Misty Anderson

Misty Anderson is a Professor and Head of the English Department at the University of Tennessee, holding affiliate professorships in Theatre and Religious Studies. She specializes in Restoration and 18th-century literature, drama, performance studies, gender/sexuality studies, and religion-literature intersections. Anderson earned a B.A. from Yale University (1989) and M.A./Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University (1991).

Her research focuses on textual and performance analysis of early modern works, including projects like God on Stage and collaborations with the R/18 Collective to revive 18th-century plays. She has authored/co-edited influential works like Imagining Methodism in Eighteenth-Century Britain and the Routledge Anthology of Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Drama.

Anderson’s recent scholarly articles address topics like political dissent in 18th-century texts and contemporary theatrical productions of historical plays. She actively engages in performance curation, serving as dramaturg and producer for stage adaptations of classic works such as Cato and The Provok’d Wife.

Professional service includes incoming presidency of the American Society for Eighteenth Century Studies. Her work bridges literary analysis with modern performance practices, emphasizing gender, race, and sectarian themes in historical contexts.