Whitney White (born ) is an American director, actor, and musician. Her acting work includes Ocean's 8, Louie, and The Playboy Club. She was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play for Jaja’s African Hair Braiding on Broadway at the 77th Tony Awards in 2024.
Early life and education Whitney White grew up in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Northwestern University, where she took theater classes, receiving a BA in political science and a certificate in musical theater. While working as an intern on Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, White realized she wanted to pursue the arts. She received a MFA in acting in 2015 from Brown University through their partnership with Trinity Repertory Company.
During White's first year of MFA at Brown University/Trinity Rep, all actor program students had to take one directing class. She received her first opportunity to direct during this class (an adaptation she wrote of Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen), and she felt that all of her skills were being put to use and "that my brain was quiet and focused".
Career White's directorial debut was in 2018, when she directed Othello for Trinity Repertory, when she fell in love with Shakespeare's work. “I am a Black woman from Chicago, and I always saw my experience reflected in Shakespeare’s world, however, often I would see these great plays live, and these productions wouldn’t represent my experience or even a world I recognized. Yet, when I read Shakespeare, I totally hear my world. I hear my friends and family, and I see the world that I live in. So I wondered how I could unite all these worlds that I love: music, Shakespeare, really high-quality performative art, and entertainment.” Whitney said in an interview with American Repertory Theater. A.R.T commissioned White for five different projects, including Macbeth in Stride, which examined Black female power through the eyes of Lady Macbeth, played by White, and was staged as a rock concert.
In November of the same year White directed What to Send Up When It Goes Down by Aleshea Harris at A.R.T./New York Theatres. The cast included Alana Raquel Bowers, Rachel Christopher, Ugo Chukwu, Kambi Gathesha, Naomi Lorrain, Denise Manning, Javon Q. Minter and Beau Thom.
White won the Obie Award in 2020 for directing Our Dear Dead Druglord at the WP Theater.
In 2023, it was announced that White was attached to direct a stage musical adaptation of The Queen's Gambit.
White is set to direct Lynn Nottage's adaptation of Imitation of Life, with music and lyrics by John Legend, at The Shed in New York in November, 2026.
Works
Director YearTitleCredit Venue 2017 Marvin's Room Assistant DirectorAmerican Airlines Theatre, Broadway2018What to Send Up When It Goes DownDirector 2019 for all the women who thought they were Mad DirectorSoho Repertory Theatre, Off-Broadway Our Dear Dead Druglord DirectorWP Theater, Off-Broadway 2020 What to Send Up When It Goes Down DirectorThe Public Theater, Off-Broadway 2022 On Sugarland DirectorNew York Theatre Workshop, Off-Broadway Soft DirectorMCC Theater, Off-Broadway The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington DirectorSteppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago 2023 The Secret Life of Bees DirectorAlmeida Theatre, Off West End Jaja's African Hair Braiding DirectorSamuel J. Friedman Theatre, Broadway 2024 Jordans DirectorThe Public Theater, Off-Broadway Walden DirectorSecond Stage Tony Kiser Theater, Off-Broadway 2025 Liberation DirectorRoundabout at Laura Pels Theatre, Off-Broadway The Last Five Years DirectorHudson Theatre, BroadwaySaturday ChurchDirectorNew York Theatre Workshop, Off-Broadway Liberation DirectorJames Earl Jones Theatre, Broadway 2026The Whoopi MonologuesDirectorMitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, Off-Broadway 2026School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls PlayDirectorSamuel J. Friedman Theatre, Broadway Source:
Filmography YearTitleRole Notes 2011 The Playboy Club Ikette, HefetteTV Series (2 episodes)2012LouieStripperTV Series (1 episode)2018Ocean's 8Cynthia2022Single Drunk FemaleAngelineTV Series (2 episodes) Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result2018Susan Stroman AwardDirectionn/a 2020 Obie Award Direction Our Dear Dead Druglord 2022 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a PlayOn Sugarland Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Director 2023 Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Director Soft 2024 Tony Awards Best Direction of a Play Jaja's African Hair Braiding Drama League Awards Outstanding Direction of a Play 2025 Drama League AwardsFounders Award for Excellence in Directing Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding DirectorLiberation Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a Play 2026 Tony Awards Best Direction of a Play Obie Award Sustained Achievement in Direction Walden and Liberation Source:
Personal life White lives in Brooklyn, New York City.
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