Hometown: Manhattan
Education: Professional Children's School - skipped that whole college/grad school thing. :)
Favorite Credits: Favorite play I've ever done is The Eccentricities of a Nightingale by Tennessee Williams. The type of play that changes your life. It confirmed for me that I wanted to be a director.
Why theater?: It's always been the theater for me (and my whole family). It's in the blood as they say.
Tell us about The Gravedigger’s Lullaby: It's a really beautiful and timeless play about struggling against something that's bigger than yourself - and about knowing when to fight for something and when to surrender.
What inspired you to direct The Gravedigger’s Lullaby?: I wanted to work with Jeff Talbott and was excited to be helming TACT's very first new play!
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I love all kinds of theater but I particularly like to watch stuff that isn't necessarily something I would do.
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Gosh, too many people to mention. I like who I'm working with at the moment an awful lot.
What show have you recommended to your friends?: Well, Hamilton of course (my seven year old just saw it and it blew her mind) but honestly just go see a play!
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Hmmm? What a funny/cool question. Maura Tierney? Patricia Arquette? Viola Davis? Maybe called "Little Girl Wanted" - which was the title of the ad I answered in Backstage, that started my life in the theater when I was seven.
If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: OOOH! Streetcar? I would have liked to have seen Tobacco Road! Prepping Oklahoma! now so I'd love to go back and see that! Too many to name...I think my head just exploded.
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Jeff Talbott's German chocolate cupcakes. He bakes almost as good as he writes.
If you weren’t working in theater, you would be _____?: Making documentary films.
What’s up next?: Heading to Denver Center to do The Secret Garden then onto to Goodspeed Opera House to do Oklahoma!.
For more on Jenn, visit www.jennthompsondirector.com. For more on The Gravedigger's Lullaby, visit http://tactnyc.org/the-gravediggers-lullaby/
