Directing
Directing has been the bulk of my theatrical career to date. I have directed over 50 productions, specializing in new and contemporary work, musicals, and Shakespeare adaptations. Some of my recent productions include the world premieres of Cardboard Castles Hung on Walls by Amy Tofte and Jesus and Valium by Ashley Gray, the regional premieres of Handless King by Harley Elias and Fairview by Jackie Sibblies Drury (co-directed), as well as productions of The Thanksgiving Play, JB, Godspell, Julius Caesar, Into the Woods, RENT, Next to Normal, Jesus Christ Superstar, Romeo and Juliet, and the list goes on.
My work as a dramaturg influences the way I direct, as I believe that the stories a theatre company brings to the stage ought to be informed by their unique perspective within the community they are performing in. Throughout my directing career, for example, I have directed on-site performances, effectively partnering with art galleries, churches, and historical sites in order to tell stories to their utmost ability.
I have twice been an Artistic Director, first for Jubilee Theatre Waco, and then for Wild Imaginings, the city's first professional theatre company which I founded and where I continue to serve. I am also the founder of Shakespeare in the Park, bringing my contemporary twists to Shakespeare's classics to Waco each summer.
I love to tell bold stories that surprise and challenge audiences by creating spaces in which actors and designers can push the boundaries of their art. As a choreographer and intimacy director, I'm drawn to stories that give permission to experiment with movement and that lean into the gritty reality of human relationships.
Having directed in intimate blackboxes of 20 and grand prosceniums of 400, I'm well-acquainted with what it takes to translate a story to a particular space and audience.
If you have a project for which I would be a good fit, let's chat. I freelance as a director, as an intimacy director, and as a dramaturg. Reach out to me here, or send me an email directly at trentcliffordwrites@gmail.com
“Theatre is a mirror, a sharp reflection of society.”
-Yasmina Reza