Accessibility. Play. Perspective.
Embracing the weird in the wonderful, charming in the terrifying, and queer in the classic…
Jess Yates is a midwestern director who invites audiences and collaborators to play with multidimensional perspectives in accessible theatre and new work development.
2025: The Root Beer Lady remount at the History Theatre, The Book Club Play at Lakeshore Players Theatre, Naked Tuesdays at Renaissance Theaterworks, Academonic at Mixed Blood Theatre as part of MN Fringe Festival, Red at Lakeshore Players Theatre, Skylight with Wild Set Theatre Collective, and assistant directed Rollicking at the History Theatre.
2026: Alex Church’s Lion’s Tooth - Melancholics Anonymous’ new play series & beyond, Dan Washelesky’s Hell-Burnt - Bramble Theatre’s festival of unfinished works, The Root Beer Lady remount at History Theatre, Overdressed Duo’s Tosca at The Hive, and more to come.
Jess is proud to be an Associate Member of SDC.
Associations:
(Minnesota) History Theatre, Children’s Theater Company, Mixed Blood Theatre, Yellow Tree Theatre, Theater Mu, Lakeshore Players Theatre, Collide Theatrical Dance Company, Wild Set Theatre Collective, Melancholics Anonymous, The Hive Collaborative, Emerging Professionals Ensemble, Stages Theater Company, MN Fringe Festival, Sod House Theater, Sheldon Theater.
(Elsewhere) Trinity Repertory Company, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, National Queer Theater, Renaissance Theaterworks, Bramble Theatre Company, American Alliance for Theatre & Education, Lime Arts Productions, #1MPF One Minute Play Festival, NYU’s Broke People Play Festival, Make/Shift Theatre.