JAN ALEXANDRA SMITH

DIRECTOR-CHOREOGRAPHER

RESUME

BIO:

Jan Alexandra Smith is an established theatre professional with experience in direction, musical and dramatic performance, instruction and dramaturgy. Her background includes productions with Canada’s major festivals and regional and commercial theatres. She has directed award-nominated productions across Canada and has actively mentored youth and young adults - many with economic and cultural barriers.  

Jan trained at the University of Alberta and has honed her techniques over 35+ years as a versatile theatre artist. Having played many significant roles nationwide, she has become well-known for integrating strong physical skills with vocal versatility and emotional honesty.

As a director and choreographer, Jan has staged outstanding productions ranging from mysteries to musicals, and contemporary to classical. She has enjoyed return engagements with the Shaw Festival, Theatre Calgary, Vertigo Theatre, The Citadel, The Royal Alex, Charlottetown Festival, Thousand Islands Playhouse, Royal Manitoba Theatre Center, Here For Now Theatre and The Grand.  

Jan also voices several popular characters in video games, such as BioWare’s Mass Effect and DragonAge. Currently, her passion is Movement Direction, a fancy way to describe how we tell stories with our whole bodies, not just with our voices.