Sharon Marie Carnicke is widely known for her groundbreaking work on Russian acting techniques, her innovative examination of film acting, and her recent collaboration with computer scientists on acting's place in virtual reality. With a Ph.D. in Russian from Columbia University and professional performance experience in New York, Moscow and Los Angeles, she speaks to theatre practitioners and scholars alike. She is currently Professor of Theatre and Slavic Languages at the University of Southern California and the leader of a workshop on Active Analysis (A/ACT) in Los Angeles.