Jill K. Swanson is an actor, director, writer, and teacher who has worked in Austin theatre for the past 13 years, including a longstanding relationship with Austin Shakespeare. (She recently assistant-directed The Dream for AS in Zilker Park, as she did last year for Romeo y Julieta, and was the dramaturg for Measure for Measure at the Rollins Theatre.) She also teaches workshops for Austin Shakespeare's school program, performs with AS and other local theatres.
Jill recently debuted in Austin as a director with a successful run of a play she adapted and directed for the Blue Theatre, Shakespeare's Husbands & Wives.
Most recently, Austin audiences saw her perform as Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew: A Staged Reading, a Macbeth Witch, Prospero, and Mrs. Page in Spooky Shakespeare, each produced by Austin Shakespeare at Richard Garriott's Curtain Theatre. For Scottish Rite Theatre, she has performed as Maria in Twelfth Night (2008) and Phoebe in As You Like It(2009). Past performances with AS include Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Desdemona in Othello, Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Portia in Julius Caesar. Other notable local performances include Lady in The Incubus Archives, and Vernon Lee in Ann Ciccollela's Madame X.
She is a contributor and co-editor of 111 Shakespeare Monologues and 60 Shakespeare Scenes with Lisa Bansavage and L.E. McCullough.
Education. Ms. Swanson studied Shakespeare at Florida State University with Jean McDaniel-Lickson, and acting with Michael Richey, and Richard G. Fallon; at Texas State University she studied directing with Dr. Charles Ney and Michael Costello.
Awards. 2010 ALT Applause Award (Actress in a Comic Role) for Petruchio, 2002 Best Supporting Actress, Austin Critic's Table, for Ann Ciccollela's Madame X; nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress, 2000 B. Iden Payne Awards, forOthello.
If you would like to view my resume, please email me at jillkswanson [at] austinstages [dot] com.
height: 6'0"
weight: 175
eyes: blue/grey
hair: light brown
age range: 35-40
height: 6'0"
weight: 175
eyes: blue/grey
hair: light brown
age range: 35-40
