Deanna Zibello

Professional Overview

Deanna Zibello
Design and Technical Theatre
Performing Arts Chair '22-'23

Deanna L. Zibello (she/her/hers) is an Associate Professor, the Director of the Theatre Program, and the Chair of the Performing Arts Department. Deanna has served on the Core Curriculum Committee, the Omnibus Task Force, and the First-Year Advising Cohort Steering Committee. Previously, she taught at Gonzaga University. She holds an MFA in Scenic Design from the University of Washington School of Drama, and a Bachelor’s degree from Williams College. 

Deanna is an award-winning scenic designer with over 50 productions to her credit. In 2012 she received Theatre Puget Sound’s Gregory Award for Outstanding Scenic Design for her work on JESUS HOPPED THE 'A' TRAIN with Seattle-based company Azeotrope. She was also recognized in 2013 by the Seattle Theatre Writers with their Gypsy Rose Lee Award for her work on GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES, also produced by Azeotrope. In 2005, she was awarded Gay Chicago Magazine’s After Dark Award for Outstanding Scenic Design for MIDDLE-AGED WHITE GUYS with Open Eye Productions (Chicago). Other favorite productions include PASSAGE and THE PLIANT GIRLS with A.C.T. Conservatory (San Francisco); ARCADIA with Shotgun Players (Berkeley); THE SHIPMENT, MECHANICS OF LOVE and EDITH CAN SHOOT THINGS AND HIT THEM all with Crowded Fire Theatre (San Francisco); MILKMILKLEMONADE with Impact Theatre (Berkeley); CANCER: THE MUSICAL with Washington Ensemble Theater (Seattle); ARTIFACTS OF CONSEQUENCE with the Satori Group (Seattle); THIS IS MODERN ART, IN THE HEIGHTS, ...AND JESUS MOONWALKS THE MISSISSIPPI and CABARET all with Saint Mary's College of California; the opera EUGENE ONEGIN with the University of Washington Schools of Music and Drama; BIG LOVE, ARABIAN NIGHTS, and JANE EYRE all with the University of Washington School of Drama; and DAUGHTERS OF LEDA with UC Berkeley’s Department of Theater, Dance and Performance Studies. Deanna is also a lighting designer whose credits include MAURITIUS, THE CIDER HOUSE RULES PART 1, THE QUICK CHANGE ROOM, and ‘1953.’ 

A passionate cyclist and public transit rider, Deanna currently lives in Lafayette with her husband and their elementary school-aged son.