Direct Address @ The Understudy

This program brings early-career directors face-to-face with established industry professionals in a structured, supportive environment. Each session provides:

Practical Directing Experience: Selected participants direct actors through 5-minute scenes.

Professional Feedback: Receive direct notes and guidance from an accomplished director.

Community Building: Connect with fellow directors and industry professionals.

Career Insights: Learn about pathways to assistant directing opportunities with Chicago institutions.

Director Application Form is available through ticket purchase confirmation page

Why is there a ticket price? Direct Address is a brand new artistic initiative. The ticket price attached to the event, in sliding scale format, will allow for the continuation of events like this one, solely aimed to provide more visibility, mentorship and connections for early career artists, to exist. The goal for Direct Address is to not just stop at The Understudy, but to continue around the Chicago theatre network, connecting more and more artists to refutable organizations and established artists, providing an access point for real work and opportunity.

Featured Director: Mikael Burke

Mikael Burke (Director, he/him/anything respectful) is a Black, queer director, deviser, and educator based in Chicago. A Princess Grace Award-winner in Theatre (2017) and Jeff Award-winning director (2024), his recent credits include Milo Imagines the World by Christian Magby, Christian Albright and Terry Guest (rolling world premiere: Chicago Children’s Theatre and Children’s Theatre Company, Minneapolis), King James by Rajiv Joseph (Forward Theatre, Madison), Oak by Terry Guest (Urbanite Theatre, World Premiere), Othello by William Shakespeare (Theatreworks Colorado Springs), Short Shakes! Romeo & Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), Notes from the Field by Anna Deveare Smith (TimeLine Theatre, Chicago Premiere), The Salvagers by Harrison David Rivers (Yale Repertory Theatre, World Premiere), Tambo & Bones by Dave Harris (Refracted Theatre Company, Chicago Premiere, winner of eight Jeff Awards), Blues for an Alabama Sky by Pearl Cleage (Remy Bumppo Theatre Company), Clyde’s by Lynn Nottage (Theaterworks Hartford), and The Magnolia Ballet by Terry Guest (About Face Theatre, Chicago Premiere, winner of two Jeff Awards). Burke has also been recognized with a Black Theatre Alliance Award for Directing (2022), and as one of Newcity Magazine’s 50 Players of Chicago in 2023 and 2025. Burke is an artistic associate at Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, as well as at About Face Theatre, where he previously served as associate artistic director. He’s also an adjunct faculty member at DePaul University and Roosevelt University, and a member of SDC. Burke earned his MFA in Directing from The Theatre School at DePaul University. mklburke.com

Directors and actors will rehearse their scene on Sunday, May 11th, from 6:30 - 8:00 PM at The Understudy.

This event is a Pocket Theatrics program, hosted at The Understudy