Kato Buss, Ph.D.
Intm Assistant Dean/Professor
Experience
Kato Buss is an associate professor and chairperson of the Department of Theatre Arts at UCO. He has more than twenty years’ experience as an actor, director and teacher. Buss holds a Ph.D. in Theatre Studies from the University of Oregon. His scholarly work has been published in the Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism, Theatre / Practice, Texas Theatre Journal, Western States Theatre Review, and the North-Northwest Anthology of New Plays. As a theatre director, Buss has received a Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival Certificate of Commendation for his production of Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice (2017) and Georg Buchner’s Woyzeck (2014). As an actor, he works primarily in film and visual media. His work has been screened at Comic-Con International, deadCenter Film Festival, and Fantastic Fest. His teaching career began as an artist-in-residence in the Lakota tribal schools of South Dakota. At UCO, he teaches acting, directing, theatre history, dramatic literature and coordinates the Edinburgh Fringe Festival student study tour program. Additionally, Buss is a graduate of the True Acting Institute Meisner Certificate Training Program. He teaches courses on the Meisner Technique at the Actor Factory in Norman, Oklahoma.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Theatre Studies, University of Oregon, 2012.
M.A. Theatre Performance, Humboldt State University, 2007.
B.F.A. Theatre Performance, University of South Dakota, 1995.
The Meisner Certificate Training Program, True Acting Institute, Larry Silverberg, dir. 2018.
Honors and Awards
Vanderford Distinguished Teaching Award, University of Central Oklahoma, 2014.
Herbert S. Dordick Outstanding Mentor Award, University of Central Oklahoma, 2015.
UCO Excel Award, University of Central Oklahoma, 2016.
Faculty Award for Outstanding Development, Encouragement, Pursuit, and Support of Undergraduate Research, Creative, and Scholarly Activities, Univ. of Central Oklahoma, 2018.
Classes Taught
THRT 4970: Study Tour – Edinburgh and London, University of Central Oklahoma.
THRT 4712: Directing and Collaboration, University of Central Oklahoma.
THRT 4723: Acting Styles II, University of Central Oklahoma.
THRT 4633: Acting On Camera, University of Central Oklahoma.
THRT 4353: Theatre History I, University of Central Oklahoma.
THRT 4363: Theatre History II, University of Central Oklahoma.
THRT 3343: Development of Drama, University of Central Oklahoma.
THRT 1553: Foundations of Theatre Arts.
Research, Published Work, and Scholarly Activities
TEDx Talks: University of Central Oklahoma
Kato Buss, Ph.D., Imagination and Empathy: The Call of the Clown, TEDxUCO, 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlkPppKZajM&t=11s
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