Directing with Diversity: Breaking Down Stereotypes & Opening the Range of Expression

As our society evolves, it is critical that our theatrical and artistic expression of that society evolve and change. We have been far behind representing the true nature of our humanity in how we tell stories in the theatre. How do we move past entrenched conventions that shroud this nature?

In this session, we are privileged to engage with trailblazing Stage Directors from the UK, USA, and Canada, who are bravely elevating their voices with profound conviction to burst open any limitations of perspective and convention so that the stories we tell on the stage or screen embody and celebrate the widest range of diversity far beyond the philosophical debate on inclusion: this must become a given and nothing less.

Watch this Session below.

The Entertainment & Performing Arts Industry Conference took place on January 10, 2022. It was for anyone working in, studying, or interested in the entertainment or performing arts industries. The event featured 50 sessions with 120+ industry leaders from numerous disciplines. EPIC was built around the discussion pillars of CREATE, PERFORM, DESIGN, & PRODUCE. Each Pillar featured a collection of industry leading directors, choreographers, performers, technicians, producers, designers, and more.

To see all other sessions of the EPIC Conferences, explore HERE

Kimberly Rampersad

Kimberley Rampersad is a Canadian theatre artist, born and raised in Treaty 1 Territory, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. As an actor she has appeared across Canada including Mirvish, and the Stratford and Shaw Festivals. She is a recipient of a Maud Whitmore Scholarship (Charlottetown Festival) and a Guthrie Award (Stratford Festival). She was the associate choreographer of the North American and Asian tours of Hairspray – The Musical (NETworks) for four seasons. Her choreography has received Dora nominations for Passing Strange (Musical Stage/Obsidian) and Seussical – the Musical (YPT) respectively, and an Evie Award for Matilda – The Musical (Royal MTC/ Citadel/ Arts Club). As a director, Kimberley was featured in the New York Times for directing a full- length production of Man and Superman at the Shaw Festival. Other directing credits include Serving Elizabeth (Stratford Festival), How Black Mothers Say I Love You (GCTC) (Prix Rideau Award) and The Color Purple (Neptune and Citadel/ Royal MTC) (Evie, Sterling, Merritt Awards). She was the recipient of the Gina Wilkinson Prize for an emerging female director in 2017 (Ontario Arts Foundation). Kimberley completed her dance teacher certification through and was on faculty with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School; she holds a Bachelor of Arts (University of Manitoba) and is currently a graduate student in Theatre Studies (University of Guelph). Kimberley’s greatest joy is working with young artists, where she harnesses her experiences as a South Asian and Black woman trained in classical western stage traditions, to encourage them to embrace their full selves in their practice. She is the Associate Artistic Director of the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.

Kimberly Rampersad

Leslie Ishii

Leslie Ishii is a leader in the American Theatre in many capacities. (Artistic Director) Perseverance Theatre: Devilfish (World Premiere), We Hold These Truths, This Wonderful Life, Voyager One (pre-Production); Pangea World Theatre: Sueño, and Directors Institute for Ensemble Creation w/Co-Producer, Art2Action; East West Players: Takarazuka!!!, Taking Flight: The Katherine Cheung Story, Crimes Of The Heart; Artists At Play: 99 Histories; plays at UC, Irvine, USC, CSLA; Oregon Shakespeare Festival: API 2×2 Lab New Works Residency, Founder/Producer, Dramaturgy, FAIR Assistant Director Program Recipient; and where she began, Northwest Asian American Theatre. (Actor) Broadway, regional theatre—Pangea World Theatre, El Teatro Campesino, American Conservatory Theatre (Alum), and South Coast Repertory to name a few. She has also appeared in TV and film. (National Scope) Board President/Co-Chair Steering Committee, Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists’ National ConFest; National Cultural Navigation Theatre Project for the sustainability of BIPOC Artists and Theatres of Color, Co-founder/Director; Tsuru For Solidarity: Steering Committee, Co-Chair Direct Action Committee; Co-facilitated the launch of Theatre Communication Group’s Equity/Diversity/Inclusion Institute; Core faculty, artEquity working throughout the US with arts and culture organizations. SDC (National E/D/I Standout Moments Recognition, (2016, 2017), AEA, SAG-AFTRA

Leslie Ishii

Liam Steel

LIAM STEEL is a multi-award winning choreographer and director who has created work with the Royal National Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe, Royal Court, Royal Shakespeare Company, and the Salzburg Festival. He has created many award-winning contemporary dance commissions, choreographed musical theatre for the West End and Broadway, and directed multiple operas, including Paul Bunyan for English Touring Opera which won an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera. He is a core collaborator at London’s Regents Park Open Air Theatre working on ten productions over ten seasons, including co-directing and choreographing the Olivier Award-winning Into the Woods, which transferred to the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park. Liam created the musical staging and choreography for the Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA-winning feature film Les Misérables.