I direct because I have seen firsthand the potential for
theatre to transform lives through the exposure to
new ideas, viewpoints, and cultures.
Whether a contemporary setting of Shakespeare that
illuminates our current socio-political conditions, a
golden age musical that encourages us to band
together in difficult times, or anything in-between, the
empathetic connections we build within our
audiences can rewrite the cultural fabric of our
communities both big and small.
About Me
I am a director, actor, and educator from the Pacific
Northwest. I received my BA in Theatre Arts from Linfield
University, a comprehensive degree program. After making
the decision to specialize in directing, I served as the
Directing Intern at PCPA—Pacific Conservatory Theatre
before receiving an MFA in Directing from the University of
North Carolina Greensboro.
As an educator, I’ve taught artists of all ages in such places
as Alaska, Utah, Oregon, California, and North Carolina. I
stress the importance of process over product and hope
students leave my classroom emboldened to become
change-makers during this transitional period for the
American theatre.
Favorite directing credits include Macbeth (Penguin
Productions), Romeo & Juliet (Central Coast Shakespeare),
Peter & the Starcatcher, and the world-premiere of The
Julies (UNCG), a co-direction with Iyanna Huffington.
The project was posed as an experiment: not one but two directors for the world-premiere performance of "The Julies" by Calley N. Anderson in order to ensure that the students of color in the School of Theatre could be best served in their artistic and pedagogical needs. Iyanna Huffington and Chris Gilly-Forrer describe their navigation of this process, the institutional support systems and roadblocks, and the impact on the acting company and their final presentation before ultimately challenging the long-standing notion of "director-as-captain" and offering possible solutions to more equitable models for theatrical direction.
"JIM, 18 years old--played by 5 men. TILLY, 18 years old--played by 5 women." So reads the
character description for "Incognito," a one-act play written by UNCG professor Janet Allard.
With the playwright's blessing, directing this play offered an opportunity to employ color- and
gender-conscious casting practices to assemble a diverse cast that represents the student
body at the UNCG School of Theatre and also to reject the socially constructed categories of
"race" and "gender" as they are applied in the American theatre. Created for the 2021 UNC
Greensboro Graduate School Showcase of Scholarship Faculty advisor for this project was
Professor John Gulley
Academic Work
Production Photos
(starting with most recent)
Reach
out!
Work Email: chris.gilly-forrer@wku.edu
Personal Email: chriseforrer@gmail.com