About
Kyle Stoffers-Sommeechai (he/him) is a director of theatre based in Chicago. As an LGBTQIA+ storyteller from the cornfields in Indiana he grew up watching late-night reruns of 80s and 90s television, studying graphic design, and participating in academic competitions. He now finds influence in Southeast and East-Asian cultures, narrative-based video games, and anonymous internet culture.
“I am drawn to plays that explore the grey areas of humanity- the incomplete, the unsaid, and theatre that exposes the often protected or neglected. I seek to tell stories that are hyperrealistic, theatrical, and unassuming. I fiercely believe in live theatre as a tool for teaching empathy and creating change in the world.”
In Chicago, he has worked extensively with A Red Orchid Theatre and with Steppenwolf Theatre, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, Facility Theatre, Strawdog Theatre, and BackStage Theatre.
Kyle received his BA in Theatre Directing with Honors and Departmental Honors from Ball State University and currently serves as the Casting & Administrative Associate at A Red Orchid Theatre.
Learn more about A Red Orchid Theatre here.
Learn more about Ball State University’s Theatre program here.
Recommended Reading
(or books i am inspired by)
The Aesthetics of Quietude : Ota Shogo and the Theatre of Divestiture by Mari Boyd.
Invitation to the Party : Building Bridges to the Arts Culture and Community by Donna Walker-Kuhne.
A Journey through Other Spaces : Essays and Manifestos 1944-1990 by Tadeusz Kantor and Michal Kobialka.
Reclaiming Conversation : The Power of Talk in a Digital Age by Sherry Turkle.
What’s the Story : Essays About Art Theater and Storytelling by Anne Bogart.
Theatre Artists I Admire
(A Non-Exhaustive list)
Adam Bock, playwright
Katrin Brack, scenic designer
Christopher Chen, playwright
dado, director and actor
Robyn Hunt, educator, director, and actor
Christopher Shinn, playwright
Celine Song, playwright and director
Eric Ting, director
Art by @AMPdraws on Twitter