Amanda Lautermilch

After completing my undergraduate degree in theatre (Oklahoma City University), I moved from Dallas to Chicago. Shortly thereafter, I co-founded a theatre company with fellow alumni from OCU, producing new adaptations in collaboration with local and early-career playwrights. I served as Artistic Director and Co-Managing director until I began my masters in museum studies (Johns Hopkins) in 2017, at which point, I stepped away from the theatre scene for a time to focus on my graduate studies. I currently work in support of the 3Arts Residency Fellowship for artists with disabilities, hosted through DHD.

In my limited free time, I am also a comedy writer and performer with experience in sketch comedy as well as movie riffing (a la MST3K).

Why did you choose DHD at UIC?
Through my work in the performing arts and museums, I’ve come to see how significantly art and cultural institutions fail to represent the disability experience as well as provide space for disabled artists to produce and showcase their work. As a result, I wanted to further my education in the field of disability arts and culture at an interdisciplinary program deeply imbedded in its local community. I also wanted the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Carrie Sandahl, who is now my advisor.

What do you want to do with a DHD degree?
I believe access in the arts is a fundamental right. I want to use my degree to change the way art and cultural institutions approach accessibility and disability art aesthetics throughout the museum curation process to help create more inclusive and representation spaces.

Research Interests
Disability Arts and Culture, Universal Design, Disability Theatre, Access in the Performing Arts, Access in Museums Spaces, Representation of Disabled Artists in the Performing and Fine Arts, Arts Administration.

Education
MA Museum Studies, Johns Hopkins University, 2019; BFA Acting, Oklahoma City University, 2010