Diane Benedict, Associate Professor, M.F.A., Chair of the Theatre Arts Program, Director of the LMU Semester Study Abroad program Bonn-Moscow for Theatre Arts, Professor Benedict was a Fulbright Scholar in the Russian Federation at the acclaimed Moscow Art Theatre. She completed her undergraduate studies in Vocal Music and Journalism at the University of Southern California, her graduate studies in London where she was awarded the Lillian Hellman and John Gielgud acting awards working with directors from the Royal Shakespeare Company, and at U.C.L.A., where she received her M.F.A. and won the Richard Burton, Jack Nicholson, Hugh O'Brian, and Robert Reed Shakespeare awards. Professor Benedict completed her post-graduate work at the Moscow Art Theatre in Stanislavski and Grotowski techniques and has also been the recipient of grants to research contemporary Brechtian Epic Theatre techniques at the Berliner Ensemble in Germany and at the Netherlands Theatre Institute in Amsterdam. Professor Benedict teaches Stanislavski, Brechtian and Shakespearean Techniques, Cold-Reading and Audition Techniques, Voice, Intro to Performance, and Senior Thesis, and has taught at LMU’s study abroad programs in Dublin, Paris, and Greece. Diane is a 30-year member of Actor's Equity, Screen Actors Guild, and AFTRA. As a professional director, Professor Benedict has directed The Heiress, Beast on the Moon, and Becoming Eleanor at the Long Beach Playhouse and, internationally, she recently directed Peter Brooks’ Conference of the Birds, a multi-media production, which toured at the Schauspielhaus, Bonn, the Moscow Art Theatre, and the Theatre Museum in Dusseldorf. Some LMU directing credits include Cry Havoc, Seagull, Macbeth, a multi-media production of Threepenny Opera, The Cherry Orchard, House of Bernarda Alba, Odd Couple and the West Coast premiere of Portia Coughlan. As an actress, Professor Benedict received a BACKSTAGE WEST award for her performance in the West Coast premiere of Burkie, directed by Shashin Desai at International City Theatre and appeared in the title role of the Los Angeles Times Critic's Pick production of Mrs. Warren's Profession at the Long Beach Playhouse. National tours include the New York Shakespeare Festival's The Pirates of Penzance, starring Jim Belushi and other local stage appearances at the Ahmanson, Geffen/Moca, Long Beach Playhouse, Gene Dynarski, Coronet and International City theatres include such roles as Anna in The King and I, Olya in The Three Sisters, Jean in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, and Marion in The Music Man.


You may contact Professor Benedict at: dbenedic@lmu.edu