Director | Gender Consultant | Theatre Artist

SHIRA HELENA GITLIN

ABOUT

Shira Helena Gitlin (they/them) is a trans nonbinary 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 2SLGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent stories.

Shira has directed for the National Women's Theatre Festival, Moonbox Productions, Flat Earth Theatre, Sparkhaven Theatre, Playwrights’ Platform, the Boston Theatre Marathon and more. Shira is a graduate of the Arden Professional Apprentice Class 26, was an Artistic Fellow at SpeakEasy Stage Company, and is an alumni of Directors Lab North in Toronto, Canada. They have a BA from Hampshire College in directing with an emphasis on musical theatre studies.

Shira also works as a gender consultant and 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:
Assistant directing Eat Your Young at Boston Playwrights' Theatre in Boston, MA. Oct 2022
Directing Indecent for Concord Players in Concord, MA. Feb 2023

Assistant directing The Prom at SpeakEasy Stage Company in Boston, MA. May 2023

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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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

Written by Surrey Houlker, Performed by Mal Malme, Sophie Pels, and V. Brancazio. Lights by Sam Biondolillo. Props by Arielle Greenspan. Scenic design by Janie Howland, Jordan Barnett, and Sarabeth Spector.

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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

CONSULTING & WORKSHOPS

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 Inclusion workshops for Dramatists Guild, National Women's Theatre Festival, 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:

Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Identities in Theatre | Momentum Stage
August 8, 2022 7-8:30pm EST

Learn the basics of transgender identity and what it means to work with transgender and gender nonconforming individuals in theatre

Trans 101 | WTF
October 19th, 2022 7:30-9pm EST
Basics of understanding trans identity including history, culture, and pronouns

Best Practices | WTF
October 26th, 2022 7:30-9pm EST
Best practices for trans inclusion in theatrical spaces

Trans Identity, Theatre, and Social Consciousness | WTF
November 2, 2022 7:30-9 EST
Awareness of trans inclusion into active allyship