Actor. SCHOLAR. EDUCATOR.

Colton Carroll is an emerging actor whose artistry is shaped by diverse cultural and geographic influences, from the tranquil Shenandoah Valley to the brooding heat of Texas, and even the vibrant pulse of Seoul, South Korea. Now, as a 2025 prospective graduate of James Madison University with a B.A. in Theater and a Concentration in Performance, Colton Carroll is an actor to watch.

During his undergraduate studies, Carroll developed his own distinctive approach to acting, which in the 21st century he now essentializes as a craft of Empathetic Anthropology. a framework that approaches the craft of acting as centered on validating the perceived liveness imbued in any existing “other”—whether biological, mechanical, or ontologically ambiguous—that evokes human connection. It acknowledges the co-presence of living and non-living identities as active agents within the performance arena while ultimately safeguarding the actor’s integrity by positioning acting as a craft that remains in alignment with the human creator’s intent.

Carroll elaborates on this in his 2025 research project, The Deconstruction of the American Actor’s Psyche: AI, Technology, and the Displacement of Group Theatre Ideals. These inquiries fuel Carroll’s passion for pushing boundaries in performance, as his insistence on centering instinctual and somatic human sensibilities challenges a digitized world that increasingly threatens the agency of actors.

Carroll’s work is as intellectually provocative as it is emotionally resonant, championed with a pristine craftsmanship of traditional American theater while simultaneously amplifying the innovative echoes that define its evolving landscape. His performances and academic work alike create a sense of immediacy for audiences to reflect on the intersection of technology, human agency, and identity, offering a thoughtful exploration of the world we inhabit.

Beyond this Carroll lovingly dedicates his time to teaching. For the past two summers, he has served as an Acting Instructor/Assistant Director for hundreds of children at Onstage Ready in Austin, TX. This experience not only reflects his deep love for the theater, but also his commitment to nurturing community, creativity and inspiration in the next generation of artists.