Elizabeth Brendel Horn is an associate professor of theatre, specializing in Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) and creative drama at Northwestern University, where she joined faculty in 2025. She is a scholar, director, playwright, devised theatre maker, and applied theatre artist.
At Northwestern, Elizabeth coordinates the TYA Module, is faculty advisor of the student TYA groups Purple Crayon Players and Seesaw Theatre, and brings theatre to children’s hospitals through her course “Bedside Pediatric Theatre” functioning under the name Tiny Trails Story Company.
Elizabeth was an associate professor of TYA at the University of Central Florida in partnership with Orlando Family Stage from 2015-2025. Prior to her appointment at UCF, Elizabeth served six years as Artistic Director of the Timber Creek Thespians, where she built a multi-award winning program from the ground up. In addition to directing fourteen productions with Timber Creek, she also mentored over twenty student-directed productions.
Elizabeth currently serves on the board of the Childrens Theatre Foundation of America. Previously, she served on the boards of TYA/USA and Florida Theatre Conference (Theatre for Youth division chair).
Education
- BFA in Musical Theatre, Brenau University
- MFA in Theatre for Young Audiences, University of Central Florida
Select Awards
- Alumnae Award for Curricular Innovation, 2025.
- Barbara Truman Excellence in Blended Teaching Award (University of Central Florida), 2023.
- Teaching Incentive Award (University of Central Florida), 2023.
- Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award (UCF College of Arts and Humanities), 2022.
- The Johnny Saldaña Outstanding Professor of Theatre Education Award (American Alliance for
- Theatre and Education), 2021.
- Research Incentive Award (UCF College of Arts and Humanities), 2021.
- Tom Behm Theatre for Youth Award (Southeastern Theatre Conference), 2020.
- Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award (UCF College of Arts and Humanities), 2020.
Select Publications
Book
- Activated Script Analysis: An Integrative Approach to Play Analysis through Creative Expression and Devised Theatre. 2023.
Book Chapters
- Horn, Elizabeth B. “Bodies at Play: Body Image and the Young Actor.” The Routledge Companion to Drama and 2022.
- Co-authored with Tonya Hays. “United We Stand?: Devised Theatre for Social Change with Youth in a Tumultuous America.” The Routledge Companion to Theatre and Young People.
Journal Articles
- Co-authored with Brittany Caine, Maria Cary, and Emily Freeman. “Setting the Stage for Youth-Led Devised Theatre for Social Change: Reflective Collaborative Inquiry on ‘Act Out Justice.’” Teaching Artist Journal.
- Co-authored with Belinda C. Boyd and Megan Sherod. “(Re)Discovering Voice and Story: The Adaptive Community Theatre Project.” Canadian Journal of Disability Studies.
- “And So She Plays Her Part: An Autoethnographic Exploration of Body Image, Consent, and the Young Actor.” Youth Theatre Journal. 2019.
- “Do You See Me? And What Do You See? Shifts in Power and Visibility in Applied Theatre with Black Male High School Students and the Police.” Youth Theatre Journal.
- “New Thoughts for New Ages and Stages: Teaching Artistic and Educational Responsibility in the Devising Process.” Theatre Topics.
Plays
- Created with Nicole B. Adkins and Scottie Rowell. [your name here] and Captain Buttonsmash SAVE THE WORLD!. In development.
- Created with Nicole B. Adkins and Scottie Rowell. Let’s Go Camping!. Available through Teller Productions.
- Swallowed (an existential crisis). Available through YouthPLAYS.
- Medea. Available through YouthPLAYS.
- Elektra. Available through YouthPLAYS.
Courses
- THE 231: Theatre for Young Audiences
- THE 330: Devising Theatre with Youth
- THE 330: Bedside Pediatric Theatre
- THE 333: Creative Drama