Jesse Kane-Hartnett grew up acting Sarasota, FL. Starting with classes at the well-established Florida Studio Theater, and eventually working with the prestigious Asolo Theatre Company, home of FSU’s Graduate Acting Program. During his attendance at Emerson College, where he received a BFA in Acting, Jesse started Abraxas Theatre Company in his hometown, performing, producing and directing contemporary plays during summers between semesters. The company received the “Best New Theater Company” award in 2006 from the publication “Creative Loafing.” After graduating Emerson College, moving to New York, and running on the “actor treadmill” for a while, Jesse eventually met Timothy Bungeroth, Artistic Director of the company A Festival of Fools. He quickly found a place in the company as Associate Director. His first directing project in New York was a collection of one-acts titled Act the Fool with works by Beckett, Sartre, and Chekhov, and featuring the world premiere of an in-company play titled: A Game Without a Name. In preparation for A Festival of Fools’ production of De la Barca’s La Vida es Sueño (Life is a Dream) Jesse was trained in the art of Destreza, the centuries old tradition of Spanish Rapier, with a focus on its application to Stage Combat. He is currently writing his first verse play, titled Traveller visits the Fairy Realm, featuring his verse alter-ego Traveller, an encouraged method of expression in A Festival of Fools.
