Natsu Onoda Power, Ph.D.
Department of Performance Studies
70 Arts Circle, Evanston, IL
EMPLOYMENT
Department of Performance Studies, Northwestern University
Professor, 2024 -present
Theater and Performance Studies Program, Department of Performing Arts,
Georgetown University
Professor, 2019-2024
Associate Professor, 2014-2020
Assistant Professor, 2011-2014
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2005-2011
Artistic Director, Davis Performing Arts Center, 2016-2019; 2022-2024
Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture, The University of Chicago
Artist-in-Residence, 2004-2005
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Northwestern University. Performance Studies, June 2005.
M.A. Northwestern University. Performance Studies, 1999.
Certificate in Technical Design and Production, Yale School of Drama, Scenic Painting, 1997.
B.S. Northwestern University. 1996.
Majors: Theatre; Art Theory and Practice, printmaking concentration
ORIGINAL WORK IN THEATER
Postcards from Ihatov. Adapted from Kenji Miyazawa
1StStage Tysons. June 2024.
Nominated for Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding New Adaptation
Making The Go-Go Band. Co-writer/ director/ set design (with Shorty Corleone)
Georgetown University, Nov. 2023. (devised with students and local musicians)
The Sympathy Game. Writer/ designer
1stStage Tysons (ongoing solo commission)
Paperplay!: Adventures in Kamishibai. Lead devisor (with student performers)
Georgetown University, Oct. 2022.
Okinawa Field Trip. Writer/ director/ illustrator
Georgetown University, Mar. 2021. (virtual)
Okinawa Demo Reel. Writer/ director/ object designer.
The Studio Theater, May. 2020-. (virtual, episodic; ongoing)
Thumbelina. Adapter/ director/ illustrator; Adapted from Hans Christian Anderson.
Imagination Stage, Feb. 2020
The Lathe of Heaven. Adapter/ Director/ Set/ Puppets Designer.
Adapted from Ursula K. LeGuin.
Spooky Action Theatre/ Georgetown University, Jan. 2018.
Helen Hayes Award for outstanding adaptation and outstanding set design
Helen Hayes nomination for outstanding direction
Alice in Wonderland. Adapter/ Director/ Puppet-Properties Designer.
Adapted from Lewis Caroll.
Olney Theatre Center, National Players, National Tour Sep. 2017 – May 2018.
Wind Me Up, Maria!: a Go-Go Musical. Writer/ Director.
With music by Charles “Shorty Corleone” Garris
Georgetown University, Nov. 2016.
The T Party. Writer/ Director/ Set designer.
Company One Theatre, Boston, Jul. 2016
Forum Theatre, Jan. 2015; Jul. 2013
Georgetown University, Nov. 2008.
Also produced at: Brown University, May 2017 (directed by Midori Cassou).
War with the Newts. Adapter / Director.
Adapted from Karel Capek.
Georgetown University, Nov. 2015.
On the Origin of Species: A Nautical Melodrama. Adapter/ Director/ Set Designer.
Based on the writings of Charles Darwin.
Georgetown University, Nov. 2014.
Astro Boy and the God of Comics. Writer/ Director.
Company One, Boston, Jul. 2014 (also set design, pencil animation and puppet design).
The Studio Theatre, Washington DC, Feb. 2012.
Also produced at: Sacred Fools, Los Angeles, Jul. 2015 (directed by Jamie Robledo).
A Trip to the Moon. Writer/ Director/ Illustrator.
Synetic Theatre, Dec. 2012.
The Omnivore’s Dilemma. Adapter/ Director.
Adapted from Michael Pollan.
Georgetown University, Aug. 2011.
Madness and Civilization. Writer/ Director/ Set Designer.
Adapted from Michel Foucault.
Georgetown University, Feb. 2009.
Revenge of the Poisoned Ladies. Writer/ Director/ Projections Designer.
Adapted from Tsuruya Namboku.
Capital Fringe Festival, Aug. 2008.
Trees and Ghosts. Adapter/ Director.
Adapted from Osamu Tezuka.
Georgetown University, Nov. 2007.
The Sacred Plaza. Adapter/ Director.
Adapted from Osamu Tezuka.
The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, Jul. 2007.
Swimmy and Other Stories. Adapter /Director/ Set/ Costumes
Adapted from Leo Lionni.
Georgetown University, Feb. 2007.
Performance of Sleep in One Long Act Without Intermission. Writer/ Director/ Set Designer.
Live Action Cartoonists, Storefront Theatre, Chicago, Jul. 2006
PAC/ Edge Festival, Chicago, Feb. 2005
are you my negative space?: a performance about comics, war and love. Writer/Director/Set Designer.
Live Action Cartoonists, Chicago, Nov. 2003.
SCIENCE (FICTION). Writer/ Director/ Set/ Costumes.
Guling Street Avant-Garde Theatre, Taipei, Dec. 2002
Northwestern University, Apr. 2002.
I am not a Cartoonist. Writer/ Director/ Solo Performer.
New Artists in Chicago series, Chicago Cultural Center, Oct. 1999.
Kwaidan. Adapter/ Director.
Adapted from Lafcadio Hearn.
Yale Cabaret, Jan. 1997.
DIRECTING OF EXISTING PLAYS [FULL PRODUCTIONS]
Learning How to Read by Moonlight by Gaven Trinidad. Director/ Set designer
Company One Theater and Chuang Stage, Boston, May 2025
The Great Leap by Lauren Yee. Director
Portland Stage Maine and Hanger Theater, Ithaca (co-production) Jul.-Sep. 2022
Dear Mapel by Psalmayene 24. Director/ Set designer
Mosaic Theater, Washington DC, Feb 2022
Virtual Workshop Production Pt 1, Oct. 2020.
The Lady from the Village of Falling Flowers by Tennessee Williams. Director/ Production designer
Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival, Sep. 2019.
Spooky Action Theater, Washington DC, Dec. 2019.
Spooky Action Theater (virtual), Nov. 2020.
Tiger Style! By Mike Lew. Director
Olney Theater Center, Olney, MD, Jul. 2019.
Vietgone by Qui Nguyen. Director
The Studio Theatre, Washington DC, Mar. 2018.
The White Snake by Mary Zimmerman. Director
Baltimore Center Stage, Mar. 2017.
Charm by Philip Dawkins. Director
Mosaic Theatre, Washington DC, Jan. 2017.
The Emperor’s Nightingale by Damon Chua. Director
Adventure Theatre, Cabin John, MD, May 2016.
Yellow Face by David Henry Hwang. Director
Theatre J, Washington DC, Jan. 2014.
Songs of the Dragons Flying to Heaven by Young Jean Lee. Director
The Studio Theatre, Washington DC, Sep.-Oct. 2010.
DIRECTING OF EXISTING PLAYS [READINGS AND WORKSHOPS, SELECTED]
Dear Ex by Be Steadwell
Baltimore CenterStage, Jun. 2023, reading
The Invention of Seeds by Annelisa Diaz
Mosaic Theater Company, Washington DC, Jan. 2022, reading
(An Audio Guide for) Unsung Snails and Heroes by Julia Izumi
Manhattan Theater Club, Nov. 2020, virtual reading
Swan Princess by Nikolay Kolyada
Arena Stage, Washington DC and The Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics, Oct. 2020, staged virtual, 15-minute play
Miku, and the Gods by Julia Izumi
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Jul. 2019, developmental workshop and staged reading
Venus by Suzan-Lori Parks
Shakespeare Theater Company, Washington DC, Jan. 2019, staged reading with live music
Tight Lipped by Anna Claire McGrath
Spooky Acton Theatre, Washington DC, Sep. 2018, staged reading with music
The Bronx Express by Ossip Dymov
Theatre J, Washington DC, Jul. 2018, staged reading with puppets and projection
American Spies and Other Homegrown Tales by Sam Hamashima
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Jun. 2018, developmental workshop
THEATRICAL DESIGN
White Rooster by Matthew Yee, set
Lookingglass Theater Company, Chicago, written and directed by Matthew Yee, 2026
Little Red by Heidi Stillman, set and props
Actor’s Gymnasium, Evanston, IL, directed by Heidi Stillman, 2025
Snowman and Snowdog by Janet Stanford, set and puppets (workshop)
Imagination Stage, Bethesda, MD, directed by Janet Stanford, 2024
The Colored Museum by George C. Wolfe, set
The Studio Theater, Washington DC, directed by Psalmayene 24, 2024
Nominated for Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Set Design
The Hula Hoopin’ Queen by Gloria Bond Clunie, set
Imagination Stage, directed by Angelisa Gillyard, Feb. 2023.
Childsplay, Phoenix, AZ Apr. 2023
Dog Act by Liz Duffy Adams, set
Georgetown University, directed by Holly Twyford, Nov. 2022.
Medea, set
George Washington University, directed by Dane Figuroa Editi, Oct. 2022.
Clippy and Miss U, by Ohnobu Pelican, props for virtual production
Ma-yi Theater Company, directed by James Yaegashi, Nov. 2020.
Black Lizard by Yukio Mishima, set and props
Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival, directed by Jesse Jeu, Sep. 2019.
Sinbad: The Untold Tale by Charles Way, Set and Props
Imagination Stage, directed by Janet Stanford, Apr. 2015.
Anime Momotaro by Eric Johnson, Set and Props
Imagination Stage, directed by Eric Johnson, Jan. 2012.
Big Love by Charles Mee, Set
The Hub Theatre, directed by Kirsten Kelly, Jul. 2012.
Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Set
Georgetown University, directed by Professor Maya Roth, Apr. 2012.
Mad Forest by Caryl Churchill, Set
Forum Theatre, directed by Michael Dove, Sep. 2011.
bobrauschenbergamerica by Charles Mee, Set and Props
Forum Theatre, directed by Derek Goldman, May 2011.
Kafka’s Metamorphosis by Derek Goldman, Set, Props and Costumes
Synetic Theatre, written and directed by Derek Goldman, Apr. 2010.
Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Projection
Georgia College and State University, directed by Professor Karen Berman, Nov. 2010.
Sueño by Jose Rivera, projection
Georgia College and State University, directed by Professor Karen Berman, Nov. 2009.
Blood Wedding by Federico Garcia Lorca, Set
Georgetown University, directed by Professor Nadia Mahdi, Oct. 2010.
Address Unknown by Kevyn Bowles, Set, Costumes and Animation
Georgetown University, written and directed by Kevyn Bowles, Mar. 2009.
Schoolgirl Figure by Wendy MacLeod, Set and Costumes
Georgetown University, Directed by Jen Rogers, Apr. 2006.
Antigone by Euripides, Set
Greasy Joan & Co. at Loop Theatre, directed by Julieanne Ehre, Jun. 2004.
The Mineola Twins by Paula Vogel, set
American Theatre Company (Chicago), directed by Kim Rubinstein, Mar. 2000.
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Set
Chicago Shakespeare Theatre (Short Shakespeare! Series) directed by Kim Rubinstein, Jan. 2000.
Ten Nights’ Dreams by Natsume Soseki, Set
Northwestern University, adapted and directed by Craig Quintero, Jul. 1999.
Loss of Breath by Wesley Savick, Set
Theatre X (Milwaukee), Written and Directed by Wesley Savick, Apr. 1999.
Burnt Rice by Craig Quintero, Set
Eslite, Taiwan, written and directed by Craig Quintero, Jun. 1998.
PUBLICATION: MONOGRAPH
God of Comics: Osamu Tezuka and the Creation of Post-World War II Manga. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2009.
PUBLICATION: ARTICLES and BOOK CHAPTER
“Empathy and Transition: A Conversation on Postcards from Ihatov.” 賢治学＋ Kenjigaku+ 10 (2025).
“Questioning the Racial Question: Scenes from Manga, Auditions, and Other Unexpected Places.” MANGA!: Visual Pop-Culture in ARTS Education. Masami Toku and Hiromi Dollase, eds. InSEA. 2020.
“Provocations: Aliens of Extraordinary Ability.” The Drama Review 51.2 (2007): 2-3.
“Have Markers, Will Travel: Live-Action Cartooning in the Age of Multimedia Performances and Online Comics.” International Journal of Comic Arts 5.1 (2002): 355-365.
“Osamu Tezuka and the Star System: Comics and the Semiotics of Celebrity Acting.” International Journal of Comic Arts 5.1 (2002): 161-194.
“Drag Prince in Spotlight: Theatrical Cross-dressing in Tezuka Osamu’s Early Shojo Manga.” International Journal of Comic Arts 4.2 (2002): 124-138.
PUBLICATION: REFERENCE ARTICLE
“Osamu Tezuka.” Grove Encyclopedia of Asian Art. Oxford University Press. 2020.
PUBLICATION: TRANSLATION
Meet Me at Rycom by Takuya Kanejima. ENGEKI 9 (2024): 52-127.
SELECTED AWARDS AND HONORS
2025 Helen Hayes Nomination for Outstanding New Adaptation, Postcards from Ihatov
Helen Hayes Nomination for Outstanding Set Design, The Colored Museum
2024 Individual Artist Fellowship, DC Commission for the Arts
2024 Social Impact Artist Residency, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2023 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, Georgetown University
2020 Individual Artist Fellowship, DC Commission for the Arts
2019 Individual Artist Fellowship, DC Commission for the Arts
2019 Helen Hayes Award in Outstanding New Adaptation, The Lathe of Heaven
Helen Hayes Award in Outstanding Set Design, The Lathe of Heaven
Helen Hayes Nominations:
Outstanding Production; Outstanding Direction, The Lathe of Heaven
2015 Elliot Norton Award in Outstanding Direction, Astro Boy and the God of Comics
Elliot Norton Award in Outstanding Set Design, Astro Boy and the God of Comics
2012 Junior Faculty Research Fellowship, Georgetown University
2011 Finalist, The Mayor’s Arts Award for Emerging Artist, DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
2011 Outstanding Community-Based Learning Course, Theatre as Social Change
2010 Finalist, Dorothy Brown Teaching Award, Georgetown University
2009 Outstanding Contribution to the LGBTQ Community Award, LGBTQ Resource Center, Georgetown University
2009 DC Humanities Council Project Grant, DC Humanities Council
2006 Faculty Summer Academic Grant, Georgetown University
2005, 2017 Faculty Research Grant-in-aid, Georgetown University
2003-2004 Dissertation Year Fellowship, Northwestern University
2002 Swann Foundation Award for Research in Comics, Library of Congress
2003 Visiting Filmmaker Grant, The University of Arizona, Tucson
2002 Distinguished Graduate Student Award, Dokkyo International Forum for Performance Studies, Dokkyo University
2002-2003 Departmental Assistantship, Performance Studies, Northwestern University
2001 Robert. S Breen Memorial Award, Northwestern University
1999 Center for Interdisciplinary Research for the Arts Grant, Northwestern University
SELECTED LECTURES AND PRESENTATIONS
“Questioning the Racial Question: Representations of Human Faces in Manga”
Grinnell College Convocation Speaker Series, Mar. 2018.
Cartoon Research Library, Docent Education Program, Apr. 2015.
Manga at a Crossroads: Classic Manga, Development and Globalization of Manga Symposium, The Ohio State University, Mar. 2015.
“Hallway Chronotopes: Stolen Moments and Awkward Glances”, co-presentation with David Terry
Southern States Communication Association Annual Conference, Apr. 6, 2014, New Orleans
“How Does Performance Studies Contribute to the Restaurant Business?”
Villanova Conference on Performance Studies, Jun. 2012.
“Theatricality in the Works of Osamu Tezuka,” Institute for Japanese Studies, The Ohio State University, Feb. 2011.
“Madness and Adaptation,” Visual Studies Symposium, George Washington University, Mar. 2010.
“Comics, College, Collective Memory: Teaching Graphic Novels in Higher Education”
International Comic Arts Festival, Washington, D. C., Oct. 2006.
“Uncomfortable Women: Asian Mail-order Bride Trade in the Age of Online Dating”
Performance and Paper, Performance Studies International, Providence, RI, Mar. 2005.
“Staging Comics,” The Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture, the University of Chicago, Mar. 2005.
“Theatricality and Comics: Osamu Tezuka’s Visual Jokes”
International Comic Arts Festival, Washington, D. C., Oct. 2003.
“are you my negative space?: a performance about comics, war and love,” Distinguished Lecturer Series, University of Arizona, Tucson, Jul. 2003.
“Seeing Astroboy: The Cartoonists’ Vision, the Medical Gaze, and the Imaging Technology,” Cartoon Research Library, Ohio State University, Columbus, Feb. 2003.
“Reading the Eurocentrism in Manga and Its Global Readership.”
Dokkyo International Forum on Performance Studies, Tokyo, Japan, Dec. 2002.
“Osamu Tezuka and the Star System: Importing Hollywood Film Industry into Manga.”
International Comic Arts Festival, Washington, D. C., Oct. 2002.
Randolph-Macon University, Virginia, December 2023.
“Theatrical Cross-dressing in Tezuka Osamu’s Early Shojo Manga.”
Popular Culture Association Conference, Toronto, Canada, Apr. 2002.
Graduate Student Respondent, Symposium in Theatricality, Northwestern University, Oct. 2001.
Selections from “I Am Not a Cartoonist”
Performance, National Communication Associations Conference, Chicago, Nov. 1999.
“The Life and Times of Robert Wilson”
Performance Installation, National Performance Studies Conference, Evanston, Nov. 1997.
SELECTED ARTIST RESIDENCIES
Woodshed Collective Residency, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK, October 2024
Social Impact Residency, The John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, July 2024
Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 2019; Mar. 2020.
Texas Tech University, Aug. 2019.
Munich Kammerspiele, Munich, Germany, Nov. 2018.
Georgia College and State University. Nov. 2009.
Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. Jun.-Jul. 2007.
Louisiana State University. Feb. 2006.
The University of Arizona, Tucson. Mar. 2004.
SELECTED GUEST TEACHING
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Rhode Island School of Design
Northwestern University
Grinnell College
George Washington University
The University of Maryland, College Park
American University
University of Arizona, Tucson
Washington and Lee University
Randolph-Macon University
Tennessee Williams Institute