Artist Statement - Mayah Lourdes Burke
I direct theater that breathes. Theater that inhales truth and exhales connection. That lives in real time with real people, and confronts real issues. It moves us, shifts us, expands our thinking. It makes space for the mess and the beauty, the questions and the quiet. I care about process just as much as product, because when artists feel safe, when they feel seen, they create the kind of work that moves people.
I’m a New York-based director focused on making theater that centers community, healing, and care, especially for Black women and other marginalized voices. I love new plays, revivals with a twist, and anything that digs into mental health, womanhood, or both.
I do believe in excellence, but not in that stiff, perfectionist way. I want the work to be intentional, full of joy, and made with heart. That’s the kind of theater I want to be part of, and the kind of magic that I infuse into my craft.
Let’s make something meaningful together.