First Name
Jayne
Middle Name
Irene
Last Name
Wenger
City
Country
State or Province
CA
Job Title
Dramaturg Director
Biography
Jayne Wenger is a director and dramaturg whose exclusive focus is on original material. She is the past Artistic Director of the Bay Area Playwrights Foundation and was the Artistic Director of Women’s Ensemble in New York. She has developed the emerging work of acclaimed playwrights throughout the country including David Adjmi, Brenda Wong Aoki, Kate Bornstein, Nilo Cruz, Sara Felder ("June Bride" and "Shtick!" both tour the country), Julie Hebert, Dan Hoyle, Holly Hughes, Naomi Iizuka, Sherry Kramer, Brighde Mullins, Schatzie Schaefers, Laura Shamus, Deke Weaver, and The Residents. She has collaborated with Claire Chafee on numerous projects, including the original direction of the world premiere of "Why We Have a Body" at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco. Her work has been recognized with many awards. She works with playwrights individually on the development of new works and teaches workshops across the country and has taught at Artworkshop International in Assisi, Italy.

A major on-going project is the direction, dramaturgy, and co-production of "The Winter Bear", written by Alaska Writer Laureate Anne Hanley. This play has developed into The Winter Bear Project, a performing arts and social outreach initiative focused on teen suicide in rural Native communities. The play has been presented at The Alaskan Federation of Natives Conventions in Fairbanks and Anchorage and is currently touring into the Alaskan bush and along the Yukon River.

Recent projects include direction and dramaturgy for "The Lariat" a new opera by Lisa Scola Prosek, performed at The Thick House in San Francisco; Dramaturgy for Marga Gomez' "LOVEBIRDS" currently touring the country; "Wolf" by Deke Weaver, part of his on-going series "The Unreliable Bestiary". (unreliablebestiary.org); and "Rush At Everlasting" by Arlitia Jones, performed at Perseverance Theater in Juneau, Alaska. A few other projects of note include "Becoming Grace" by Naomi Newman, co-founder of A Traveling Jewish Theater; dramaturgy for Michelle Carter’s "How To Pray" for Crowded Fire; direction and dramaturgy for Claire Chafee’s "FULL/SELF" for The Playwrights Foundation; direction and dramaturgy for Anne Galjour’s "You Can’t Get There From Here" for Z Space and Dartmouth College; and co-direction and dramaturgy for "Men Think They Are Better Than Grass" with the Deborah Slater Dance Theater.

Jayne is an alumna of the Djerassi Resident Artist Program; a regular guest artist and advisory board member for The Last Frontier Theatre Conference in Valdez, Alaska; a member of the Dramatists Guild, Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas, Alter Theater of San Rafael and the League of Professional Theater Women. www.jaynewenger.com
Language(s) spoken
English, Spanish
Interested in freelance opportunities
Yes