Jessika Malone is a maker of theatre and many manners of meaningful connection hailing from her hometown of Nashville, TN. She is the Producing Director of Fusebox Festival in Austin, Texas and the Founding Artistic Director of Kindling Arts Festival. 

 

As a producer, director, deviser, teacher, grant writer, and community organizer, she seeks to create catalytic experiences that inspire radical personal and social change. She has been named a “serious theatrical talent” by The Nashville Scene and productions under her direction have been hailed as “fascinating and mesmerizing” [Broadway World] and “guaranteed to keep you talking long after the lights come up” [The Tennessean] as well as “guaranteed to provide an experience that will last way beyond the current season. Maybe well on into the century” [Nashville Scene].

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She is a co-founder of the Sideshow Fringe Festival and previously served as the Associate Artistic Director of the Actors Bridge Ensemble. She received her MFA in directing from The School of Theatre & Dance at Illinois State University [MFA Thesis: Alice In Wonderland, Mask & Hammer Award Best Direction + Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble] and her BA in Theatre from Belmont University [CVPA Most Outstanding Graduate In Theatre].

She has twice served as a Fred Coe Artist-in-Residence at Vanderbilt University [directing Will Eno's Gnit and Sarah Ruhl's Orlando].

 

Her most recent work includes co-producing the inaugural  Live in America festival in 2022 and producing and directing the world premiere of BAR FIGHT! - an all-new, immersive performance celebrating queer underground fight clubs in a pop-up karaoke bar setting.