Pirronne Yousefzadeh

​(DG) Jam Creator

Pirronne is a Brooklyn based director. Recent projects include Utopia Minnesota by Meg Miroshnik (2016 Sagal Fellowship, Williamstown Theatre Festival), That High Lonesome Sound (Actors Theatre of Louisville; 2015 Humana Festival) and We Are Proud To Present A Presentation… by Jackie Sibblies Drury (InterAct Theatre Company). Her productions of The Dangerous House of Pretty Mbane by Jen Silverman (InterAct Theater Company) and In The Blood (Theatre Horizon) together received a total of fifteen Barrymore Award nominations, including Outstanding Direction and Outstanding Overall Production for both. And If You Lose Your Way, or A Food Odyssey (Invisible Dog) received nominations for Outstanding Ensemble and Outstanding Performance Art Production from New York Innovative Theatre Awards. 
She has directed and developed work at The Public/Joe’s Pub, New York Theatre Workshop, Ars Nova, Soho Rep, Playwrights Horizons, Atlantic Theater Company, Ma-Yi Theater Company, Rising Circle Theater Collective, The Woodshed Collective (The Tenant: Best of 2011, The L Magazine), Partial Comfort Productions, Noor Theatre, Rising Phoenix Rep, HERE Arts Center, New York Musical Theatre Festival, Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Wild Project, Dixon Place, The Living Theatre, The Lark Play Development Center, New Dramatists, The Juilliard School, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Cleveland Playhouse, La Jolla Playhouse, Geva Theatre Center, Huntington Theatre Company, Two River Theater Company, Milwaukee Rep, InterAct Theatre Company, On The Boards, Perseverance Theatre, Berkshire Fringe Festival, Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, and Hangar Theatre, where she was a 2006 Drama League Directing Fellow.

---

​Christina May

​(DG) Jam Co-Producer 2016-2019

​​Christina May...
AKA “The Black Mz Frizzle”
Is a Lover, Artist, & Educator. Christina has been apart of the Philadelphia Theatre Community for more than 15 years...As an Actor, Director & Facilitator Christina has artistically collaborated with companies such as : Philadelphia Young Playwrights, Walnut Street and Arden Theatre Education Departments, Shakespeare In Clark Park, 1812, Theatre In The X, Luke Allen Productions, Higher Than 7 Productions, Play Penn, Theatre Horizon, Found Theatre Company, Ferdinand, Inter Act Play Reading Series, Revamp Theatre Collective, First World Theatre Ensemble , Putty Dance Project & Breakfast Improv Networking Jawn. Christina co- produced the “Secret Show Series “last year at the Painted Bride Art Center with her Fellow Art Doula Pheobe Schaub. There are the Producers for this year’s “DG Jam”.

An advocate for Creative Beings in society Christina continues to use her Light & Energy to Love, Create & Inspire Artist Of all Mediums.

---

​Phoebe Schaub

​(DG) Jam Co-Producer 2016-2019

​​Phoebe Schaub is a Philadelphia artist, teaching artist (Philadelphia Young Playwrights, Theatre Horizon, The Delphi Project for Pennsylvania Ballet), and Operations Manager of Team Sunshine Performance Corporation. She is a co-founder and former company member of Found Theater Company (where she co-created thirteen original works), a co-producer, co-curator and co-Art Doula alongside Christina May (The Knight Foundation-funded Secret Show Series at Painted Bride Art Center, DG JAM for Directors Gathering), and a graduate of Temple University's undergraduate directing program.

---

Gallery

---

​Participating Directors:

Sarah Mittledorf

Sarah is a theatre maker, director, and puppy scruffler. She spends much of her time making new work with Kaleid Theatre (as in kaleidoscope, as in collide). Thanks, as always, to the amazing and brave artists that she gets to work with – people who always make her grow.

Nicole Miller Marks

Nicole Miller Marks is incredibly grateful for this opportunity. She has worked with
Lantern Theatre Co., Revolution Shakespeare, Revamp Collective, Pig Iron Theatre Co., Delaware Theatre Co., and is founder of 21 st Ward Theater Company. She is a producer for Directors Gathering and a proud member of Lincoln Center Directors Lab, Directors Lab North, the Dramatist Guild, and New Perspectives Short Play Lab. For the 2017-18 season, Nicole is serving as and a Barrymore Judge. So very glad of those who carried me here. For Josiah and Gabriella.

Kasual Owens-Fields

A Philadelphia native her previous credits include assistant direction on Mrs. Harrison by R. Eric Thomas, Ready, Steady, Yeti, Go by David Jacobi (Azuka Theatre), Ideation by Aaron Loeb (Theatre Exile) and  A Bright New Boise by Samuel D. Hunter (Simpatico Theatre). She was recently a National Finalist for he SDC Directing Fellowship at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

Kalif Troy

Kalif Troy is an artivist who has reimagined the look of his career. Primarily an actor, Kalif has been seen on TV commercials throughout Philly with his daughter Aliyah Isis. As of late, he's returned to directing and is currently producing a short film in NY. Whether it's acting, directing, producing, parenting or managing his daughters' career, he's decided that all of this takes craft and what makes him a full artivist is having the ability to hold space for others and amplify their voices as they tell their stories.  ​

Kyle Jackson

How would you describe your art in three words?
Existential. Brave. Empowering. 
 
If you had a superhero name, what would it be?
The Golden Eagle - The Eagle is one of my favorite animals, because it symbolizes strength and fearlessness. The color gold represents success, achievement and victory. 
 
What is your dream directing project?
I would love to direct a Broadway or West End production of a show I'm currently writing the book for. It's my first musical, and it explores themes of self-awareness and acceptance, intersectionalism and what it's like to be not only queer, but BLACK and queer in America. 
 
What do you hope to get from Directors JAM?
I hope to explore new levels of my creativity, push my boundaries, and create something new and exciting with other like-minded creatives. 

Shreshth Khilani

Shreshth (they/he) is a writer, director, and performer who is interested in telling real stories of love, distance, illness, and food through a magical and dreamy lens. This magic leads them to draw from Indian mythology, folklore, and fuels an interest in traditional forms of Indian art making. After completing Headlong’s performance program in December, they are currently creating, writing, and performing in Table on Table on Table, a radio narrative about immigration and queerness set to a dance performance in an attic space. They wrote narrative to accompany a classical Indian dance piece for Sattriya Dance Company’s show at the PMA, Brindaboni Jatra: Weaving Dance & Divinity (2018). They created and performed in dance-theatre pieces Cabbage Head and Passion Fruit Dances (2017). They also directed a very naturalist production of John Logan’s Red in a workshop (2016). ​

---

(DG) JAM 2018 Directors + Casts

Kasual Owens-Fields, Director
Cast:
Nicole Stacie
Jaymarie Santana
Sabriaya Shipley

Sarah Mitteldorf, Director
Cast:
Alee Spadoni
Rachel O’Hanlon-Rodriguez
Paloma Irizarry

Shreshth Khilani, Director
Cast:Pratima Agrawal
Corem Coreano
Macy Jae Davis

Kyle A. Jackson, Director
Cast:
Brandon A. Drummond
Maria Beltre
Maryruth Stine

Nicole Miller Marks, Director
Cast:
​Diana Maria Rodriguez Castaner
Erlina Ortiz
Jerrick Medrano

Kalif Troy, Director
Cast:
Steph Iozzia
Ang Bey
Kaelem Von Camper

---

(DG) Jam 2018 Production Team:

Peter Lokitis, Production Stage Manager
Ben Smallen, Website + Media
Tommy Butler, Photography + Videography

---

Special Thanks for (DG) JAM + (DG) Year 4:

(DG) Donors + Supporters
The Philadelphia Cultural Fund 
The Wyncote Foundation
The Painted Bride + Cheyenne Barboza
Anthony Kamani Catering
Cafe Ole
Flying Fish Brewery
Paige Price, Philadelphia Theatre Company
Swarthmore College LPAC + Department of Theatre
Ann Marley Photography
Daniel Kontz Photography
InterAct Theatre Company + Erin Washburn + Kittson O’Neill
The Foundry@PlayPenn + Jacqueline Goldfinger 
The Wilma Theatre