Cason W Murphy

Cason W Murphy is an Assistant Professor of Theatre at Iowa State University, specializing in Theatre Education. He teaches acting, musical theatre, and introduction to performing arts. His research explores new media intersections with theatre, focusing on cultivating contemporary audiences. He has received prestigious awards including the 2021 LAS Cassling Family Faculty Award for Early Achievement in Teaching and the 2023 ATHE/KCACTF Prize for Innovative Teaching.

• Education:
  • M.F.A., Theatre Directing - Baylor University
  • B.A., Theatre Arts - UCLA
  • A.A., Theatre - Los Angeles City College

His research interests include digital media's impact on performance, audience engagement strategies, and Shakespearean adaptation. He has published in Theatre Topics, Theatre Journal, and authored The World at Play: Performance from the Audience’s Perspective. His work bridges traditional theatre practices with modern technological and social contexts.

Professionally, he has directed notable productions like The Crucible (2024) and BABA: A New Musical (2022). He also serves as husband to Tiffany Antone (Assistant Teaching Professor of Theatre at ISU) and father to children and cats.

• Key Awards:
  • 2021 ISU Early Achievement in Teaching Award
  • 2022 Ames Community Arts Council Arts Educator Award

His scholarly articles emphasize interdisciplinary approaches, blending performance studies with media theory and audience psychology. He actively collaborates with students through festival productions like On the Horizon: Festival of Student-Produced Work (2021).