Bryan Stanton (they/them) is a theatre educator, curriculum designer, and arts administrator committed to inclusive, student-centered pedagogy in higher education. They currently serve as a Non-Teaching Adjunct at The City College of New York, where they collaborate with the Teaching and Learning Center on the development of Creating Theatrical Magic, an open educational resource focused on theatre design, production, and access-centered instructional practices.

Bryan holds an MFA in Theatre Pedagogy from the University of Idaho, with a certificate in Universal Design for Learning and Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, as well as an MA in Legal Studies. Their work bridges theory and practice, centering questions of belonging, accessibility, and authenticity in arts education. Bryan has published peer-reviewed and practitioner scholarship on theatre education, inclusive pedagogy, and LGBTQ+ advocacy, and regularly presents at national conferences on teaching, design, and educational leadership.

In addition to their academic work, Bryan is the founder and board chair of Teaching While Queer, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ educators through professional development, community building, and storytelling. They also host the Teaching While Queer podcast, which amplifies the voices of educators navigating identity, policy, and care in contemporary schools.

Outside of their institutional roles, Bryan is a working theatre artist with experience as an actor, musician, and production manager. They remain deeply invested in the transformative power of the arts as a tool for learning, connection, and social change.

Selected Publications

Stanton, B. (2025). Crafting Theatrical Magic: Building Worlds Through Theatre Design & Production. Open Educational Resource, CUNY.

Stanton, B. (2025). Theatre Education in the Crosshairs: Teaching Queer and Inclusive Design in an Era of Cultural Erasure. Theatre Design & Technology, 61(3).

Stanton, B. (2025) Theatre Design Students Need to See Themselves in the Work • Howlround Theatre Commons. https://howlround.com/theatre-design-students-need-see-themselves-work

Upcoming Presentations

Inclusive Theatre Practice: From the Classroom to the Shop • USITT National Conference • March 2026

Queering the Classroom: Inclusive Theatre Pedagogy for Every Body and Identity • American Alliance for Theatre and Education Symposium • April 2026

Belonging Backstage: Inclusive Design & Production Pedagogy in K-12 Theatre • EdTA Theatre Educators Conference • Summer 2026