Educational Background
- BA, Hiram College, 1993
- MFA, Yale School of Drama, 2003
Heather originated the role of Rachel Morse in Strike-Slip, by Naomi Iizuka, at the 2007 Humana Festival / Actors Theatre of Louisville (dir. Chay Yew). OTHER REGIONAL CREDITS: 36 Views (Elizabeth) at Boston's Huntington Theatre Company (dir. Evan Yionoulis); Miss Julie (Julie) at Two River Theatre Company (NJ); 365 days/365 plays, by Suzan-Lori Parks, Humana / ATL; Of Mice and Men and Chekhov's The Sneeze / Proposal at CATCO (Columbus); Taking Sides at Human Race (Dayton); Antony and Cleopatra (u/s) at Great Lakes Theatre Festival (Artistic Dir. / dir. Gerald Freedman). NEW YORK: Between Us, by Joe Hortua - World Premiere at Manhattan Theatre Club - performing u/s for Daphne Rubin-Vega (dir. Chris Ashley); A Kingdom, a Country, or a Wasteland in the Snow at PS-122 (dir. Yana Ross); Writer's Block (Junior's Mother) at Manhattan Class Co / Fresh Play Fest. (dir. Jackson Gay); Harvest (Woman - Video Testimonial) World Premiere at La Mama, ETC (dir. Benjamin Mosse); Medea Unharnessed (Medea - IT Theatre Nomination, Best Actress in Lead Role) World Premiere at the Drilling Co. (dir. Kara-Lynn Vaeni); Valiant at NY Fringe 2004, Greenwich St. Theatre; and The Aperture (Alex) at NY Fringe 2009 (named "top 4 picks" Flavorpill). YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA (MFA in Acting - Oliver Thorndike Acting Award, 2003): created roles in Know Dog (Alice) by Kate Walat; & Jesus Moonwalks the Mississippi (Cadence Verse) by Marcus Gardley; God Hates the Irish / The Ballad of Armless Johnny, (Mum / Queen Bean) by Sean Cunningham (dir. Will Frears) and played Shakespeare's Desdemona, Cleopatra, Cordelia / Gloucester (King Lear). She performed two summers in the resident Yale Summer Cabaret Company: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Titania); Bash: the latter day plays (Sue); Private Eyes (Lisa), Hot 'n Throbbing (Charlene), and No Exit (Estelle). RECENT CLEVELAND PRODUCTIONS: The Aperture (Originated the role of Aex) - World Premiere by Sean Christopher Lewis, at Cleveland Public Theatre; Colder Than Here (Jenna) at Dobama; Alice...(Adult Alice / Queen of Hearts) at Porthouse; Wit (Vivian Bearing) as Guest Artist at Hiram College.
Originally from Cleveland, Heather began her career performing at the legendary Karamu House (Margaret Ford Taylor) in 1993. She is a member of Actor's Equity Association, performing under the name Heather Lea Anderson from 1993-2007.
She will appear next in The Cleveland Playhouse's production of Bill W. and Dr. Bob, directed by Artistic Director Michael Bloom (Spring 2010).
Heather teaches THEA 100: Acting Fundamentals and THEA 269: Voice for the Actor.
