Jean Scharfenberg

Jean Scharfenberg
Born	19 August 1922  Davenport
Died	2 August 1998  (aged 75) Bloomington
Alma mater	University of Wisconsin–Madison
Occupation	Academic, researcher, university teacher, theatre director
Employer	Illinois State University (1966–1993)

Jean Scharfenberg (August 19, 1922 - August 2 1998) was a professor of theatre at Illinois State University. Her students included Jane Lynch,^[1] Rondi Reed, Laurie Metcalf, Tom Irwin,^[2] and John Malkovich.^[3]

Scharfenberg was born in Davenport, Iowa, and received her doctoral degree in theater from the University of Wisconsin.^[4]

Scharfenberg joined the ISU faculty in 1966.^[5] She was known among students for her class, "Acting: Exploring Characterization Through Animal Exercises" in which students developed the persona of an animal and then enacted a violent death scene at the end of the semester.^[6][7] Under the direction of Scharfenberg and her colleagues Ralph Lane, John Kirk, and Cal Pritner ISU Theatre became a distinct department, instead of a sub-division of the speech department.^[8] She retired in 1993.^[9]

• Lee Strasberg, 1963