mindedness to our Theatre Program,” Crawshaw said. “His expertise will provide students with a rich and diverse educational experience that will resonate far beyond the stage.”
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Sivara is a passionate tabletop role-playing gamer, an avid reader and writer, a devoted horror movie fan, a baseball enthusiast, and is currently (and slowly) learning Japanese.
For more information about the ICC Theatre Program, visit www.indycc.edu.