Sharon Ammen (Dramaturg) has a long and checkered past as a professional performer and academic. She holds a PhD in theatre history with Women Studies as a secondary area from the University of Maryland and an acting diploma from the Drama Studio of London.  Among her many professional roles are Maria in Twelfth Night and Emilia in Othello at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival and Ruth in Pirates of Penzance at Harlequin theatre in Washington DC.  She is Professor Emerita from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, where she taught theatre and directed for seventeen years. Since her retirement and move to Chicago Sharon published her book, May Irwin, singing, shouting and the shadow of minstrelsy with Illinois University Press, and haunted storytelling and stand-up venues, as well as TUTA audiences until COVID chased her indoors. She is glad to rise again like the proverbial phoenix of Greek mythology. (Wait-that may be going too far). I am just honored to be a part of TUTA.