biography

Shira Helena Gitlin (they/them/ze/zir) is a trans nonbinary director, gender consultant, dramaturg, intimacy director, and musical theatre enthusiast based in Boston, MA. Shira centers their artistic work around three ‘A’s: agency, accessibility, and authenticity. 

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Shira is interested in pushing the boundaries of music(al) theatre and crafting new works that showcase queer, transgender, and neurodivergent histories, fantasies, and realities. Their work is often signified by rich, colorful aural and visual aesthetics, and maybe a little bit of human magic. They are drawn to contemporary pieces and new work, but also have a deep respect and interest in revisiting and modernizing classic pieces of the dramatic and musical theatre canon. In their work, you might see ghosts, memories, found families, love stories, wind chimes, stars, or trees. For a full list of interests, visit their inspiration page. 

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In their artistic work, Shira has collaborated with New Repertory Theatre, Reagle Music Theatre, Boston Theater Company, Lyric Stage Company, SpeakEasy Stage Company, Central Square Theater, Moonbox Productions, Fresh Ink Theatre, Boston Playwrights' Theatre, The Burlington Players, The Concord Players, The Walpole Footlighters, Flat Earth Theatre, Sparkhaven Theatre, Playwrights’ Platform, National Women's Theatre Festival, The Boston Theatre Marathon and more.

Shira is the Assistant Event Producer for the Boston Area Theatre Auditions (BATA). They are a graduate of the Arden Professional Apprentice Class 26, were an Artistic Fellow at SpeakEasy Stage Company, and are an alumni of Directors Lab North in Toronto, Canada. They were also a Directing Observer for the National Alliance of Musical Theatre Festival in 2021. They have a BA from Hampshire College in directing with an emphasis on musical theatre studies and will be joining the MFA Directing program at Boston University in Fall 2025. 

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Shira also works as an intimacy director and gender consultant. They have held Transgender Inclusion workshops for various theatres, universities, and institutions across the United States and Canada. They are a part of the Gender Explosion Initiative and have trained with Theatrical Intimacy Education. 

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When they're not doing theatre, Shira can be found running around in the woods with their spouse (Colin) and dog (Olive), playing the banjo, ice skating, using too many exclamation points, reading queer YA novels, doing arts & crafts, and plane spotting. They are an aries sun, capricorn moon, libra rising, and glitter fanatic. 

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Proud member of Gender Explosion, Ring of Keys, Director's Gathering
Associate member of SDC. 
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Shira uses they/them pronouns (or ze/zir if you're feeling adventurous)

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Headshots by Mim Wu.