Kane Anderson

BIOGRAPHY

Kane Anderson earned his PhD in Theater Studies from the University of California at Santa Barbara and his MFA in Theatre Performance from Arizona State University.

Dr. Anderson's scholarly research examines fandom, cosplay, superheroes, and comic books. Many of his publications feature the results of his ethnographic studies of cosplayers at Comic-Con International. Drawn to questions of how theatricality intervenes on everyday life, he examines fandom as a performance that actualizes fantasy as well as how superheroes function as transmedial access points for exploring contemporary Americanism. His work combines Theatre Studies, Performance Studies, and Comic Studies. 

As an actor, Kane Anderson has worked on stages across the country. He further trained with the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art as well as the Moscow Art Theatre School's American Studio. He received his certification as a teacher of Michael Chekhov acting technique from the Great Lakes Michael Chekhov Consortium. Favorite past roles include Vladimir in Waiting for Godot; Denis in strangers, babies; Duperret in Marat/Sade; August in Something Cloudy, Something Clear; Freddy in Picasso at the Lapin Agile; and many, many appearances in A Midsummer Night's Dream. His acting has garnered awards for his performances at fringe festivals and film festivals as well.

As a director, Anderson enjoys plays that challenge as much as they entertain, especially musicals and newer works. His favorite past directing projects include She Kills Monsters; Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet); Shoot/Get Treasure/Repeat; Bare: A Pop Opera; You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown; Stop Kiss, The Brain From Planet X; Lasso of Truth; A Midsummer Night's Dream; God of Carnage; The Pirates of Penzance; The Last Five Years; Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein; Frankenstein in Love; First Date; Eurydice; Heathers; Meteor Shower; and NOW. HERE. THIS.

Dr. Anderson is passionate about study abroad opportunities such as bringing students to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland where he directed and debuted the original project The Canonized Club: The Curious Lives & Deaths of the Saints to great reviews. 

COURSES TAUGHT

• THR 117: Acting I
• THR 133: Foundations of Drama & Theatre I

Previously, Dr. Anderson has taught courses in acting; directing; theatre history, theory, and literature; musical theatre; communication studies; academic writing; and superherology.