Jeffrey Frame
- Professor, Dramatic Arts And Communication Studies
- School of Arts and Social Sciences
- B.A., Eastern Nazarene College
- M.A., Emerson College
- Ph.D., Middle Tennessee State University
Contact Info
Jeff is a professor of dramatic arts at Trevecca and teaches theatre at the undergraduate level to students majoring in dramatic arts and theatre education. He also teaches applied theatre, musical theatre and media studies. With more than 35 years of experience in higher education, he's produced more than 100 university productions, directing nearly two thirds of them, and he is a recipient of the Trevecca Faculty Member of the Year award. He presents papers on theatre, film, television and literature at professional conferences and is a member of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education, the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, the Tennessee Theatre Association, the Southeastern Theatre Conference and the Popular Culture Association of the South. His professional research interests include directing for the stage; 20th-century and contemporary American dramatic literature; theatre in education; applied theatre; creative drama; gender in Shakespeare; film and popular culture; television studies; and narratology (specifically, nonlinear narratives in film and television).
Jeff echoes the belief of the late Nellie McCaslin that stories have the ability to entertain, educate, transmit culture, instill values and nourish the spirit. He believes stories are essential to our survival and can be helpful as a means of grace in our journey with Jesus to the cross. He believes that the collaborative and evanescent art of theatre is the most immediate and transformative art through which stories can be told. He also believes in training young artists to do this work carefully and creatively. In response to these beliefs, he’s thankful for the opportunity and responsibility to teach theatre in Christian higher education and to join efforts with professional colleagues from around the globe to explore new ways of tackling the helpful work of theatre and film.
Areas of Expertise
Dr. Frame's diverse research interests include:
- 20th-century American literature (particularly drama)
- theatre-in-education (TIE)
- applied theatre
- gender in Shakespeare
- popular culture
- television studies
- film
- narratology, specifically, nonlinear narratives in film and television
Publications
A veteran of many stage productions both as an actor and director, Dr. Frame has presented papers on theatre, film, television, and literature at professional conferences. Since its publication in the Clemson literary journal The Upstart Crow in 1999, his essay on gender and A Midsummer Night’s Dream has been reprinted or referenced in online guides, student help websites, and critical resources. He is also the author of Intermission: Spiritual Refreshment for the Drama Ministry Team (Lillenas/NPH 2001) and co-authored Early to Rise: Sketches to Recover the Meaning of Lent and Easter (Lillenas/NPH 2003) with his wife, Kim.
