Laura Byland

Associate Professor and
Director of Theatre

Sarkeys
405.878.2114

OBU Box 61252
500 W. University
Shawnee, OK 74804





Laura Byland began teaching at OBU in 1992 and has served as Director of Theatre since 2001. Not only has Laura created outstanding scenic and lighting designs for numerous collegiate, community and commercial theatres, she has also designed make-up and costumes as well as directed productions. She developed and is the director of OBU's Theatre for Young Audiences which presents a children's production each spring semester that is performed for nearly 3000 area students. Laura is currently the faculty co-sponsor for OBU's chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, the National Theatre Honor Society and College Players, a campus-wide social organization open to theatre and non-theatre majors.

Awards include a 2009 KCACTF(Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival) award for Excellence in Set Design, a commendation from the National Selection Team from Region VI of the KCACTF for directing, The University of Oklahoma's School of Drama award for Outstanding Lighting Design and the Outstanding Young College Educator by the Oklahoma Speech Theatre Communication Association. Laura and her husband, Dr. David Byland, have three daughters.


Educational Background:

B.A., Hiram College
M.A., Oklahoma State University
M.F.A., University of Oklahoma


Courses Taught:

CMAR 2403: Literature Analysis and Interpretation
THEA 1183: Foundations of Theatre Arts
THEA 2603: Costume Design
THEA 2613: Makeup Design
THEA 2653: Theatre for Young Audiences: Early Childhood
 THEA 2923: London Theatre Studies
THEA 3623: Lighting Design
THEA 3803: Scene Painting
THEA 3813: Scene Design
THEA 3653: Theatre for Young Audiences: Late Childhood
THEA 4753: Advanced Design



Selected Publications and/or Professional Activities:

Christians in Theatre Arts (CITA)

Oklahoma Speech, Theatre, Comm. Arts Association (OSTCA)

Southwest Theatre Association (SWTA)