Director | Gender Consultant | Theatre Artist
SHIRA HELENA GITLIN
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ABOUT
Shira Helena Gitlin (they/them) is a director, deviser, dramaturg, gender consultant, and musical theatre enthusiast. Shira's primary goal as an artist is to create and participate in collaborative, positive environments that emphasize identity, intersectionality, and creativity. As a director, Shira is drawn to musical theatre, plays with music, and pretty much any other art form that involves sound or music - particularly rock, folk, and bluegrass! They are interested in pushing musical theatre to new limits and crafting new works that showcase LGBTQIA+ stories.
Shira’s directorial debut was a production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Hampshire College—the school’s first musical in 10 years! The show was well-received and paved the way for future musical theatre studies within the college. Following this, Shira was hired to direct Shrek the Musical at Mohawk Trails Regional School, a combined middle and high school located in rural Massachusetts.
Since March of 2020, Shira has directed multiple short plays using Zoom. They participated in the 2020 Boston Theatre Marathon and the Playwright Platform's 48th Festival of New Plays. Shira's favorite project during this time was directing the second episode of Camp Strangewood, an anthology series about a haunted summer camp produced by Sparkhaven Theatre.
Shira has held trans training workshops for Dramatists Guild, Directors Lab North, and various theatres across the United States. They are also a part of StageSource's Gender Explosion Initiative. They are currently gender consulting for two new musicals, Psyche and Millennials are Killing Musicals.
Upcoming: For The Fish at Moonbox Theatre in Boston, MA.
When they're not doing theatre, Shira can be found playing the banjo, doing arts & crafts, running around in the woods, and plane spotting.
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BA in Directing with an emphasis on Musical Theatre, Hampshire College
Graduate of the Arden Professional Apprenticeship Class 26
Proud member of Ring of Keys and Director's Gathering
Shira uses they/them/theirs pronouns.
DIRECTING
FOR THE FISH
Moonbox Productions: Boston New Works Festival
June 2022
PRECIOUS STUFF
Boston Theatre Marathon XXIV
May 2022
Written by Maia Cataldo. Performed by Park Demos and Emily Eldridge-Ingram
ORGANIC
NWTF's Occupy the Stage
February 2022
Written by Jenna Jane. Performed by Gael Schaefer and Shakira Searle.
THE VIOLET ROOM
7 Rooms: The Masque of the Red Death
July 2021
Written by Sari Boren. Performed by Jo Michael Rezes and Blair Nodelman.
EVERY CREEPING THING
Playwright Platform's 49th Festival of New Plays
June 2021
Written by David Beardsley. Performed by
Dave DiLillo, Eric Skoglund, Natajia Sconiers, Carly Watson, and Ines De La Cruz.
WHERE THE FIREWORKS COME FROM
Boston Theatre Marathon XXIII: Zoom Edition
May 2021
Written by Michael Pisaturo. Performed by Nathan Malin and Sam Warton.
THIS SUCKS!
Homesick Play Project
December 2020
TALES FROM CAMP STRANGEWOOD
Episode Two: Mister Champagne
Sparkhaven Theatre
July 2020
Written by James La Bella. Performed by Grace Trapnell, James Wechsler, Jo Michael Rezes, Michael A. Rosegrant, and Santiago MacLean.
LOST SEASON
Playwright Platform's 48th Festival of New Plays
June 2020
Written by David Beardsley. Performed by Shelley Brown, Madeleine Maret, and Kayla Gitlin. Butterfly creator: Emily Gitlin.
DEEP BLUE
Boston Theater Marathon XXII: Zoom Edition
April 2020
Written by Alex Moon. Performed by Dev Blair, Christina Mei Chen, and Julia Labuski
SHREK THE MUSICAL
Mohawk Trail Regional School
March 2017
Music Direction: Amy Crawford-Roberts
Sound/Lighting: Sam Whitney
THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Hampshire College Theatre
December 2016
Music Direction: Maddie Williams
Lighting Design: Dani Aldrich
Set: Nancy Michaud
Pandemonium
FOLLOW: A WALK IN THE WOODS
Amherst College Theatre
May 2016
Devised with Denzel Wood, Benjamin Kissinger, and Naajia Muhammad
ASSISTANT DIRECTING
THE PINK UNICORN
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
SpeakEasy Stage Company
March 2021
Directed by Bevin O'Gara. Designed by Ari Herzig.
RECONFIGURED
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/STAGE MANAGER
Honest Accomplice Theatre
August 2017
Co-Directed by Maggie Keenan-Bolger and Rachel Sullivan
48 NORTH
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/SOUND DESIGNER
Hampshire College Theatre
April 2017
Directed and designed by Dani Aldrich
TRAININGS
In addition to directing, Shira is a freelance dramaturg and educator. Shira is available to act as a dramaturg or consultant on productions both locally and virtually.
Shira has held Transgender Identity Training workshops for Directors Lab North, SpeakEasy Stage Company, The Hepatitis C Mentorship Support Group, Trader Joe's, and individual theatre makers across the United States.
If you would like to hire Shira to lead a training for your organization, use the contact form below or send an email to Shira directly. Rates are sliding scale.
Upcoming Workshops:
GENERAL THEATRE ARTISTS:
Wednesday, April 20th, 7pm EST
Saturday, April 30th, 2pm EST
DIRECTORS/PRODUCERS:
Monday, April 25th, 7pm EST
PLAYWRIGHTS:
Tuesday, May 10th, 7pm EST
GET IN TOUCH
Full professional resume available upon request. To get in touch, please fill out this form or email shirahelenagitlin [at] gmail.com directly.
INSPIRATIONS
"I move through the fear because it doesn't strike me that there is another option."