Jen%2520Directing%2520Hands_edited_edited.png

Jennifer Chang

Director/ Actor

I believe that stories cannot be bound by borders or pandemics and that

storytelling remains necessary in the face of challenges: to soothe spirits, teach lessons, and carry us forward in our humanity.

I am passionate about exploring the fault lines of opinions and creating bridges for conversation.

I am committed to anti-racist practices and am deeply curious about Who or What is an American? My aspirations and responsibilities do not exist in my API community and identity alone: out of many one – I believe that the complex history of the United States and all of its conflicted present is part of my storytelling lineage.

And... I love language and believe in the fundamental need for fun.

BIO

Jennifer 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 Directing 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. She is a founding member of Chalk Repertory Theatre, a site-responsive theatre company dedicated to exploring classical and new work, where she has served as Artistic Producing Director and continues to produce, direct, and act in numerous projects and serve on the Artistic Circle. Her work with the company has been honored with an Ovation Award, an LA Weekly Award and the Stage Scene LA award. Select directing credits include WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON by Min Kahng at South Coast Rep, 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 plays and has done so with Ashland New Plays Festival, Center Theatre Group, Boston Court, The Geffen Playhouse, the Chance Theatre, Echo Theatre Company, Circle X Theatre Company, EST-LA, Playwrights Arena, Chalk Rep, and East West Players. COVID affected projects included The TIME OF YOUR LIFE by William Saroyan at Antaeus Theatre Company. Other: 2020 APAFT Award Outstanding Direction, Alumnus Directors Lab West

She is currently on faculty at UCSD’s Department of Theatre and Dance and serves as Head of Undergraduate Acting. She teaches acting and directing as well as professional and business development, and can be found directing productions and the MFA showcase for the department. Recently, she was a Visiting Professor at Pomona College, teaching acting and directing and continues to teach in the conservatory at the East West Players. She has guest directed at USC, and was a guest artist, at Texas State University, San Marcos for the Black and Latino Playwrights Conference. She is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographer’s Society (SDC), Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), and Actor’s Equity Association (AEA). Ms. Chang received her M.F.A. from UCSD and her B.F.A with Honors, double majoring in Psychology, from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, having studied at the Experimental Theatre Wing and Playwrights Horizons. Upcoming: ON GOLD MOUNTAIN by Lisa See and Nathan Wang with LA OPERA.