Alvina Krause

Alvina Krause (November 24, 1901 – February 13, 1981) was an American drama teacher, director, and theater educator who became a legendary figure in American theater education. She taught for over 50 years at Northwestern University's School of Speech, where she established herself as an innovative and demanding instructor who profoundly influenced her students. Krause is credited with establishing the Midwest Play Bureau, which became an important institution for promoting regional theater and new American plays. Her teaching philosophy emphasized rigorous technique, emotional authenticity, and the actor's responsibility to the craft and to society. Among her notable students were actors such as Tony Randall, Charlton Heston, and Cloris Leachman, who credited her with shaping their careers and approach to acting. Krause was known for her exacting standards, passionate commitment to theater, and her belief that acting was both an art form and a social responsibility. Her legacy extends through the countless actors, directors, and theater professionals she mentored, and she is remembered as one of the most influential theater educators of the 20th century.