Jeff Christian
direction for the stage
With credits ranging from Shakespeare to Irish playwrights to new work, I bring a strong sense of purpose and vision to every production – and derive a tremendous amount of satisfaction from my collaboration with the actors and production team. Drawing on the combined experience of working as an actor, an artistic director, a writer, a producer and an outside freelance director, I deeply appreciate the value that preparation, passion, collaboration and determination play in sharing our stories in production. Regardless of the budget or the venue, every production affords us an opportunity to share our thoughts, experiences and passion with an audience – giving this ephemeral form a lasting impact. Please browse the gallery and click the images for a representative look at the productions I’ve been proud to help bring to life.
Shining City
The Plough and the Stars
The Skin of Our Teeth
Romeo & Juliet
A Whistle in the Dark
Mojo Mickybo
Love’s Labours Lost
Kill Me
Driving Miss Daisy
Production History
The Two Gentlewomen of Verona| Lakeside Shakespeare Theatre
Mojo Mickybo | Irish Theatre of Chicago and The Davis Theater
Mojo Mickybo | Irish Theatre of Chicago and The University of Notre Dame Debartolo Center
From the Silver Screen to the Black Box| Chicago College of the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University
RU Serious? (original sketch comedy show)| Chicago College of the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University
Middletown | Chicago College of the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University
The Rivals | Lakeside Shakespeare Theatre
The Plough and the Stars | Chicago College of the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University
Shining City | Irish Theatre of Chicago
Romeo & Juliet | Lakeside Shakespeare Theatre
Kill Me (premiere) | Wild Claw Theatre
As You Like It | Lakeside Shakespeare Theatre
The Skin of Our Teeth | The Artistic Home
Mojo Mickybo | Seanachai Theatre Company
Love’s Labours Lost | Lakeside Shakespeare Theatre
Our Father | Seanachai Theatre Company
According to Mark (premiere) | Original/Touring Production
A Whistle in the Dark | Seanachai Theatre Company
The Two Gentlemen of Verona | Lakeside Shakespeare Theatre
Proof | New American Theater
A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Lakeside Shakespeare Theatre
Driving Miss Daisy | New American Theater
50 Minute Hamlet (also adaptor/multiple touring casts over 20 years) | The Shakespeare Project of Chicago
Sister Bernie’s Bingo Bash | Regional Touring Company
Land of the Free (premiere) | The Artistic Home
Angels in America: I & II+# (co-director) | The Journeymen
Crate Expectations (premiere/co-writer) | Chicago Dramatists/Big Belly
Singer and Saw* (premiere) | Factory/Actors Gym/NYC cabarets
A Tribute to Offenbach (premiere) | Chicago Cultural Center
Cruise Control (premiere) | The Artistic Home
A Girl in Every Town (premiere) | Chapel Perilous
Mickey’s Teeth | Bailiwick Festival
A New Day | Act Now Productions
Act Now Improv | Regional Touring Company
ARK Improvisational Theatre | Regional Touring Company
+Joseph Jefferson Awards: Director/Production
#After Dark Award: Outstanding Production
*Comedy Festival winner
Staged Theatrical Readings
The Cricket on the Hearth (also adaptor) | The Shakespeare Project of Chicago
Cymbeline (also adaptor) | The Shakespeare Project of Chicago
The Judge’s House | Stone Hearth Theatre Company
The Two Gentlemen of Verona | The Shakespeare Project of Chicago
Twelfth Night | The Shakespeare Project of Chicago
The Taming of the Shrew | The Shakespeare Project of Chicago
Mary Stuart | The Shakespeare Project of Chicago
Paradise Lost (also script consultant) | Milton Project/Shakespeare Project
A Study in Scarlet | WildClaw Theatre
The Rivals | The Shakespeare Project of Chicago
A Midsummer Night’s Dream | The Shakespeare Project of Chicago
Henry VIII (also adaptor) | The Shakespeare Project of Chicago
The Comedy of Errors (gender swapped adaptor) | The Shakespeare Project of Chicago
In Medea Res (also adaptor) | The Shakespeare Project of Chicago
As You Like It | The Shakespeare Project of Chicago
Henry VI (also adaptor) | The Shakespeare Project of Chicago
The Constant Wife | The Shakespeare Project of Chicago
Love’s Labours Lost | The Shakespeare Project of Chicago
The Friend | WildClaw Theatre Deathscribe at The Music Box
Faust (also adaptor) | The Shakespeare Project of Chicago
The Parvenu (also adaptor) | The Shakespeare Project of Chicago
Ghosts (also adaptor) | The Shakespeare Project of Chicago
King Lear | The Shakespeare Project of Chicago
A Walk in the Woods | Aspect Theatre/The Peace Museum
Cricket on the Hearth (also adaptor) | The Shakespeare Project of Chicago
Six Postcards | Seanachai Amarach Festival
Medea | Aspect Theatre
Ten Minute Plays: 78 & Existential Love | Chicago Dramatists
Monitor | The 24 Hour Play Project