Amanda Charlton is a New York–based theatre director dedicated to developing new work and building creative community. Most recently, she directed What the Constitution Means to Me, starring Nina Hellman and Jeremy Shamos, as the inaugural production at the Nantucket Performing Arts Center — a theatre she helped save and where she now serves on the Artistic Advisory Council.
Amanda spent a decade at Williamstown Theatre Festival, where she served as Artistic Associate and Director of the Professional Training Program. She guided, curated and line produced over 100 late-night shows featuring artists in the Professional Training Program (formerly known as The Workshop). She selected the writers, directors, and actors, many of whom have since become leaders in the industry, shaping today’s theatre, film, and television. This late-night arm of the festival became a vibrant incubator for new work and emerging voices, reflecting Amanda’s instinct for talent and her commitment to fostering artistic collaboration. She also line produced the Main Stage and Nikos Stage from 2008 to 2010. She is proudest of her work with Roger Rees on the development and creation of the The Fellowship Projects created by Roger Rees. Highlights include Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson by Alex Timbers (music and lyrics by Michael Friedman), later produced at The Public and on Broadway, and After the Revolution by Amy Herzog, produced at Playwrights Horizons.
Her directing credits include productions and workshops at the Atlantic Theater Company, The Kennedy Center, Manhattan Theater Club, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Cherry Lane, EST, Juilliard, NYU Grad, The Geffen Playhouse, Geva Theatre, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Cape Cod Playhouse, and Nantucket Performing Arts Center (NPAC). She is especially proud to have directed the first workshops of Molly Smith Metzler’s elemeno pea at Juilliard and Cry It Out at Geva Theatre, which went on to have more than thirty regional productions.
Amanda wrote and directed the short film Amends, which screened at the Soho International Film Festival and The Big Apple Film Festival. She also co-created and co-directed the web series Friend Therapy for Meetinghouse Productions. The series was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 9th Annual Indie Series Awards and was featured in the Bechdel Film Festival.
Amanda has taught acting at Williamstown Theatre Festival and The Kennedy Center, directed over ten showcases for Williamstown and the ABC Diversity Showcases, and served as a judge for the Irene Ryan Acting Awards. She also served on the board of SPACE on Ryder Farm for five years, where she directed for The Roving Dinner and four annual Farm in the City galas.
Amanda lives in New York City with her husband, Jason Cilo — President and founder of Meetinghouse Productions and host of the excellent film podcast Full Cast and Crew. They share their home with their funny 14-year-old daughter, Elodie, whose love for Friends, cats, and Lana Del Rey knows no bounds and their magical cat, Lucky, the world’s most elusive British Shorthair.
