Maija Garcia
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SOCIAL IMPACT
Maija García is a dynamic force in the theater world, renowned for her innovative staging. As a theater director, she has helmed a diverse range of productions, from original musicals to bilingual classics. She recently directed I am Betty, a world premiere new musical at History Theater by Cristina Luzarrága and Denise Prosek; VALOR, a Spanish golden-age play by Ana Caro; and a staged reading of OUR HOOD, a bi-lingual cineplay by John Leguizamo. García’s movement direction is featured in Spike Lee Joints: the Oscar award-winning Blackkklansman, CHI-RAQ and She’s Gotta Have It on Netflix. She worked alongside Bill T. Jones to choreograph FELA!, the Tony award winning musical on Broadway and at the National Theater of London; she directed FELA! World Tour in the US, Europe and Africa and FELA! The Concert in Australia and New Zealand.
García worked with the indigenous community in New York City to develop CRANE: on earth in sky by Heather Henson and Ty Defoe, and collaborated with Isaac Delgado, Santiago Alfonso and X Alfonso, directing Salsa Mambo Cha Cha Cha in La Habana Cuba. She created the first original choreography for West Side Story at the Guthrie Theater and choreographed Kiss My Aztec by John Leguizamo and Tony Toccone at Berkeley Rep and La Jolla Playhouse; Snow in Midsummer by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig at Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Cuba Libre by Carlos Lacámara at Artists Repertory Theater (PAMTA Award); Another Word for Beauty by Jose Rivera at the Goodman Theater; Hatuey: Memory of Fire by Frank London Elise Thoron at Montclair Peak Performances; and Fats Waller Dance Party in collaboration with Jason Moran and Meshell N’degeocello at Harlem Stage, UMS, San Francisco Jazz Festival and the Kennedy Center.
Garcia founded Organic Magnetics to generate urban folklore for the future. She wrote, directed & produced Ghosts of Manhattan: 1512-2012, an interactive history - an immersive exerience in Fort Tryon Park - and I Am NY: Juan Rodriguez at El Museo del Barrio.
Director of Education and Professional Training at the Guthrie Theater, Maija curates advanced training for actors and theater makers and develops digital theater curriculum for educators. Maija earned a degree in Sustainable Development from the California Institute of Integral Studies in 2002. A member of SDC (Society of Stage Directors & Choreographers) since 2009, she served on the Tony Nominating Committee for the Broadway League, is an Advisory Board member of the Melrose Center for Principled Leadership and represents arts and culture on the Downtown Action Council for the City of Minneapolis.