How can curiosity become a roadmap for directing meaningful, human-centered theater? In this episode, as part of our Director Mini-Series, Jennifer chats with director and dramaturg Amy Marie Seidel, who shares her approach where sound, scent, light, language, and presence all carry weight. Amy talks about her relationship with Tectonic Theater Company, being mentored by Moisés Kaufman, and her experience with Here There Are Blueberries and Machinal. She offers a powerful reminder of the importance of following artistic curiosity without judgment, creating space for rehearsal room humanity, trusting the brilliance of your collaborators, and embracing the flexibility of creating in real time. Together, they reflect on the power of letting go of rigid expectations because the more forms we allow ourselves to explore, the more layered and resonant our work becomes. This episode is a reminder that directing isn’t about control, but rather about connection, listening, and staying awake to the magic unfolding before you.
About Amy: Amy Marie Seidel (she.her.hers) is a NYC-based theater maker who has worked on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regionally. She is a company member at Tectonic Theater Project, where she has developed numerous plays, including Here There Are Blueberries, a 2024 Pulitzer Prize finalist recently produced at New York Theatre Workshop, and Seven Deadly Sins, which won the 2022 Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience. She has brought two major musicals to Broadway as part of team directing: Paradise Square (10 Tony Noms) and The Great Gatsby (1 Tony Win), and she is currently developing a new biographical play centering Billie Jean King. As director, Amy is developing multiple new plays, including All The Frozen Ones by Stella Ferra (Starring Robert Sean Leonard), A Clean Slate by Jack Saleeby, and Falling Forward, a new musical by Karl Amundson and Emily Fink (2024 NAMT Recommended Musical).
Amy's IG: @AmyMarieSeidel
Amy's website: www.amymarieseidel.com
Machinal Info: www.machinaltheplay.com
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