Hayley is interested in new work that dismantles learned history, showcases queer identity as existent and natural, and rewrites the narrative of what we traditionally see on the stage and screen.

photo credit: joe trentacosta

In addition to directing and devising, Hayley is an advocate for systemic artistic change within the theatre industry. Hayley has planted seeds in The Olde School Shakespeare Collective, where they are an original company member and board member. Olde School Shakes is a Chicago nonprofit theatre company where they lead a non-hierarchal staff structure to produce “everyday Shakespeare” that is financially accessible, immersive, and reimagined.

As a theatre educator, Hayley is an Adjunct Professor of Theatre at The Theatre School at DePaul University, where they teach group devising, physical embodied storytelling, and viewpoints through applied studio performance. In Fall of 2023 they co-directed a new adaptation of Games by Henry Naylor after assistant directing the successful Off-Broadway US Premiere. Additionally, Hayley has worked as a teaching artist and tour director for Missoula Children’s Theatre off and on since 2017, teaching the art of theatre, acting, and improv to over 5,000 school-age children in over 13 states.

Hayley graduated from The University of Alabama at Birmingham with a degree in directing. In 2017 they were awarded KCACTF directing honors for their direction of Angels in America: Millennium Approaches (read more).

As a writer, Hayley has written a comedic one-woman play, Don’t Ask, as well as sketches, shorts, and episodes for Tanner & Holmes Productions. (Samples available upon request).

outside of the arts

Hayley loves board games, trivia, hitting a good estate sale, craft beer, walks by Promontory point, and backpacking. In the wake of unemployment they temporarily left theatre behind to solo trek through the wilderness across the country, which you can read about here.