About

About

Nic Hamel is an interdisciplinary scholar, educator, and theatre artist who was born in North Carolina, grew up in small towns all over Iowa, and currently resides in Chicago. His passion for theatre, philosophy, and disability-focused activism drives his efforts to create meaningful, provocative, and entertaining works whether he is writing, teaching, or performing.

Nic holds a PhD in Performance as Public Practice from the University of Texas at Austin, an MFA in Acting from Louisiana State University, as well as a BFA in Theatre Arts from Illinois Wesleyan University. He has taught for Theatre departments at Louisiana State University, University of Texas at Austin, and James Madison University.

In addition to scholarly work, Nic is a performer and a playwright, and has appeared in several plays and musicals on stages throughout the United States and Canada. Some of his favorite roles include Herbie in Gypsy, Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice, and Shylock in The Merchant of Venice.

As a playwright, Nic’s plays include Turkey Boys, a solo documentary piece about disability exploitation, Gravity and Grace, a play about the life of philosopher and activist Simone Weil, and Kafka-esque, a play based on Franz Kafka short stories. He also serves as the Artistic Director of Chicago Writers’ Bloc, a playwrights’ organization committed to supporting the development of new plays and musicals.

Beyond the academic and theatrical fields, Nic is also an amateur foodie and a level 1 Sommelier who enjoys cooking, hiking, and politics. Nic lives in Chicago’s West Ridge neighborhood with his wife Audra, their two young children.