Zoe Lesser is a director and choreographer, working across theater, opera, and immersive experiences.
She re-imagines canonical and modern work to meet the contemporary moment, with an interdisciplinary approach that collides music, text, and movement to create transformative experiences. She develops new work with playwrights and composers that manipulates time and language to pack an emotional punch and turn ordinary moments extraordinary.
She has recently directed sold out productions of Lobster by Kallan Dana at The Elysian and The Brass Teapot by Tim Macy, Ramaa Mosley, and Chaz Cardigan with Firefly Theatre Group. She directed the world premiere of The Lovesick Skunk by Beth Ratay and Andrea Fellows Fineberg with the Santa Fe Opera Young Voices Program at The Lensic Theater.
This past year she was the Assistant Director on Die Walküre with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, as a part of the historic ring cycle being conducted by Gustavo Dudamel and directed by Alberto Arvelo, with scenic design by the late architect, Frank Gehry. She was the Assistant Director on Hildegard by Sarah Kirkland Snider and directed by Elkhanah Pulitzer, produced by Beth Morrison Projects, working on the World Premiere at the Wallis (co-production with LA Opera) and the East Coast Premiere at PROTOTYPE. She will be directing a concert production of the piece at the Aspen Music Festival this summer.
She recently choreographed Jami Brandli’s O: A Rhapsody in Divorce directed by Jessica Hanna for the inaugural season at Outside In Theatre, described as “a dance number with a jaw-dropping effect.” Further dance and movement work has been presented by Chapman University, Detroit City Dance Festival, Keshet Dance and Center for the Arts, and has held Faculty positions at the National Dance Institute, New Mexico and The Colburn School.
Zoe has developed new work with the cell, Musical Theater West, and the University of New Mexico-Albuquerque. Professional highlights include production credits at Atlantic Theatre Company, La Jolla Playhouse, Denver Center Theatre Company, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago Opera Theater, Aspen Musical Festival, and Opera Saratoga.
Zoe is a co-founder of The Exodus Ensemble, an immersive theater company in Santa Fe, NM. She collaborated and originated roles in their productions of IVANOV and BATHSHEBA, and co-created an immersive variety show on George RR Martin’s Sky Railway.
She is currently collaborating on new works for theater and opera with Lulu Fairclough-Stewart, Gregory S. Moss, Calvin Hitchcock, Kallan Dana, Kamila Boga, and Anna Jastzrembski.
Current & Upcoming
Cyrano // Dir. Annie Tippe // Assistant Director // The Old Globe
Hildegard // Revival Director // Aspen Music Festival
A Black-billed Cuckoo // Dir. Shelley Butler // Assistant Director // La Jolla Playhouse