ACTOR
Getting to Know Jess
Jessica Natalie Smith is an actor, director, and movement desigener working out of New York City. She is a proud graduate of North Carolina A&T State University’s BFA Acting program as well as Brown University’s MFA program in Acting and Directing. Jessica is an inaugural recipient of the Drama League's Irene Gandy Stage Directing Assistantship, the Inaugural Choreography Fellow at The Hangar Theatre, the 2022 Lillian Chason Directing Fellow at UNC Chapel Hill, a 2020-2021 Teaching Apprentice at Brown University, and a 24 Hour Plays alum.At the heart of Jessica’s craft is a deep belief in reunifying humanity by uplifting and centering narratives from the fringes of society. Much of her work focuses on illuminating the rich life experiences within the Africna diaspora. This passion has led to a wide range of artistic opportunities, transcending genre and offering the chance to engage with inspiring artists in dynamic, collaborative, and often healing creative spaces. Some of those projects include: Directing: Every Tongue Confess by Marcus Gardley (Yale University Theatre), TEETH (Jamal Jones Dance Company), seven methods of killing kylie jenner by Jasmine Lee- Jones (Leeds Theatre), The Revolting Teens of Sherwood by Joe Faust and John Maclay (St.Ann’s School, Brooklyn). Acting: To Infinity and Beyonce (self-produced), Sojourners by Jonathan Norton (Raz Golden, Workshop at Alabama Shakespeare Theatre), Behold A Negress by Jacqueline Lawton (Tatyana-Marie Carlo, Everyman Theatre), Alien/Nation by Jen Silverman and Eric Berryman (Michael Arden, Williamstown Theatre Festival), Akira Kurosawa Explains His Movies and Yogurt by Julia Izumi (Aileen Wen mcGroddy, Writing is Live).For a more comprehensive look into Jessica’s work, please explore the rest of the website. Thank you for being here!
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