Jerry Ruiz

Jerry Ruiz - a director, new play advocate and Associate Professor at Arizona State University - splits his time between Phoenix and Seattle. His directing credits include: the world premieres of Cebollas by Leonard Madrid (Denver Center of the Performing Arts) and Fade by Tanya Saracho (DCPA and subsequently Primary Stages and Hartford TheaterWorks), Twelfth Night (Old Globe, PlayMakers Repertory Company, and Chalk Rep), Mala Hierba (Second Stage Theatre), Basilica by Mando Alvarado (Rattlestick Playwrights Theater), Philip Goes Forth and Love Goes to Press (Mint Theater Company), Enfrascada (Clubbed Thumb), A King of Infinite Space and Sangre (SummerStage), Mariela in the Desert by Karen Zacarías (Repertorio Español), The King is Dead by Caroline V. McGraw, Rattlers by Johnna Adams (Flux...

Jerry Ruiz - a director, new play advocate and Associate Professor at Arizona State University - splits his time between Phoenix and Seattle. His directing credits include: the world premieres of Cebollas by Leonard Madrid (Denver Center of the Performing Arts) and Fade by Tanya Saracho (DCPA and subsequently Primary Stages and Hartford TheaterWorks), Twelfth Night (Old Globe, PlayMakers Repertory Company, and Chalk Rep), Mala Hierba (Second Stage Theatre), Basilica by Mando Alvarado (Rattlestick Playwrights Theater), Philip Goes Forth and Love Goes to Press (Mint Theater Company), Enfrascada (Clubbed Thumb), A King of Infinite Space and Sangre (SummerStage), Mariela in the Desert by Karen Zacarías (Repertorio Español), The King is Dead by Caroline V. McGraw, Rattlers by Johnna Adams (Flux Theatre Ensemble), and Waiting for the Hearse (Mixed Blood Theatre).

Mr. Ruiz has developed work at Second Stage Theatre, Denver Center for the Performing Arts Theatre Company, Playwrights Horizons, Soho Rep., The Public Theater, Atlantic Theater Company, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and the Playwrights Realm. From 2011 to 2015, he served as curator for the Crossing Borders festival of new plays at Two River Theater in New Jersey. He was a recipient of the 2009–2011 NEA/TCG Career Development for Theatre Directors Grant, a Phil Killian Directing Fellow at OSF, 2011, and a Van Lier Directing Fellow for Second Stage Theatre, 2007 to 2009.

Since 2010, Jerry has served as a guest director at university theater programs such as UT-Austin, SUNY New Paltz, Arizona State University, and Queens College, and he has taught at UT-Austin and UC-San Diego. He received his M.F.A. from UC San Diego and his B.A. from Harvard University and is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

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  • This play adroitly navigates themes of race and class with a biting sense of humor that keeps you guessing, while also packing plenty of emotional gut punches. Hairy and Sherri are a wholly believable and compelling couple who mean well, but often fall short of reaching those good intentions. The supporting characters, especially Ryshi's Latina caseworker, Vera, are very memorable.

    This play adroitly navigates themes of race and class with a biting sense of humor that keeps you guessing, while also packing plenty of emotional gut punches. Hairy and Sherri are a wholly believable and compelling couple who mean well, but often fall short of reaching those good intentions. The supporting characters, especially Ryshi's Latina caseworker, Vera, are very memorable.