Steve Decker

Education

• MFA, Directing, Indiana University
• BA, Theatre & Interpretation and English, Central Michigan University

Biography

Steve Decker is an Associate Professor of Theatre. He teaches acting courses and is a regular director in the department season. He continues to practice the craft of acting at local theatres since arrival in the Milwaukee area. Most recently with Forte and Sunstone Studios. Roles include Sir Anthony Absolute in The Rivals, and Father in Eurydice. He incorporates his training in Meisner Technique, Improvisation, Michael Chekhov’s psychological gesture, Kristin Linklater voice work, Laban movement, yoga and tai chi to develop authenticity and imagination as an actor/teacher.

Prior to joining the Milwaukee department, he was the Director of the campus theatre program on the former Waukesha campus and taught high school theatre in the DC area. His professional experience came primarily in Chicago where for six years he was fortunate to make his living as an actor, director, administrator and production technician. He appeared onstage with Bailiwick Repertory, Impulse Theatre, Blue Collar Theatre, Chicago Dramatists, The Emerging Artists Project- and his own company- Out of the Box which focused on new interpretations of rarely produced classic works. He was fortunate to appear as an actor in roles in films and television: Rookie of the Year, The Untouchables, Americas Most Wanted and others. He was a guest teaching artist in Virginia, NYC, Michigan and Indiana.

His ongoing professional development focuses on new play development. His direction of new works for the stage includes award winning productions of The Menace of '64, Maleficia: a Merrie Discoverie of Witches, and Cookie Bites the Ninja while working at the Bloomington Playwrights Project an Indiana professional company dedicated to new works. Most recently he supported the journey of the play Reclaiming Othello with a developmental reading that included UWM students, alumni and professional actors through an online collaborative process with the playwright being in Washington state.

He also is interested in creating solo performance pieces centering on health and well-being. These solo performance narratives grow from interviews and conversations with individuals discussing their pursuit of happiness while in difficult personal situations. Past stories were developed in collaboration with people enduring serious mental health struggles and significant physical limitations. Audience discussions are included in these performances surrounding self-care and compassion for those in our community.

Curriculum Vitae, CV (PDF)