Steve Pauna

Steve Pauna joined the School of Theatre and Dance in 2013 after 13 years of teaching at Miami University where he was faculty technical director and associate professor of theatre technology.  During his tenure there, he served several semesters as associate chair and one semester as chair of the Theatre Department in addition to production manager and resident props master. 

He is originally from northern Minnesota, where he received B.A. degrees in both theatre and psychology from Bemidji State University.  Later, he completed an M.A. in theatre history, literature and criticism at Michigan State University.  His M.F.A. in technical direction is from Kent State University.  Professional credits include technical direction at the Tony Award winning Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, nine years of carpentry, technical direction and scenic design at the Paul Bunyan Playhouse, located in Bemidji, Minnesota, and nine years of similar work at Porthouse Theatre Company, which performs at the Blossom Music Center near Cleveland. 

He is a member and conference presenter for USITT national and secretary for the Ohio Valley Regional Section.  He has also presented at the conferences of the League of Historic American Theaters and the Popular Culture Association.  In addition to courses in technical theatre and design, he has taught several versions of Theatre Appreciation, Script Analysis, Stagecraft, Theatre History, Stage Management and Stage Properties.

Para theatrical interests include stage magic, ventriloquism and puppetry.