ethan graham roeder
Ethan Graham (EG) Roeder is a Southern Appalachian theatre-maker & actor steward. His creative work centers literary adaptation, actor musicianship, and site-responsivity. Ethan Graham holds an MFA in Actor Training and Coaching from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, where his research practice investigated performance practices associated with immersive theatre. He also holds an MS in Information Sciences from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and is the founder of First Take Co., a production company centering multi-hyphenate artists.
DIRECTOR
musicals / literary adaptations / immersive-interactive / new work
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THE LAST FIVE YEARS
by Jason Robert Brown
September 2026 | River & Rail Theatre Co.
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IN THE CASTLE OF ETERNAL SUNSET
by Charles Green
2026 Tour | First Take Co.
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I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE
book by Joe Di Pietro / music by Jimmy Roberts
August 2025 | Renascent Productions
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THE MAGIC TREEHOUSE: DINOS BEFORE DARK
book by Jenny Laird / music by Randy Courts
August 2024 | Knoxville Children’s Theatre
more info coming soon
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THE FLICK
by Annie Baker
June 2024 | First Take Co.
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THE JANE AUSTEN EXPERIENCE
by Laura Clift & EG Roeder
February 2024 | University of Tennessee, Knoxville
more info coming soon
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THE BEARCAT
by EG Roeder
October 2022 | First Take Co.
more info coming soon
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SOUVENIR
by Stephen Temperley
September 2022 | The WordPlayers
more info coming soon
Assistant directing
Ethan Graham has an extensive assistant directing resume, including assisting Steve Dykes, Paul Barnes, Kathleen Conlin, Doug Scholz-Carlson, and Daunielle Rasmussen. From sweeping literary classics with large casts to translating production concerns for young performers, his wealth of information technology literacy and knowledge organization skills streamline rehearsals, providing directors more time to engage with the cast and creative team.
This excerpted video from an interview with director Kathleen Conlin discusses the process of working with EG as an assistant to the director on A Christmas Carol at the Clarence Brown Theatre.
playwright
exploring the southern appalachian experience & crafting immersive worlds, often at the same time
THE BEARCAT: AN APPALACHIAN FABLE
by Ethan Graham Roeder
Rocky Top realness with a savage stunt scene.
Jessie and Garrett are a perfect couple: she's a budding pop star, and his dad owns, like, everything. Their blowout engagement announcement is set for the hottest (and only) nightclub in town, THE BEARCAT. There's just one problem — Garrett's father has no idea they've been dating, and would never approve of the match.
In an act of campy desperation, Garrett ropes the denizens of the club into a plan so ridiculous and borderline offensive it just might work. Set in an Appalachian town on the brink of progress, THE BEARCAT is an ode to club culture — who lives it, who loathes it, and who’s left standing to protect it.
Also, it's a comedy. Promise.
2025 Production: Camden Fringe Festival
2022 Workshop: Proof of Concept new play fest
THE JANE AUSTEN EXPERIENCE
by Laura Clift & Ethan Graham Roeder
8 characters. 3 books. 1 beloved author.
When the heroines of Austen’s England receive an invitation from their dear friend Miss A to attend a party in her honor, they (and their suitors) find themselves at the mercy of the attendees as they await her arrival. Join iconic characters from Pride & Prejudice, Mansfield Park, and Emma as they welcome you into a sparkling evening of Regency music, laughs, and entertainment to celebrate their favorite author.
Commissioned by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s English Department.
2024 Production: UT English’s Regency Ball
2022 Workshop: UT English’s Miss A’s Garden Party
THE ERSATZ EXPRESS
High camp meets high drama…on rails.
A site-specific, immersive piece to be performed on a moving train. Time pirates, 1920’s vaudeville, & the fall of capitalism all in one hour…at least, the first time.
Commissioned and presented by the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.
by Ethan Graham Roeder
2022 Production: Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
researcher
immersive-interactive work / actor-stewardship
MFA Actor Training & Coaching, Royal Central School of Speech & Drama
MS Information Sciences, University of Tennessee
research, articles, and presentations
ARTICLE
Roeder, E. G. (2025). Stanislavsky and Neurodiversity Symposium, presented by The S Word, by Ethan Graham Roeder. Theatre, Dance and Performance Training, 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443927.2025.2542650
PRESENTATION
Shepas, K., Hristov, M., & Roeder, E. G. “Hitting the Wall: Outreach & Engagement in an Academic Year.” Presentation at Southeastern Chapter of the Musical Library Association Conference, Online, October 15, 2021.
PRESENTATION
Shepas, K., Hristov, M., & Roeder, E. G. “Representing the Underrepresented: the development of a new socially conscious collection tag for George F. Devine Music Library. ” Presentation at Southeastern Chapter of the Musical Library Association Conference, Online, October 15, 2021.