Jean Scharfenberg

Jean Scharfenberg (August 19, 1922 - August 2 1998) was a professor of theatre at Illinois State University. Her students included Jane Lynch, Rondi Reed, Laurie Metcalf, Tom Irwin, and John Malkovich.

Early life and education
Scharfenberg was born in Davenport, Iowa, and received her doctoral degree in theater from the University of Wisconsin.

Career
Scharfenberg joined the ISU faculty in 1966. She was known among students for her class, "Acting: Exploring Characterization Through Animal Exercises" in which students developed the persona of an animal and then enacted a violent death scene at the end of the semester. Under the direction of Scharfenberg and her colleagues Ralph Lane, John Kirk, and Cal Pritner ISU Theatre became a distinct department, instead of a sub-division of the speech department. She retired in 1993.