Em Hausmann (they/them) is a Brooklyn-based Director and Performer, originally from Victoria, TX. They are the Director of Development with Basement Light Productions, and Marketing Partner + Resident Director for Kitchen Sink Theatre Company. Em directs plays and musicals, new and old, with a deeply collaborative process to create medium-specific, inclusive, sustainable, shared experiences.
Em got their start in theatre at ten years old, when their mom enrolled them in a community theatre camp where they played Cruella DeVil in 101 Dalmatians Jr. The glamour and excitement of singing "My Beautiful Coat" to an enthusiastic parent audience had Emily hooked, and they continued to pursue as many artistic opportunities in their hometown as possible, performing in 50 different shows between 2009 and 2016.
Since moving to New York in 2016, Em made their professional performance debut at the Madison Theatre on Long Island. They've worked as a director, performer, producer, and technician at a number of off-broadway and off-off-broadway venues including Theater for the New City, The Triad Theater, The Flea, 54 Below, The Green Room 42, Town Stages, The Kraine Theater, IRT Theater, Matthew Corozine Studio Theatre, Irvington Theater, and The Tank. Additionally, they previously worked as a production assistant for New York Deaf Theatre, combining a love for theatre with American Sign Language (ASL) and an immersion with Deaf culture. Em made their professional directorial debut at the Madison Theatre on Long Island with the Wizard of Oz TYA shortly after graduating from undergrad, continuing to work at the Madison consistently thereafter.
Since their time in Oz, Em has enjoyed a steady career working as a director, assistant/associate director, dramaturg, and artistic collaborator on many plays, musicals, and other performance pieces. Over the past few years, their focus has been on the indie-DIY theatre scene through cultivating new works and creating theatre that innovates and explores the medium. As a director with a performance background, Em is passionate about working with actors to explore text and bring scripts to life, while ensuring that their actors and artistic team feel safe, supported, and heard.
Aside from theatre, Em loves dystopian novels, rewatching old SNL skits, and chain restaurants (yes, really). Em also works as a freelance creative makeup artist, graphic designer, video editor, copywriter, and spends weekdays working to develop video and written content as the Marketing & Operations manager for Playgarden Online, an early childhood education startup based in Tribeca.
Emily received a BFA in Theatre Arts/Musical Theatre from Molloy College/CAP21 Conservatory. Em is a proud member of Ring of Keys Organization, and an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
