Gemma Whelan

Director

Gemma is very happy to return to Artists Rep, where she previously directed the world premiere of Ithaka by Andrea Stolowitz. She is the founding Artistic Director of Corrib Theatre. For Corrib she has directed Little Gem by Elaine Murphy, The Hen Night Epiphany by Jimmy Murphy, St. Nicholas by Conor McPherson, and A Night in November by Marie Jones (Drammy nomination for Direction, Drammy award for Solo Performance). In Portland she also directed Words that Burn by Cindy Williams Guttierez for Los Porteños at Milagro Theatre, and at Profile, CoHo, Boom Arts, and JAW. She was the founding Artistic Director of Wilde Irish Productions in the San Francisco Bay Area. For Wilde Irish: Michael Mac Liammoir’s The Importance of Being Oscar (Dean Goodman Award for Direction, Dean Goodman Award for Solo Performance), the U.S. premiere of Ariel by Marina Carr, Frank McGuinness’ Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me, Patricia Burke Brogan’s Eclipsed, and Samuel Beckett’s Endgame. Other favorites: Jane Chamber’s Last Summerat Bluefish Cove (Cable Car Nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Directing), and Eileen Atkin’s Vita and Virginia (Curve Magazine, Best Theatre of the Year Award), both at Theatre Rhinoceros; Tom Kempinski’s Duet for One (Zephyr Theatre); Caryl Churchill’s Top Girls (Phoenix Theatre) and Equus by Peter Schaffer (Little Theatre Nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Directing). Gemma received the Gerald Duff Award for Continuing Contribution to Theatre in the San Francisco Bay Area. Educational credits include Mills College (Chair, Drama Dept), UC Berkeley, American Conservatory Theatre, Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, Portland Actors Conservatory, Portland State University, Literary Arts (Delve), Pacific University, Willamette University, and Ngee Ann Polytechnic (Singapore). She is an award winning filmmaker and a published novelist. BA Trinity College Dublin, MA Theatre UC Berkeley, MFA Cinema, San Francisco State University. Member SDC (Stage Directors and Choreographers Society). www.gemmawhelan.com