In July 2005, Dr. Castagno came to UNCW from Ohio University where he served as Director of the School of Theater and Head of the M.A. Programs.  He is the author of two major works in theatre studies: New Playwriting Strategies: A Language-Based Approach to Playwriting (Routledge 2001) which Choice has reviewed as "highly recommended-beyond its genre," and has now been widely adopted in training programs as the "new pedagogy" in playwriting. He is under contract to write a second edition at this time. His earlier book on the commedia dell' arte (The Early Commedia dell'Arte 1550-1621: The Mannerist Context) is a model for interdisciplinary studies, and has been described by JDTC as a "canonical work." Last spring, he followed up his interests in commedia in directing the successful production of Scapino to inaugurate the brand new SRO Theatre.

Dr. Castagno has published numerous articles in journals such as: Theatre Topics, New Theatre Quarterly, Theatre History Studies, Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism, and others, including major anthologies such as, Dramaturgy in American Theatre: A Sourcebook. In 2007, he published the first online introduction to theatre text:Theatre Beyond: A Cyber Journey through the World of Theatre with Kendall Hunt and Great River Technologies; the work includes a text and entire website with videos, interviews, powerpoints and course management system. He has been active as a playwright/adaptor and had his new play What Will I do Arlecchino read in Chicago at the MATC in March 2006. He has completed a collaborative translation/adaptation of an early renaissance work, and is working with colleagues in Italy toward a production.

During his tenure at the University of Alabama, from 1989-2001, where he was director of the M.F.A. Playwriting/Dramaturgy Program, Castagno was founding editor of  the annual, Theatre Symposium, which is now in it fourteenth edition. He looks forward to renewing ties with SETC. As an administrator, Castagno has presided over and written successful accreditations, published two articles in The Department Chair, and served as producer of numerous productions.

This past summer we augmented our theatre camp with dance and both sections achieved capacity. Paul visited Ireland and the UK this past summer and has laid groundwork for some exciting collaborations and exchanges with universities in Great Britain.

Castagno received his Ph.D. from Ohio State University with prior graduate work at Stanford University, and completed his B.F.A. from the University of Connecticut, studying with designer Jerry Rojo during his seminal period working with Richard Schechner and the Performance Group.