Joan Marie Kane, Stage Director
Joan Marie Kane (born January 13th, 1956) is an American stage director. She was named one of the 2011 People of the Year in Indie Theatre by nytheatre.com. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and the League of Professional Theatre Women.
Early life and education
Joan Marie Kane was born in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Yolanda (nee Bruni) and Edward Kane, a steelworker. Her father was born to an ethnically Irish family who had lived in Brooklyn for several generations. Her mother was first generation Italian-American whose family came from Abruzzi, Italy.
As a child Kane attended Catholic schools in Brooklyn, but resisted going to Catholic high school. On the recommendation of Catholic nun Sister Mary Killian, Kane auditioned for and was accepted to the high school of Performing Arts, then in Times Square as a four year acting major. After graduation Kane went to the Neighborhood Playhouse school of acting then went into the business of acting, eventually joining Actors Equity Association, the American Federation of Theatre and Radio Artists, and the Screen Actors Guild. After working in acting for several years Kane went back to school, matriculating at Fordham University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American History in 1988. She then enrolled at Bank Street College and received a Master of Science degree in Museum Education. Curt Dempster, founder of the Ensemble Studio Theatre, taught Kane’s first directing class. She attended the LaMama International Symposium for Directors in 2004, 06 and 08, in Spoletto, Italy. Kane attended the New School for Drama and got her Master of Arts degree in Directing in 2010. In 2010 she also participated in an SDC observership. Kane has also taken classes related to directing at the Primary Stages ESPA program.
Career in museum’s and education
After graduating from Bank Street College Kane began working at the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, New York where she was the curator of education programs. Disappointed by the lack of opportunities of advancement in the museum business, Kane became a freelance arts educator, working through independent agencies, including the Henry Street Settlement, in dozens of public schools all over New York City. In 1996 Kane went to work directly for the New York City Board of Education as a licensed elementary school science teacher. Eventually she became a tenured elementary school classroom teacher. After ten years, she left the education business to go into directing full time.
Career as a director
In 2005 Kane adapted her one woman play The Trial of Mary Reade into a 20 minute piece which she directed for the Sackett Group’s Women’s Work series. In 2009 she formed her production company, Ego Actus. She has co-produced all of Ego Actus’ shows and directed almost all of them.
Personal life
Kane married lighting designer Bruce A! Kraemer in 1980. They have two sons, West and Sky.
Nominations
2013 Outstanding Direction of a Play in the Midtown Intenational Festival (Love Stinks)
2013 Outstanding Direction of a Short Play in the Midtown Intenational Festival (Iris)
2013 Outstanding Direction of a Short Play in the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity (what do you mean)
2012 Outstanding Direction of a Play in the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity (Safe)
2012 Outstanding Direction of a Short Subject in the Midtown International Festival (Hamlet, Bound and Unbound)
Awards
2016 Best Director in the United Solo Festival
2012 Congeniality Award in the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity
2011 Person of the Year in Indie Theatre
2011 Best Director of a Reading in the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity
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