Jennifer Chang

Jennifer Chang is a multi-disciplinary artist who is committed to anti-racist practices and diversifying storytelling aesthetics.    She won the 2019 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award in Direction for the LA Premiere of VIETGONE by Qui Nguyen at East West Players.  She was a 2018 Drama League New York Fellow, directing the world premiere of Mara Nelson-Greenberg's THE CLITORISH at the New Ohio Theatre in NYC and serving as the Assistant Director of the Broadway World Premiere of Theresa Rebeck's BERNHARDT/HAMLET starring Janet McTeer.  A  founding member of Chalk Repertory Theatre, a site-responsive theatre company dedicated to exploring classical and new work, her work with the company has been honored with an Ovation Award, an LA Weekly Award and a Stage Scene LA award.  Select directing credits include KING OF THE YEES by Lauren Yee at Signature Theatre DC, AMERICAN FAST by Kareem Fahmy at City Theatre (NNPN rolling world premiere), THE HEART SELLERS by Lloyd Suh (world premiere) at Milwaukee Rep, ON GOLD MOUNTAIN by Nathan Wang and Lisa See (LA Opera/ Huntington), EVERYBODY by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins at Antaeus Theatre Company, THE GREAT LEAP by Lauren Yee at Round House Theatre, UNDO THE SEA by Inda Craig-Galván with Primary Stages, HANNAH AND THE DREAD GAZEBO by Jiehae Park at The Fountain Theatre in association with EWP, DEATH AND COCKROACHES by Eric Reyes Loo for Chalk Rep, ANIMALS OUT OF PAPER by Rajiv Joseph at East West Players (LA Times Critics Pick), EDITH CAN SHOOT THINGS AND HIT THEM for Artists at Play (GLAAD Media Award, Stage Scene LA Award Best Director, Ovation Award Nominated) and OUR AMERICAN STORY and RESIDENCE ELSEWHERE (commissioned for the 75th Anniversary of Executive Order 9066) at the Japanese American National Museum. She loves developing new work and has done so at South Coast Rep (PPF), Williamstown Theatre Festival, Pasadena Playhouse, The Geffen Playhouse, The O'Neill National Playwrights Conference, New Harmony Project, Ashland New Plays Festival, Center Theatre Group, Boston Court, Theatre Mu, Play On!, Chance Theatre, Echo Theatre Company, Circle X Theatre Company, EST-LA, Chalk Repertory Theatre, PlayOn!, Artists at Play, East West Players, Sông Collective and others. 

Playwriting debut: THE DEVIL IS A LIE at Quantum Theatre directed by Kyle Haden.  She is currently writing and developing a musical with singer-songwriter Inara George and pianist/organist/composer Larry Goldings, and is in the Geffen Playhouse's 2023-2024 Writers Room writing a musical about beer.  She was the recipient of the 2022-2023 Beatrice Terry Residency for the Drama League for her play MATTER. 

She is an Associate Professor at UCLA's School of Theatre Film and TV where she teaches acting and directing. Other educational posts: Acting Faculty, UCSD, Visiting Professor and Guest Director at Pomona College, Guest Director at USC, Guest Artist at Texas State University, San Marcos for the Black and Latino Playwrights Conference. She was a member of the inaugural Drama League Director's Council,  Stage Directors and Choreographer’s Society (SDC), Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), and Actor’s Equity Association (AEA). Ms. Chang received her MFA from UCSD and her BFA, from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, (Experimental Theatre Wing and Playwrights Horizons). Recent: Zip Code Plays with Antaeus Theatre Company, Chalk Lines with Chalk Rep. 2020 APAFT Award Outstanding Director, Alumnus Directors Lab West, 2022 Classical Directing Fellow at The Old Globe Theatre, Finalist for the 2022 SDCF Fichandler Award.  Notable acting collaborations with La Jolla Playhouse, South Coast Rep, National Asian American Theatre Company, East West Players, and Mixed Blood Theatre.  More acting info at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0151728/ 

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