
PhD in Theatre History and Criticism
Fields of Interest
Biography
Catherine (Cate) Heiner is a doctoral candidate in the School of Drama at the University of Washington. Her work as a dramaturg has included productions of As You Like It, American Idiot, Self-Defense or Death of Some Salesmen, The Wolves, and the world premier of An Evening with Two Awful Men. Most recently, she served as dramaturg for the UW production of The Importance of Being Earnest. She has presented research at the Association for Theatre in Higher Education annual conference, the Mid-America Theatre Conference, and the American Society for Theatre Research annual conference, and her work has been published in Theatre Journal, Etudes, and Ecumenica. Her research interests include theories of affect and empathy as related to trauma-based dramaturgy.
Cate is also trained in intimacy design and choreography through Heartland Intimacy, and recently received her 200 hour yoga teaching certification.
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Selected Research
- Heiner, Cate. Affective Ambiguity: The Specifics of Staging Trauma and Negotiating Empathy. 2023. University of Washington, PhD dissertation.
- Heiner, Catherine. "Casting and Creating Importance: Complicating Race and Gender in Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest." Mid-American Theatre Conference (MATC), Cleveland, OH, 3 March 2022.
- ““A Weak Woman Beat Them”: Constructing Feminine Leadership and Resistance” Panelist, Mid-American Theatre Conference, Chicago, IL. 8 March 2020
- “Authentic Sensations: Female Bodies and Creating Spiritual Affect.” Panelist, American Theatre in Higher Education Annual Conference, Detroit MI (Remote), July 2020.
- “Courts of Love and Performing Religious Justice.” Panelist, American Theatre in Higher Education Annual Conference, Detroit MI (Remote), July 2020.
- "Seeing the Light: Inspiration, Femininity and Religion in Tim Slover’s Virtue." Ecumenica, vol. 12, no. 2, Dec. 2019
- “Sweet Touch: The Sexuality and Power of Carmen in Simon Stephens’ Carmen Disruption.” Presenter, Comparative Drama Conference (CDC) Annual Conference, Orlando, 4 April 2018.
- “The Glass to Discover Oneself: Social Media, Affect Theory, and Theatre.” Presenter, University of Wisconsin-Madison Theatre and Drama Graduate Student Conference, Madison, 14 April 2018.
- “Seeing the Light: Inspiration, Femininity and Religion in Tim Slover’s Virtue.” Presenter, Religion and Theatre Emerging Scholar Panel, American Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) Annual Conference, 4 August 2018.
- "STONE ANGELS: PAINFUL PROGRESS AFTER THE MILLENNIUM." Etudes, vol. 4, no. 1, Dec. 2018. http://www.etudesonline.com/dec2018heiner.html
- Heiner, Catherine. "Good Standing by Matthew Greene (review)." Theatre Journal 73, no. 1 (2021): 85-86.
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Professional AffiliationsATHE--Religion and Theatre Focus Group, MATC, ASTR, Univ. of Utah Fine Arts Ambassadors