News:
Joel will be performing live on stage at Phoenix Symphony Hall May 31st, 2009 as part of Valley Youth Theatre's Alumni Benefit Concert! Joel will be joined on stage by American Idol star, Jordin Sparks and a boatload of performers who all got their start at Valley Youth Theatre! For more information, visit www.vyt.com or download the event poster (6MB PDF).
Bio:
A multitalented actor and director, Joel Cranson has left his mark all over the Valley of the Sun. Having performed in countless productions and directed several award-winning films and plays, Joel has captured the attention of Arizonan's as well as fans world-wide.
Joel has been seen in an extensive list of stage productions. Early on he performed as the loveable Scarecrow in Valley Youth Theatre's The Wizard of Oz, which earned him an Arizoni nomination in 1997 for Best Actor in a Principal Role. Other VYT roles include Rooster in Annie, King Max in Cinderella, and Albert Peterson in Bye, Bye Birdie.
In college, Joel was seen at Mesa Community College as Gooper in Cat on a Hot, Tin Roof, Dr. Lyman in Bus Stop, Uncle Ben in Death of a Salesman, Lloyd Dallas in Noises Off, The Dentist in Little Shop of Horrors, Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, and Snoopy in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. He went on to graduate with a BA in theatre from Grand Canyon University where he was seen as Lloyd in Reckless, Scrooge in the Amlin Gray adaptation of A Christmas Carol, and the Duke of Kent in William Shakespear's King Lear. He later spent time with Phoenix Theatre Company in their production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast where he had the honor of playing the creepy asylum owner, Monsier D'Arque, as well as understudying the role of the Beast. He also went on stage for several performances as the male understudy in Phoenix Theatre's The Best Little Whore House in Texas.
In the realm of television and film, Joel is hardly a stranger. One of his earliest gigs was performing crime reenactments for KPHO Channel 5 News. But the world probably knows Joel best by his portrayal of the infamous Kyle Katarn in the Spirits of the Force Fan Film Trilogy, which Joel also directed. Other appearances include Richard's friend in Silhouette (1st Place Winner of Screen Wars Season Two), The Detective in Appetite for Justice (1st Place winner of the IFP 48-Hour Beat the Clock Challenge 2008), Michael in Bryan Loves You (with "Cheers" actor, George Wendt), Osama bin Laden in Professor Hu Hires a Temp, and was featured in the nationally-aired commercial for Ultrasabers.
Joel has served as a stage director in multiple venues throughout the valley. For Mesa Community College he has directed such shows as Magician's Crystal, Green Eggs and Ham, Picasso at the Lapin Agile (an AriZoni nominee 2007), Laughter on the 23rd Floor, and Brighton Beach Memoirs. He also directed Dancer and the Rain at Grand Canyon University. He has also lead theatre workshops in the area of acting and improvisation for Mesa Community College, East Valley Children's Theatre, The Mesa Arts Center, and many public schools throughout the valley.
Film directing has become a favorite of Joel's many talents of late. His short film, The Guilty, received First Place as well as Best Overall Technical Elements at the IFP 36-Hour Beat the Clock Challenge in 2008. Probed; a science fiction short film that Joel co-wrote and directed earned the award for Best Technical Elements at the International Horror/Sci-Fi Film Festival in 2008. His latest film, Following Suit, took home three awards from the IFP 24 Hour Beat the Clock Challenge: Best Film, Best Actor (Kevin Herrmann) and Best Director – Joel Cranson. Following Suit also went on to win the Audience Favorite award at the 2009 IFP Beat the Clock Challenge Finals.
Joel feels truly blessed to be doing what he loves in the state he grew up in. He continues to work as both actor and director and will continue to move forward with new projects as he finds them.