Director | Gender Consultant | Theatre Artist
SHIRA HELENA GITLIN
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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 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 transgender inclusion 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 Gender Explosion, 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.
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 gender consultant, dramaturg, and educator. Shira is available to act as a dramaturg or consultant on productions both locally and virtually.
You can hire Shira to:
Assist with casting
Be an authenticity reader for your play
Serve as the gender consultant on your production
Assist with your season selection, language, or marketing materials
Run a training for your organization
...and more!
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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.
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."