THEATER DIRECTOR / SDC
The Real Thing
My Practice
​20+ year career as a Director and acting coach ​
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quest for authenticity in performance
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love of dramatic literature, contemporary & timeless
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Advocate of diversity, equity, and belonging
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deep concern for women's issues and social justice
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Enquiring approach
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consistent asking of questions
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providing multiple stimuli to foster creativity
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staying open to inquisitive process thruout rehearsals
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Collaborative style
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recognizing every voice and idea raised
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inspiring continual conversations and exchanges
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embodied Connections
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valuing and respecting all individuals on the team
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discovering links between text, movement, music, and other art forms
Positive environment
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no “drama”
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laughter, always
Upcoming Projects
Green Corridors by Natalka Vorozhbyt, International Voices Project in collaboration with Trap Door, staged reading, November 2024
God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza, Kane Repertory Theatre, March 2025
Woman Project by Mary Bonnett, Her Story Theater, fall 2025
Biography
Kay Martinovich is a Chicago-based director and acting coach. Recent credits include the Jeff-nominated and Chicago premiere of The Father by Florian Zeller at Remy Bumppo Theatre, Deirdre of the Sorrows by John M. Synge at City Lit Theatre, the Jeff-nominated Naked by Luigi Pirandello, and the Jeff-award winning La Bête by David Hirson both at Trap Door Theatre. For Irish Rep of Chicago, Kay directed the American premiere of By the Bog of Cats ... by Marina Carr.
​As Associate Artistic Director for Irish Repertory of Chicago (1999-2006), Kay supported season selection, production casting, and media materials. At Irish Rep, she directed the Jeff-nominated Bailegangaire by Tom Murphy starring Mary Ann Thebus, Pentecost by Stewart Parker, The Mai by Marina Carr, and Two by Friel: The Bear and American premiere of The Yalta Game.
Kay is an Artistic Associate of Her Story Theatre and Perennial Theatre, where she is involved in the development of new works along with Chicago Writers Bloc. During 2020, Kay directed the live-streamed production of Girls and Dolls by "Derry Girls" creator Lisa McGee and the online Equity reading of Mentors by Kristen Palmer starring Austin Pendleton and Michael Patrick Thornton for Kane Repertory Theatre. She directed online production of The Life by Mary Bonnett for Her Story Theatre as part of Women in the Arts & Media Coalition "Conversations in America" series.
At Northern Illinois University, Kay is Associate Professor of Acting and Head of the BFA Acting program. She teaches Meisner-based acting, audition technique, directing, and professional development for the actor. She has directed many productions at NIU including In a Word by Lauren Yee (co-director), The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek by Naomi Wallace, Shakespeare's Much About About Nothing in her own adaptation, and Women In To Light, a devised piece centering on the story of a woman journalist in wartime. She is Producer and Director of NIU's annual MFA/BFA Professional Actor Showcase held each spring at the Chopin Theatre, Chicago.
Kay holds a Master's in Philosophy in Irish Theatre from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, and a Doctorate in Theatre Historiography from University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Prior to graduate school, she was Owner, Artistic Director, & Head Instructor of Actors' Center, professional Meisner-based acting studio in Chicago.
Proud member of SDC, the director's union, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
Other credits: The Giver by Lois Lowry adapted by Matt O’Brien (GreatWorks); Table for Two at the Dill Pickle by Larry Kerwin sponsored by the Mother Jones Museum; Polaroid Stories by Naomi Iizuka and Bremen Freedom by Rainer Werner Fassbinder (Trap Door); Grant in Othello by Josh Nordmark (Theatre Wit); Down Range by Jeffrey Skinner (Genesis Productions); Anything of Value by Brett Neveu (RIPPED/American Blues Theatre); and Winsor McCay by Laura Marks (TEN/The Gift Theater). Kay's work has been seen on many Chicago stages including Lifeline, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, Mary-Arrchie, Live Bait, Circle, Apple Tree/TYA, Famous Door, Emerald City, Chicago Dramatists, among other theaters in the Midwest.
Representative Directing Credits
The Father by Florian Zeller (Chicago premiere)
Remy Bumppo Theatre, Chicago
By the Bog of Cats… by Marina Carr (American premiere)
Irish Repertory of Chicago
La Bête by David Hirson
Trap Door Theatre, Chicago
Naked by Luigi Pirandello (Chicago premiere)
Trap Door Theatre, Chicago
Deirdre of the Sorrows by John M. Synge (Chicago premiere)
City Lit Theater, Chicago
The Giver by Lois Lowry adapted by Matt O’Brien
GreatWorks Theatre Company, Chicago
Table for Two at the Dill Pickle by Larry Kerwin, Equity staged reading
Sponsored by Mother Jones Museum, Chicago
Mentors by Kristen Palmer with Austin Pendleton, Equity staged reading
Kane Repertory Theatre, Virtual
The Secret Garden, book/lyrics by Marsha Norman, music by Lucy Simon
Performing Arts Center, Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Two by Friel: The Yalta Game (American premiere) and The Bear
Irish Repertory of Chicago
Bailegangaire by Tom Murphy (Chicago premiere)
Irish Repertory of Chicago
Pentecost by Stewart Parker (Chicago premiere)
Irish Repertory of Chicago
The Mai by Marina Carr (Chicago premiere)
Irish Repertory of Chicago
University Directing Credits
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
Co-Director In a Word by Lauren Yee
Much Ado About Nothing by Shakespeare adapted by Kay Martinovich
A Bright New Boise by Samuel D. Hunter
Girls and Dolls by Lisa McGee, live streamed
Middletown by Will Eno
The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek by Naomi Wallace
Freshman Jamboree – “Fiends”
Women In To Light, ensemble devised
The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard
A Skull in Connemara by Martin McDonagh
Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage
NIU Professional Actor Showcase (2014-present); online (2020-2021)
Chopin Theatre https://www.niushowcase.com/