Kristin Schoenback

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

I am a theatre director and educator, currently residing in Chicago, IL. I hold a Masters of Fine Arts degree from the professional director training program at Illinois State University, a Bachelors of Arts in theatre from Concordia University, Chicago, and am an Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Union.

Theatre can shift our cultural and social paradigms.

I have an interest in new work, a passion for stories that are socially conscious and desire for inclusion and representation that matches the diversity of our world. My personal mission is to expand the boarders of theatre, bridge the gap between artists and audiences, and build a dialogue with our community.

As an artist, I look for ways performance speaks directly to our moment, conscious of the social impact theatre can have on its audiences. I eagerly keep theatre in partnership with its community, holding empathy at the root of my work. Through exploring the social significance of our stories, it is my duty to ignite a passion in artists to activate our work towards a socially conscious purpose. I am drawn to stories that lend themselves to the use of ensemble, actively building the world of the play by fusing various artistic mediums, letting music and movement work in tandem with the text to deepen the story. With my work I seek to understand new perspectives, foster dialogue, and incite change.

Credits

DIRECTOR: New Work Festival/Valiant Theatre/February 2019
DIRECTOR: Machinal/Lake Forest College/November 2019
DIRECTOR: Still Dance the Stars/Illinois State University/2019
DIRECTOR: The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity/Illinois State University/2019
DIRECTOR: Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time/Illinois State University/2019
DIRECOTR: Romeo & Juliet, abridged/Illinois Shakespeare Festival/2019
DIRECTOR: Henry 1, 2, 3, 4, 5/Illinois Shakespeare Festival/2019
DIRECTOR: Mr. Burns, a post-electric play/Illinois State University/2018
DIRECTOR: A Midsummer Night's Dream, abridged/Illinois Shakespeare Festival/2018
DIRECTOR: Oedipus (Ellen McLaughlin)/Illinois State University/2017
DIRECTOR: The Comedy of Errors, abridged/Illinois Shakespeare Festival/2017
DIRECTOR: The Baltimore Waltz/Illinois State University/2017
DIRECTOR: Tape/Illinois State University/2016
DIRECTOR: Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead/Cats Cradle Theatre/2016
DIRECTOR: Roustabout: The Great Circus Train Wreck!/The Collective/2016
DIRECTOR: The Coat Check/Dandelion Theatre/2015
DIRECTOR: Waiting for Godot/Madison Street Theatre/2014

ASST DIR: American Junkie/Book-It Repertory/2019
ASST DIR: Henry the Fifth/Illinois Shakespeare Festival/2018
ASST DIR: A Midsummer Night's Dream/Illinois Shakespeare Festival/2017
ASST DIR: New Playwright's Festival/Chicago Dramatists/2016
ASST DIR: In the Belly of the Whale/Chicago Dramatists/2016
ASST DIR: Romeo & Juliet/The Collective/2013

Training

Masters of Fine Arts, Professional Directing Training Program, Illinois State University, 2019

Bachelors of Arts, Theatre, Concordia University, 2013

Kennedy Center, American College Theatre Festival (National Conference) 2018