Meet Joel kirk
Joel Kirk is a New York City theatre director and producer specializing in developing new plays and musicals.
Discovering Broadway Inc.
Joel Kirk is the Founder, CEO, and Artistic Director of Discovering Broadway Inc., an Indianapolis-based nonprofit organization on a mission to turn Indiana into a launchpad for Broadway.
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They host Master Classes that focus on developing the youth's talent, education, and professional network. Discovering Broadway establishes career-advancing connections with Broadway professionals and provides an environment for these young artists to express and explore their talent and passion for the arts.
They host writer’s retreats for the creative teams of new Broadway-bound musicals to work on developing their show in Indianapolis. They also plan concerts for these creative teams to present their finished musical score to a live Hoosier audience. Their past shows include Sir Elton John's The Devil Wears Prada, Drew Barrymore's Ever After, and more.
Thousands of people see Broadway, but few have the chance to see it first.
Directing
He has guest directed for NYU'S Rita & Burton Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing, Ball State University's Department of Theatre and Dance, and Fordham University's Playwriting Program.
Recent directing credits include a development reading of Changeover: Or How Aliens From Another Galaxy Invaded My Summer Vacation featuring Reed Birney (Tony Award Winner) and Sydney Lucas (Tony Award Nominee). Blatantly Blaine: A "Family" Musical (People's Improv Theatre, TIMEOUT'S "Top Five Things To See This Week") Charlatans (Fordham University Workshop Production, Development Lab at York Theatre Company) Chasing Warren Remedy (Finalist O’Neill Theatre Center, Dixon Place, Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis Lab) Tim Kaine Sits In Front of a Mirror and Studies His Face (Published in “2018 THE BEST TEN-MINUTE PLAYS) The Brick, Manhattan Repertory Theatre), Freezer Burn (Dixon Place), Our Dead Friend's Porn (New York Theatre Festival), Customer Service (Midtown International Theatre Festival and Manhattan Repertory Theatre), The Roof Play (The Secret Theatre), and High-Beam Daylight (Kimball Studios).
His documentary Race Across America: Gears to a Cure premiered at Flix Brewhouse in Indianapolis, and his work for IWDC was featured at the Indianapolis Roof Ballroom.
Producing
Joel has worked with New World Stages, Playwrights Horizons, NYMF, The Lark, New Dramatists, Phoenix Theatre, Sheen Center, Actors Theatre of Indiana, Hudson Guild Theatre, WorkShop Theatre, Busted Space Theatre Company, Carmel Playhouse, Ethnic Theatre Alliance, Cave Theatre, and Alchemical Theatre Lab.
Joel worked alongside Gayle Waxenburg and Markus Potter of NewYorkRep in producing A Wall Apart (NYMF) – Book by Sam Goldstein & Craig Clyde, Music and Lyrics by Graham Russell of Air Supply.
NewYorkRep
Joel was the first Associate Artistic Director of NewYorkRep, whose mission is to “produce new theatre that inspires and compels social change.”
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Recently, NewYorkRep produced a benefit reading at Playwrights Horizons of the new play A Bad Night by Amy E. Witting and Nicole Pandolfo.
In the summer of 2018, NewYorkRep co-presented an evening of nine-short plays alongside Kia Corthron, Kevin Hourigan, Naomi Wallace, and Theatre Three Collaborative called “Imagining Yemen at Signature Theatre.” The evening included performances from Tony Award Winner Ari’el Stachel (The Band’s Visit) and Tony Award Nominee Kathleen Chalfant (Angels in America). NewYorkRep commissioned the new musical Goodbye, New York with Music by Andrew Beall, Lyrics by Evan McCormack, and Book by David Don Miller. Most recently, NewYorkRep commissioned a new musical about the opioid crisis with Music and Lyrics by Niko Tsakalakos and Book by Janet Allard, and the new play Chasing Gods by Paris Crayton III. Joel currently serves on the Hamilton County Tourism TASK Force.