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Jessica Bashline

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Jessica is the Artistic Director and co-founder of ?Strange Sun Theater?, a theater company in New York City dedicated to creating magical new theater that ignites in audiences and artists, the power of possibility. In addition, she is an adjunct professor at NYU, teaching acting and musical theater scene study in the Steinhardt Vocal Performance program. She was the Consulting Artistic Director of the Sheen Center, when it opened in downtown Manhattan, curating a full season for 2 theaters. Before that she served as the Artistic Director of Wingspan Arts, an arts education company in New York City.

Jessica works primarily as a freelance theater director, her favorite credits include; Loving Repeating (NYC Premiere), Life of the Party (NYU-Premiere Production of Larry O’Keefe & Nell Benjamin’s new musical), at NYU Steinhardt Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, with Strange Sun Closer Than You Think (World Premiere), The Drowning Girls (NYC Premiere).

As a playwright Jessica has written two full length pieces. Wickedest Woman; The story of Ann Lohman, midwife and abortionist in the 1800’s in NYC. Finalist, Scrap Mettle Arts Playwrights Festival, as well as readings and development workshops in NY and Vermont and is slated for more work in January 2018. Garden of Memories the story of siblings dealing with the loss of their mother and the acceptance of their past. Runner Up W. Keith Hedrick Award at HRC Showcase Theater and Semi-Finalist, Trustus New Playwrights Festival 2016.

In addition to her work as a director and playwright, Jessica is an accomplished acting coach, focusing primarily on audition coaching and musical theater work. She also works with people in all professions to incorporate theater techniques into their daily lives, as a means of self-expression and empowerment.

?Jessica has a BFA in Acting from Boston University and an MFA from Goddard College. Her practical focus has been on theater creation, primarily directing. Her research focuses on both feminist theater and progressive pedagogical approaches to teaching acting and directing; on both the university and high school levels.

Jessica Bashline News


LENI'S LAST LAMENT, Jackie Smook & More Receive Awards at United Solo Spring 2023 Gala


This year, the Festival launched an all-new Spring Season to expand United Solo’s solo performances at Theatre Row in New York City ahead of its Fall 2023 Festival.

United Solo to Present ANN AND ME: Or THE BIG BAD ABORTION PLAY in March


United Solo Theater Festival will present the premiere production of 'Ann and Me: or The Big Bad Abortion Play', a solo play written and performed by Jessica Bashline and directed by Margaret M. Ledford on March 15, 2023 at 8:30PM at Theater Row Studios.

New Plays and Panel Discussions to Highlight Syracuse Stage's COLD READ FESTIVAL


Plays by Rogelio Martinez, Ty Defoe, Jessica Bashline and Craig Thornton highlight Syracuse Stage’s 2022/2023 Cold Read Festival of New Plays, Oct. 18 – 23.

TOYS 101 Goes Online With Strange Sun Theater's Explorations: Digital Theatre Festival


The piece rounds out an all-free, all-online line-up that includes Jacqueline Goldfinger's Click: Virtual Edition and Maria Irene Fornes' Fefu and Her Friends. Performed previously in NYC's So-Fi Festival and then again on Facebook Live, TOYS 101 is part class, part playdate, and part personal exploration.

BWW Exclusive: Theater Critic Matt Windman Returns to French Woods for All-Female 1776


Two years ago, I revisited French Woods Festival of the Arts (which I attended from 1999 to 2002 as a camper/teen actor and then as an assistant director/stage manager) and BroadwayWorld kindly published an article I wrote about the experience. In light of my responsibilities at work (attorney by day, theater critic by night) and at home (including a hyperactive toddler and commuting daily between NY and NJ), I was not planning on visiting again this past summer, but that instantly changed when I learned that the camp was planning on presenting 1776 for the first time in nearly two decades - and with an all-female cast.

NYU Steinhardt Presents GYPSY September 19-23


NYU Steinhardt's Vocal Performance program will present the classic musical Gypsy, September 19a?"23. The renowned show business tale features a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Acting faculty member Jessica Bashline will direct NYU's production. 

Stomping Ground Theatre Co. Presents THIS VERY MOMENT, A Musical Revue By Brett Kristofferson


Stomping Ground Theatre Co., based in New York, will be making its St. Louis stage debut with a new musical revue with music and lyrics by Brett Kristofferson, entitled THIS VERY MOMEMT! The show will be presented August 2nd and 3rd at 8:00pm at Fontbonne University Fine Arts Theatre, 6800 Wydown Boulevard.

Strange Sun Theater Presents The World Premiere Of WICKEDEST WOMAN


Strange Sun Theater will present Jessica Bashline's new play, WICKEDEST WOMAN, at the WP Theater on the Upper West Side, January 19 - February 2. The World Premiere is directed by Melissa Crespo with Opening Night slated for January 19. The limited run features a gender bending cast of 7 actors who have numerous Broadway and Off-Broadway credits.

Photo Flash: Photo Flash: Strange Sun Theater's WICKEDEST WOMAN


Strange Sun Theater's production of WICKEDEST WOMAN by Jessica Bashline, opened at the WP Theater on Saturday, January 19. The World Premiere continues until February 2 and is directed by Melissa Crespo. 

Strange Sun Theater Presents The World Premiere Of WICKEDEST WOMAN


Strange Sun Theater will present Jessica Bashline's new play, WICKEDEST WOMAN, at the WP Theater on the Upper West Side, January 19 - February 2. The World Premiere is directed by Melissa Crespo with Opening Night slated for January 19. The limited run features a gender bending cast of 7 actors who have numerous Broadway and Off-Broadway credits.

Strange Sun Theater Announces Post Show Talkbacks For WICKEDEST WOMAN


Strange Sun Theater is pleased to announce the post show talkback schedule for their new production of WICKEDEST WOMAN by Jessica Bashline. The talkbacks will focus on reproductive rights, women's health and help contextualize Ann Trow Lohman's life. Guests from various organizations including Choices Women's Medical Center, The New York Historical Society, Physicians for Reproductive Health, among others, will take part in the discussions.

Strange Sun Theater Presents The World Premiere Of WICKEDEST WOMAN


Strange Sun Theater will present Jessica Bashline's new play, WICKEDEST WOMAN, at the WP Theater on the Upper West Side, January 19 - February 2. The World Premiere is directed by Melissa Crespo with Opening Night slated for January 19. The limited run features a gender bending cast of 7 actors who have numerous Broadway and Off-Broadway credits.

Strange Sun Theater's WICKEDEST WOMAN Finds Full Cast


CASTING IS COMPLETE for the World Premiere of WICKEDEST WOMAN by Jessica Bashline directed by Melissa Crespo.

Mission To (dit)Mars Presents WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE THIS


Mission to (dit)Mars, a theatre arts collective serving Queens artists, is thrilled to continue the Launch Pad reading series with WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE THIS, a new play by Jonathan Alexandratos and directed by Jessica Bashline. This free reading will be performed on Monday, November 19th at 7pm at The Broom Tree Theatre located at 23-35 Broadway in Astoria, NY.

Photo Flash: First Look at OCCASION FOR SIN at Planet Connections


A Jewish saint battles the Spanish Inquisition over the conquest of Peru in the new musical Occasion for Sin, with script and lyrics by Katherine Brann Fredricks, based on the writings of Teresa of Avila and Garcilaso de la Vega, and music by three-time Grammy-winner, Oriente Lopez. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Oriente Lopez's New Musical OCCASION FOR SIN Begins Tonight at Planet Connections


A Jewish saint battles the Spanish Inquisition over the conquest of Peru in the new musical Occasion for Sin by Grammy Award winning composer Oriente Lopez.

Photo Flash: Singing and Dancing and Fencing, Oh My!


A Jewish saint battles the Spanish Inquisition over the conquest of Peru in the new musical Occasion for Sin by Grammy Award winning composer Oriente Lopez, coming to The 2017 Planet Connection Theatre Festivity, which runs June 12 - July 9 at The Clemente, Flamboyan Theatre, 107 Suffolk Street, NYC.

Oriente Lopez's New Musical OCCASION FOR SIN to Play Planet Connections


A Jewish saint battles the Spanish Inquisition over the conquest of Peru in the new musical Occasion for Sin by Grammy Award winning composer Oriente Lopez.

The Drama League Announces the 2017 Fellowship Recipients of the Directors Project


The Drama League (Executive Artistic Director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks) has announced the eleven exceptional stage directors who have been selected as the 2017 Directing Fellows of The Drama League Directors Project.

NYU Steinhardt to Stage LIFE OF THE PARTY


NYU Steinhardt's Program in Vocal Performance will present the musical Life of the Party from March 23-26, 2017. The show features book, lyrics, and music by Nell Benjamin and Laurence O'Keefe, the music and lyrics team behind the award-winning Broadway musical Legally Blonde. Jessica Bashline directs.

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