Molly Hood

Philosophy and Focus: Professor Molly Hood believes that theatre, collaborative at its core, builds strong vibrant communities, and offers opportunities to create true human connection. Training in the art of live performance is more necessary than ever as our digital reality grows. Through in-depth exploration of text, athleticism of the voice and body, and investigation into the human condition, Molly believes students can become strong performers and engaged, empathetic members of their communities.

Background: Molly fell in love with theatre when she first felt the incredible connection between audience and performers during a touring theatre production at her elementary school. She began singing and dancing in musicals and transitioned to performing in more traditional plays during college. She ultimately developed a passion for the heightened language of classical text. Molly earned an M.F.A. in Classical Acting and built a successful career as an actor, text coach, and director. Her transition to Higher Education was born out of a desire to mentor the next generation of performers.

Teaching: At Radford University, Molly serves as an Associate Professor of performance in the Department of Theatre and Cinema where she teaches Acting I, Acting III, Auditioning, and Voice and Movement. As a teacher, she treats the acting studio as a laboratory for discovery and encourages students to be bold risk-takers. Molly also directs in the performance season, and serves as a fight and stage intimacy choreographer. 

Research/Scholarship/Creative Work: Molly’s career has taken her to stages in Virginia, Washington, D.C., New York and Canada. Currently, her primary areas of interest include staging theatrical intimacy, historical performance, and the traditional practice of staging jigs at the conclusion of Shakespearean productions. She is pursuing advanced Theatrical Intimacy training, having completed her Beginner and Intermediate diploma courses with Theatrical Intimacy Education. Molly is also the co-creator of a new cross-institutional teaching model for the college theatre classroom called “Performing History.” You can learn more about the project and explore student work on the Performing History project website.

For more information about Molly Hood, please open the tabs below. If you would like a digital copy of her complete CV, please contact her at mhood7@radford.edu.