Jess K Smith
jessksmith@gmail.com
jessksmith.com
artbarnfestival.com
View and Download Complete CV as PDF
Training and Education
MFA IN DIRECTING, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Graduated May 2011 (Faculty: Anne Bogart, Brian Kulick)
BA IN THEATRE ARTS (Honors)
BA IN PSYCHOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF PUGET SOUND
Graduated May 2005
SUMMER INTENSIVE, SITI COMPANY
Skidmore University
Summer 2007 (Graduate Credit)
EDUCATION INTERNSHIP, SEATTLE REPERTORY THEATRE
2005-2006 Season
OBSERVATION, DEJA DONNE DANCE COMPANY
A Glimpse of Hope (Italy), Summer 2009
Not Made For Flying (Slovenia), Summer 2011
OBSERVATION, PUNCHDRUNK
Sleep No More (New York), Winter 2010-2011
WORKSHOP, L’ÉCOLE INTERNATIONALE DE THÉATRE JACQUES LECOQ
Laughter In All Its Forms (Paris), Summer 2019
WORKSHOPS, THEATRICAL INTIMACY EDUCATION
Best Practices
Studio Techniques
Intimacy Choreography
Foundations in Race, Intimacy, and Consent
Race and Choreography
Working With Minors
WORKSHOP, INTIMACY COORDINATORS OF COLOR
Racial Trauma in the Rehearsal Room
WORKSHOPS, INTIMACY DIRECTORS AND COORDINATORS
Introduction to Intimacy Direction
Consent in Academia
Acting Intimacy Essentials
INTENSIVE, KRISTIN LINKLATER VOICE CENTRE
Introductory Linklater Voice Technique
Directing
HOUSE FIRE PROJECT
Kaytlin McIntyre | Strawberry Theatre Workshop
INDECENT
Paula Vogel | University of Puget Sound
MACHINAL
Sophie Treadwell | University of Puget Sound
HOUSE FIRE PROJECT
Kaytlin McIntyre | Vashon Repertory Theatre
YANKEE PICKNEY
J´´´éhan Òsanyìn| East Coast Tour (Cancelled due to COVID)
LUNGS
Duncan MacMillan | Cazart Productions
RHINOCEROS
Eugene Ionesco | Strawberry Theatre Workshop
ANTIGONE
Sophocles | University of Puget Sound
YOU ON THE MOORS NOW
Jaclyn Backhaus | University of Puget Sound
RENT
Jonathan Larson | University of Puget Sound
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Tennessee Williams | University of Puget Sound
COWBOYS #2
Sam Shepard | Profile Theatre
SHAKESPEARE IN THE ALLEY OR EVANESCENCE
Sam Shepard | Profile Theatre
IPHIGENIA 2.0
Charles Mee | University of Puget Sound
WAR OF THE WORLDS
Orson Welles | Middlesex County College
THE RIVERBOAT RUNS AGROUND:
Wesley K. Andrews | Middlesex County College
WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING
Andrew Bovell | Middlesex County College
UMBRELLA HOUSES
Emerie Snyder + Nick Lewis | Dixon Place
THE VISIT
Friedrich Durrenmatt | Middlesex County College
HARLOWE
Jennifer Lane | 3LD
MACHINAL
Sophie Treadwell | The Riverside Theatre
THE HARDLY WONDER
Jason Gray Platt | Playwrights Horizons Samuel French OOB
THE TRESTLE AT POPELICK CREEK
Naomi Wallace | University of Puget Sound
LOOP TRAIL
Sarah Ferrier | Seattle Repertory Theatre Teenspeak: Playwriting Project
AFTER
Elena Hartwell | Tacoma Actors Guild
THE SPECTACULAR DEMISE OF PLATONOV
Anton Chekhov, Adapted by Jess K Smith & Melissa D Brown | Columbia U
800 WORDS: THE TRANSMIGRATION OF PHILIP K. DICK
Victoria Stewart | Live Girls Theater
Original Work
WHAT GETS PASSED BETWEEN
Co-Creator | Instagram
A story about mothers, daughters, and what gets passed between. Told through image and text, released bit by bit, through an Instagram account. Created with Shelley Virginia.
LUMINARY LABYRINTH
Creator | First Night Tacoma
An interactive installation in the form of a labyrinth comprised of lights, designed for First Night Tacoma and in collaboration with NJoy Productions.
THE ARCHIVE
Director | ARTBARN + THING
An interactive installation of women’s stories developed through a Centrum Foundation Artist Residency for Seattle Theatre Group’s 2019 THING Festival at Fort Worden.
THE ARCHIVISTS
Director | ARTBARN
Original site-specific performance piece written by Melissa D. Brown about women – how we come together in crisis and perhaps how before that crisis we have the luxury or arrogance to be apart.
WE REMAIN PREPARED
Director | Georgetown Steam Plant + ARTBARN + the Satori Group
Original site-specific performance piece written by Melissa D. Brown inspired by the history and people of the Georgetown Steam Plant, dragons, and the Gilbreth system of efficiency.
THE CIRCLE: A GUIDEBOOK TO PEACE, HAPPINESS, AND TRUTH THROUGH PERSONAL GEOMETRY
Director | Byrdcliffe Arts Colony + ARTBARN
Original site-specific performance piece with live music and food written by Melissa D. Brown and Raven Burnett inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest and William Butler Yeats’ The Second Coming.
THIS IS A GHOST HOUSE
Director | Byrdcliffe Arts Colony + ARTBARN
Original site-specific performance piece written by Melissa D. Brown inspired by the notorious hoarders of Harlem, the Collyer brothers, the psychology of labyrinths, and the lengths we go to hide from ourselves
HOME STRETCH
Director | Byrdcliffe Arts Festival + ARTBARN
Original site-specific installation performance piece written by Melissa D. Brown inspired by Robert Frost’s poem, In the Home Stretch
PANDORA’S BOX PROJECT
Director/Creator | NY (NYU, Columbia University), Seattle (Cornish College of the Arts)
Theatrical piece developed from the writing of over 40 writers in response to reproductive justice in America
AKKORD I
Director/Collaborator | Miller Theatre
Collaboration with composer Zosha Di Castri, piano, flute, electronics, and sculpture
NOMADIC DREAM PROJECT
Collaborator/Performer | Prague Quadrennial
Site-specific piece based on levels of wakefulness
deCOMPOSITION
Director/Creator | NY (Columbia University), Seattle (Erickson Theater)
Theatre piece using science, folk music, and realism
AMPLIFIED
Director/Creator/Performer | On the Boards, Seattle
Dance-theatre piece for two performers
THE LADY LIBERTY BLUES
Director | Live Girls Theater, Seattle
Theatre piece using interrogation transcripts and shadow puppetry
LISTEN TO LOW
Co-Creator | Columbia University, NY
Sound installation and Flash Mob event
EDIT
Director/Choreographer | Columbia University, NY
Dance-theatre piece based on the life and work of Franz Kafka
AN EXERCISE IN LANGUAGE
Director/Choreographer | Columbia University, NY
Dance-theatre piece in response to Gertrude Stein
OZ: RE-IMAGINED
Director/Creator | Columbia University, NY
Modern adaptation of the Wizard of Oz
Leadership and Awards
ARTBARN
Founder and Co-Artistic Director (2012 – Present)
Director, Home Stretch (2013)
Director, This is a Ghost House (2014)
Director, The Circle (2015)
Co-Director, We Remain Prepared (2016)
Director, The Archivists (2017)
Director, The Archive (2019)
PACIFIC NORTHWEST THEATRICAL INTIMACY
Founding Member (2021 – Present)
Workshop Facilitator (2021)
STRAWBERRY THEATRE WORKSHOP
Think Tank Member (2014 – Present)
Book Club Member (2014 – Present)
NORTHWEST PLAYWRIGHTS ALLIANCE
Board Member (2007 – Present)
LAB (Multi-disciplinary training program for adult artists in Seattle)
Co-Founder and Teacher (2007-2008)
MACHA MONKEY PRODUCTIONS
Advisory Board Member (2007-2008)
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Guest Lecturer: The Structure and Form of Greek Tragedies, Chekhov and Interpretation, New Play Development, Theatre and The Body, Machinal and American Expressionism (2009-2011)
Instructor for Theatrical Collaboration Class (Summer 2009 – 2011)
Interdisciplinary Arts Council, Theatre Representative and Events Planner (2009-2010)
Theatre Departmental Fellowship (2008-2011)
UNIVERSITY OF PUGET SOUND
Kris Bartenan Award for Excellence in Research (2019)
Davis Teaching Award (2016)
Guest Lecturer: Dramaturgy and The Laramie Project, Collaboration and the Role of the Leader, Next Steps, Viewpoints (2005-2008)
Theatre Research Scholar (2004-2005)
Acting Pedagogy Fellowship (2002-2003)
Associate Director (2004)
Honors in Theatre Arts (2001-2005)
SEATTLE REPERTORY THEATRE
Education Associate (2007-2008)
National Arts Education Conference Coordinator (2006-2007)
Freelance Director (2006-2008)
Teaching Artist (2005-2008)
Published Work + Talks
Smith, Jess K., “Language Worth Repeating.” HowlRound Theater: Essays and Conversations from the First Ten Years, Edited and Published by HowlRound Theater Commons, 2022.
Smith, Jess K., “The Hero in the Human.” Deja Donne: Dance in Action. Italy: Editoria & Spettacola, 2012.
Smith, Jess K., “Women Directors: Language Worth Repeating.” Howlround.com, 2014.
“The Seeing Place”, TEDx McMinnville, 2019
Teaching
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | University of Puget Sound
Tenured Faculty (7/19 – Present)
Develop and teach Acting, Directing, and Theatre Survey courses
Direct Main stage productions
Mentor students in and outside of the classroom in their academic and professional pursuits
Assist in course and department assessment
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR | University of Puget Sound
Tenure-line Faculty (8/13 – 6/19)
Develop and teach Acting, Directing, and Theatre Survey courses
Direct Main stage productions
Mentor students in and outside of the classroom in their academic and professional pursuits
Assist in course and department assessment
INSTRUCTOR | Middlesex County College
Full Time Faculty (8/11 – 5/13)
Develop and teach new curriculum for nine college courses
Mentor students in and outside of the classroom in their academic and professional pursuits
Assist in course and program assessment for the Communications and Theatre programs
Develop new collaborative and inter-disciplinary curriculum and events with peer faculty
TEACHING ARTIST | Lincoln Center Theater
Open Stages (1/11 – Present)
Collaborate with NYC Public School teachers
Develop and teach a short-term residency centered around an LCT play
INSTRUCTOR | Columbia University Summer High School Program
Theatrical Collaboration (6/09 – 8/11)
Lead workshops in directing, playwriting, and acting
Mentor the collaborative process of developing a new play
Provide constructive criticism and lead feedback sessions with students and instructors
WORKSHOP LEADER | Erickson Theater, Seattle
Techniques for Ensemble-Generated Theatre (8/10)
Design and teach a one-day professional development workshop for adults
Lead exercises in Vocal and Physical storytelling, improvisation on a theme, and a group writing workshop
TEACHING ARTIST | Youth Theatre Northwest
Audition Techniques (1/08 – 3/08)
Guide teenagers through the process of choosing appropriate audition materials
Coach young actors through text analysis and audition techniques
GUEST LECTURER | University of Puget Sound
Dramaturgy (10/07)
Lead a workshop on Viewpoints with a class of college theatre students
Facilitate a discussion on the role of a leader in collaboration
LEAD TEACHER | The Center School
Design and Production (12/06 – 6/08)
Design and teach a semester-long design curriculum
Lead students through units on Set design, Costume design, Sound design and Publicity
Supervise students through the design and build of a professional production at Seattle Rep Theatre
LEAD TEACHER | Woodinville and Roosevelt High Schools
Playwriting Project (Winter, 06-08)
Design and teach a two-month Playwriting residency
Mentor five student playwrights through the process of writing a One Act play
Lead student actors through feedback workshops with a peer playwright
Direct a student-written one act play with student actors
CO-TEACHER | Denny Middle School
Arts Pathway (2/07- 5/07)
Design an after school Drama Program curriculum for seventh grade students
Lead students in the process of writing and producing an original play
Tour an original production to local Elementary Schools
CO-TEACHER | The Center School
Rehearsal and Performance (2/06-5/06)
Design a semester-long acting curriculum
Lead exercises and lessons based on acting techniques, movement, and character analysis
Assistant direct a full-length original play with a cast of thirty students