Alvin (Al) Goldfarb is president emeritus and professor emeritus of theatre at Western Illinois University. Dr. Goldfarb also served as provost, dean, department chair, and professor of theatre during his 25-year tenure at Illinois State University as well as managing director of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. He holds a PhD in theatre history from the City University of New York, a master’s degree from Hunter College of CUNY, and a bachelor's degree from Queens College of CUNY.

He is the coauthor of Living Theatre and Theatre: The Lively Art, as well as coeditor of The Anthology of Living Theatre with Edwin Wilson. Dr. Goldfarb is also the coeditor, with Rebecca Rovit, of Theatrical Performance during the Holocaust: Texts, Documents, Memoirs, which was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. He has published numerous articles and reviews in scholarly journals and anthologies.