
GEORGETTE VERDIN, Director (Co-Artistic Director)
Georgette has balanced being both theatre professional and drama educator for the last decade. After moving from her native New Orleans to Chicago in 2009, she established the first theatre program at Polaris Charter Academy, an Expeditionary Learning School in West Humboldt Park. There, she has garnered both local and national attention for her work with students. Georgette has written and devised new works with themes around history, science and social justice. Selected devised works include: The Burn of 1871, Rock & Rolling: A Movement Performance of the Rock Cycle, Chasing Freedom, and People Get Ready--created in partnership with Lookingglass Theatre. ITP credits include Owners and the Midwest premiere of Really Really (A.D.). Georgette earned her B.A. in Theatre Performance from McNeese State University and her Master’s in Directing from Roosevelt University. She is passionate about developing new works, cultivating awareness around women’s issues, educating future theatre artists and arts advocates, and striving to impress upon others the impact that arts integration can have on learning. Following Katrina: Mother-In Law of 'Em All, Georgette will direct Recent Tragic Events, opening March 11, 2016.

JAMES YOST, Co-Artistic Director
With BareBones Theatre Group (Charlotte, NC) for which he served as artistic director for 12 years, Yost has staged over 50 plays and has won several awards including THEATRE PERSON OF THE YEAR in 2001. Selected credits include Mr. Marmalade, Psycho Beach Party, Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical, The Graduate, The Play About the Baby, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Drift, Ugly Art, bash: latter-day plays, Squirrels, The Wizard of Oz, Lend Me A Tenor, True West, The Pitchfork Disney, and Noises Off. He has produced several new play festivals and was the co-producer of Charlotte’s CITY STAGE SUMMER PLAY FESTIVAL. For ITP, Yost has directed Orange Flower Water (Jeff nomination for best supporting actor, Joseph Wiens), Ibsen is Dead and last season's critically acclaimed REALLY REALLY. Yost has also taught acting, directing, production design and film at the high school and collegiate level. He is published in Teaching Theatre Journal, a publication of Dramatics Magazine. Yost directed the midwest premiere of The North Pool by Rajiv Joseph for ITP's 6th Season.

