Ken Sonkin

Ken Sonkin

Adjunct Professor, Theater

Biography

Ken Sonkin is an award-winning actor/director who has worked at American Conservatory Theater, Berkeley Rep, SF Playhouse, Magic Theater, Center REP, 42nd Street Moon, Z Space, Sonoma Rep, Broadway by the Bay, San Jose Stage Company, Pacific Resident Theater (LA), Grove Shakespeare Festival (LA), Seacoast Rep (NH), Denver Center, and Pennsylvania Centre Stage. He is a member of PlayGround, Actors’ Equity Association, and the Screen Actors Guild.

Ken was a member of A.C.T.’s acting company and core conservatory faculty. He has taught and directed for The National Theatre Conservatory, Stanford University, Northwestern University, Solano College, Sonoma State University, Cornell College, Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, and The San Francisco Ballet School. He is a member of the National Alliance of Acting Teachers. He was the founding director for The Theatre Artists Institute for American Musical Theater of San Jose, and served as artistic director for The Regency Center. In his nineteenth year at USF, Ken has taught Acting Foundations, Acting II, Acting III, Character, and Careers in Theater. He has directed main stage productions of Angels in America: Perestroika, Mary Zimmerman's Metamorphoses, Wild Boy (world premiere), and an all-clown, gender-bending production of Tartuffe. Ken is a recipient of a Jesuit Foundation Grant for his work with USF's School of Nursing and has served as the faculty advisor for The College Players.

Expertise

  • Acting
  • Theater
  • Performing Arts

Research Areas

  • Performing Arts and Social Justice, Theater, Acting methodologies

Education

  • MFA, American Conservatory Theater
  • BFA, Acting, Ohio State University

Prior Experience

  • Acting Teacher, MFA Program, American Conservatory Theater
  • Master Acting Teacher, National Theater Conservatory, (Denver Center)
  • Guest Lecturer, Drama Department, Stanford University
  • Adjunct Professor, Solano College Theater (Actor Training Program)
  • Adjunct Professor in Theater, Sonoma State University
  • Master Acting Teacher, San Francisco Ballet School
  • Master Acting Teacher, Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute

Awards & Distinctions

  • Member of the National Alliance of Acting Teachers
  • Jesuit Foundation Grant (for work with USF's School of Nursing)
  • Lifetime Teaching Credential California Colleges in Theater Arts and Related Subjects
  • Preferred Hiring Pool, Level 2