(She/Her/Hers)
Kristen is a leader, director, producer, educator, artist, change-maker and social entrepreneur who works at the intersection of arts and activism.
A dual Canadian/American citizen, Kristen is based in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, on the lands of the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribe of the Mohican Nation, where she regularly enjoys the many outdoor and cultural wonders.
Poised to take her next step as an artistic and civic leader, Kristen is excited about directing opportunities and senior leadership positions in arts and/or activism in both the United States and Canada.
Kristen is the co-founder of WAM Theatre and was Producing Artistic Director from 2010-2023. WAM creates theatre for gender equity, focusing on folks who identify as women and girls, and has a vision of theatre as philanthropy. In line with their philanthropic vision, during Kristen’s tenure, WAM donated $100,000 to 25 local and global organizations taking action for gender equity in areas such as girls education, teen pregnancy prevention, gender based violence, sexual trafficking awareness, midwife training, and more.
Her selected directing credits at WAM include What the Constitution Means to Me by Heidi Schreck (co-production with Berkshire Theatre Group), Ann by Holland Taylor, co-production with Dorset Theatre Festival), The Bakelite Masterpiece by Kate Cayley (with Berkshire Theatre Group), In Darfur by Winter Miller (New England Premiere) and Emilie by Lauren Gunderson (New England Premiere).
Kristen also directed What the Constitution Means to Me at Capital Repertory Theatre (Albany, NY) Ann at Arena Stage (Washington, D.C.) and Dallas Theatre Center, Disgraced by Ayad Acktar and I and You by Lauren Gunderson at Chester Theatre, The Whale by Samuel Hunter at Adirondack Theatre Festival, and the 10 Minute Play Festival at Barrington Stage Company. Kristen has also as been an assistant director at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival of Canada and the Huntington Theatre in Boston.
Kristen was a member of the 2013 Lincoln Center Director’s Lab and is a member of the Michael Langham Workshop for Classical Direction at the Stratford Festival of Canada.
She is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and Canadian Actors Equity Association.
As an educator, Kristen taught in the International School System at the International School of Brussels, where she taught middle and high school theatre arts, including IB Theatre. She has also been an artist in residence and guest artist at Queen’s University in Canada, as well as a course lecturer at Emerson College and Williams College in the Northeast of the US. Kristen was also a theatre artist for the International Schools Theatre Association which provided the opportunity to travel around the world and work with international artists and students.
She is also a panelist for The Roundtable, an award-winning, nationally recognized eclectic talk program on WAMC/Northeast Public Radio, a regional public radio network serving parts of seven northeastern states.
Kristen trained at Dalhousie University (BA), Queen’s University (BEd) and Emerson College (MA), where she received the presidential fellowship.
An artist, feminist and highly sensitive person, she values healthy practices like meditating and hiking, time affluence and social connection.
Production Photos by David Dashiell, Enrico Spada and various others
Headshots by Michael Nancollas at Handful Photography