Who We Are

Directors Gathering (DG) is a service organization that harnesses the power of community to provide continuous development, connections, and process-based opportunities for regional theatre directors.

Jill Harrison

Founder & Executive Director

Jill Harrison (she/her) is a theatre director, connector, and educator. She began her career in NYC, working for esteemed Off-Broadway companies Playwrights Horizons, New York Theatre Workshop, and Peculiar Works Project. Jill has served as the Associate Artistic Director at Simpatico Theatre, the Festival Director for Philadelphia Theatre Company’s PTC@PLAY, and presently, the Founder & Executive Director of Directors Gathering (DG), a membership organization that continuously develops and elevates regional theatre directors.

Select directing credits include: the world premiere of Alessandra Most’s Private Policy, a circus in two acts (Columbia Stages), the Philadelphia premieres of Samuel D. Hunter’s A Bright New Boise and Sarah Ruhl’s Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Simpatico), Craig Lucas’ Reckless (Theatre Outlet), Anne Washburn’s Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play (Villanova Theatre), and Jacqueline Goldfinger's Babel (Passage Theatre).

A Rad Girl Award "Connector of the Year" nominee, Jill serves as a national voice in elevating regional theatre directors as visionaries. Since 2016, Jill has collaborated with fellow director-centric programmers and leaders at the Stage Directors + Choreographers Society, the theatrical union for directors, The Drama League, and many other director-centric programs to connect and mutually grow our interest in serving theatre directors and their significant impact on arts and culture. Jill has also recently worked as the Creative Producer for Theatre Philadelphia's 2019 Barrymore Awards, a Steering Committee member of PAAL, a national initiative for parent-theatre artist advocacy, and a Creative Consultant for Juniper Productions, the only independent creative producing agency in Philadelphia.

Jill holds a MFA in Directing from Temple University and a BA in Theatre from Lehigh University. As a professor, Jill has taught directing and new work at Swarthmore College, Arcadia University, Temple University, Villanova University, and in 2020 launched, "Directors Workshop", a virtual directors studio. Jill is a member of Lincoln Center Theatre Director’s Lab and an associate member of SDC.

Sisi Wright

Director of Membership + Engagement

Sisi Wright is an artist, arts administrator, educator and advocate for art and its capacity to facilitate empathy. Fueled by a love of supporting fellow artists and a desire to contribute to the development of the relationships between and opportunities for theatre-makers in the Greater Philadelphia community, she comes to (DG) with an open heart and eager attitude! She values the role of the director and is committed to engaging and supporting the community of directors that (DG) is cultivating.

Concurrently, she is the Business Manager at The Wilma Theater and the General Manager of Simpatico Theatre. Sisi holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Sweet Briar College as well as an M.A. in Theatre and Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Villanova University.

Brey Ann Barrett

Director of Programming

Brey Ann Barrett is a California-born-Philadelphia-based director, dramaturg, and producer with a passion for new plays. She focuses on intimate and familial pieces that address issues of the human condition and can teach empathy through storytelling. She is the Director of Programming with Directors Gathering. She is the Interim Associate Artistic Director at Theatre Exile. Previously, she worked with The Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center and Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen. She has also worked directorial at Inis Nua, Philadelphia Artists Collective, Simpatico Theatre, Arden Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, InterAct Theatre, PlayPenn, Lantern Theatre, Tiny Dynamite, and Juniper Productions. She is a graduate of The University of the Arts and was a Directors Gathering Fellow.

Lia Sima Fakhouri

Producer

Lia Sima Fakhouri (She/Her) is beyond thrilled to be a part of the (DG) team! She is a freelance stage director and arts administrator. Lia is an immigrant and Third Culture Kid - originally from Lebanon but born and raised in Dubai, UAE and currently living in the USA. She is the Public Works Associate at Seattle Rep where she has the honor of collaborating with the phenomenal community of King County. She is also Associate Artistic Director at Macha Theatre Works in Seattle, WA where she gets to engage in fearless female theatre. Lia is committed to holding collaboration and process to the highest power in theatre making, and works daily to tear down barriers that keep communities out of the industry.

Briyana D. Clarel

(DG) Jam Co-Curator 2020-2021

Briyana D. Clarel is a Black queer theatre artist, writer, and educator passionate about musical theatre, mangoes, and memoirs. Briyana is the founder of The Starfruit Project, a platform supporting radical healing and brilliant growth through creativity. They are the Creative Nonfiction Editor for Homology Lit, a member of the sketch comedy teams The Rhubarbs and Mural Outrage, and a member of Ring of Keys. Briyana’s writing is published in TAYO Literary Magazine, cavity, Black Youth Project, MELANINzine, and print anthologies.

As a director, performer, and playwright, they have brought stories to life with the Painted Bride Art Center, OUTsider Festival, Shoe Box Theatre Collective, Cohen New Works Festival, Philly Improv Theater, Theatre Evolve, Dixon Place, Broad Views on Broadway, The Bridge PHL, Cabernet Cabaret ATX, Philly Free Fringe, Aroma Theatre Collective, and more. They are a 2016 recipient of the Acts of Greatness LGBTQ Youth Community Award, a 2018 ASTEP Artist as Citizen Fellow, a 2020-2021 Core Playwright with InterAct Theatre Company, and a 2020 Leeway Foundation Arts and Change Grantee. Born and raised in South Jersey, they hold a BA in Sociology from Princeton University. Keep up with their adventures at briyanaclarel.com and @briyanaclarel.

Katrina Shobe

(DG) Jam Co-Curator 2020-2021

Katrina Shobe is a Philly based theatre artist and teacher. Most recently she directed Egoli at EgoPo co-produced by Theatre in the X. Katrina has directed in the BridgePHL festival (AGAIN; Don't Wanna Dance With Ghost) and has been the AD for Theatre Exile (Buzzer; Really) Theatre in the X (Running Numbers) and AMH Production (Cotton and Gold). Katrina is passionate about telling stories that are often untold or overlooked. She finds joy in teaching and learning whether it be through theatre or in the classroom. There is always room to learn more and share more.

(DG) Board of Directors

Benjamin Smallen, Chair
Nicole Miller Marks, Vice Chair
Prashant Rushi, Secretary
Thomas Snyder, Treasurer
Jill Harrison
Jerrell L. Henderson
Lisa M. Meyer
Amina Robinson