Dr. Joseph D’Ambrosi is an award-winning theatre historian, educator, and practitioner. He holds a Ph.D. in Theatre and Drama from Indiana University, an M.A. in Theatre Studies from UCF, and a B.A. in Theatre from Messiah University. He is currently pursuing an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership through the American College of Education (expected December 2024). During the day, Joe serves the School District of Osceola County, Florida as the K-12 Fine and Performing Arts Resource Specialist, overseeing 190 teachers in all arts disciplines across 50+ schools. He is also a Graduate Faculty Scholar at the University of Central Florida where he teaches graduate seminars on theatre history and theory. Recently Joe was awarded the 2023 Outstanding Administrator Award from the Florida Association for Theatre Education. His scholarship is published in a number of peer-reviewed journals and edited collections, including Performance and the Disney Theme Park Experience: the Tourist as Actor (2019; second edition expected in 2024), Theatre Survey, Theatre History Studies, and Ecumenica. On stage, Joe recently performed as Georg in Spring Awakening for New Generation Theatrical and as Mr. Bumble in Theatre at St. Luke’s production of OLIVER!, which earned him a Critic’s Pick nomination from the Orlando Sentinel. Joe is an accomplished dramaturg and director, working professionally around the Orlando area. He leads worship at St. Luke’s UMC in Dr. Phillips. He lives in Winter Garden with his husband, Harris, and their daughter, Horatio, who is a cat.