Jessica Hanna
Director.
Theater Maker.
Maven.
Art is a reflection of humanity that leads to illumination for the audience.
This is what I strive for in my Art making. Creating space for revelation, inspiring empathy, sparking conversation that supports action to make change.
Currently…
A World Premiere at Skylight Theatre
Dean and Amanda are ready to start a family. Dean’s estranged mother has left her a secluded house in the woods where she and Amanda have decided to start the next chapter of their lives. But, their future begins to unravel when their new home is burgled by a mysterious hermit—a pop diva worshiping, hot Cheetos eating trickster—who haunts the forest. Hungry Ghost is a frighteningly funny meditation on identity and isolation, seeing and being seen, and the insatiable hunger in us all to be truly free.
Press for HUNGRY GHOST
Broadway World Interview: The Prolific Playwright Lisa Sanaye Dring Begins Her Southern California Domination with HUNGRY GHOST at the Skylight
LA Female Playwrights Initiative (LAFPI) Interview with Lisa Sanaye Dring and Jessica Hanna
Spectrum News Interview with Lisa Sanaye Dring and Tyree Marshall
Reviews for HUNGRY GHOST
“…easily one of the best Los Angeles plays of 2023…” - Edward Hong - The Nerds of Color
“The play is cleverly directed (by Jessica Hanna)…” - Laura Foti Cohen - Larchmont Buzz
“…a live wire act of fearless humor, grief, and existential dread. By turns, it is intoxicatingly bold, laugh-out-loud funny, unpredictable, outrageous and nervy. It's also quietly devastating and haunting. This is one you don't want to miss…The direction by Jessica Hanna is true perfection in every fresh, organic detail.” - Amanda Callas - Discover Hollywood Magazine
“…a suspenseful comedy with some psychological twists, leaving the audience with cathartic relief and a sense of hope.” - Albus Wang - United Proud Women
UPCOMING…
After a critically acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2022, Outside In Theatre is proud to present the West Coast run of
LOTTIE PLACHETT TOOK A HATCHET
in a co-production with Los Angeles LGBT Center.
Written by Justin Elizabeth Sayre, a fixture of the Downtown Cabaret Scene in New York, LOTTIE PLACHETT TOOK A HATCHET is a high-camp, high-energy, comedy whodunit, based on the infamous murder case of Lizzie Borden.
Featuring: Tom DeTrinis, Ryan Garcia, Tom Lenk, Justin Elizabeth Sayre and Kirsten Vangsness as LOTTIE.
Note: October 13 LOTTIE will be played by Lauren Lopez
Directed by Jessica Hanna
★★★★★
“A masterclass in comedic theatre…riotous high camp spectacle.”
“PERVERTED…the performances are excellent!”
Gonzo Magazine
"…puts the fun in familial dysfunction!”
Geek Chocolate UK
MORE INFO on the Official Lottie website
Queen's Pick
Art & Events that get this Queen excited!
Don't Miss…
And I HIGHLY recommend this podcast, I want everyone to listen to it. SEEING WHITE is a 14 part documentary series exploring whiteness in America - where it came from, what it means and how it works. Please take a listen when you can and pass it on when you're done. It's essential for Americans, particularly white Americans.
Check out this fantastic ARTICLE about SITI Company as the company comes to a graceful end. Very proud to be part of this process as the Chair of their Board of Directors.
Sibyl Wickersheimer and Maureen Weiss have curated & created this amazing book, SCENE SHIFT, of femme identifying Scenic Designers in conversation with each other. The conversations are frank and honest about design, career, living an artists life and how to create your own path as a scenic designer. Totally inspiring! Anyone making theatre needs to buy and gift this book to other theatre makers and, especially, theatre departments. Info is HERE
Keep an eye on THE KILROYS’ website for new ways to find more plays by women, trans & non-binary playwrights!