“Everyone really hates Elliott. Respectful, diligent, thoughtful Elliott.”

Elliott Puckette (She/They) is a director, dramaturg, and producer based in Chicago. Originally from Wisconsin, she worked with Madison and Milwaukee companies including Music Theatre of Madison, Forward Theater Company, Renaissance Theaterworks, Whoopensocker, the Young Shakespeare Players and StageQ. After moving to Chicago in 2022, she now serves as the Literary Manager for Nonsense Productions and as the Production Manager for Theatre EVOLVE. In 2024, Elliott directed an elevated staged reading of Elinor T. Vanderburg’s supernatural neo-noir Bloodshot, featuring live music and foley effects, and co-created The Practicum with Theatre EVOLVE, a hands-on, affordable learning opportunity for early-career theatre artists.

Elliott received a BS in Theatre and Drama & English (Language and Linguistics) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison after first attending Madison College, because even public universities are expensive. While a student they earned awards in dramaturgy and theatre criticism from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, and the Karen Roberts Student Life Leadership Award for their work in college theatre and journalism. They trained through internships with American Players Theatre, Forward Theater Company, the Young Shakespeare Players, and The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.

Outside of theatre Elliott is a writer, educator, crafter, and obsessive movie-goer (follow her on Letterboxd).

ARTIST STATEMENT

My style as a director is grounded fundamentally in exploration of the text. I believe in reinforcing the thematic core through staging and design to create shows that engage the heart and mind, provoke a sense of wonder, and strengthen our bonds as human beings.

In the rehearsal room it is my job to invigorate the cast and crew and create a space for experimentation and creativity by providing a positive and trustworthy foundation. I fell in love with theatre the way many people do, as a child getting on stage with other kids, and I try to carry that sense of play and discovery into my adult work. I am inspired by the theatre’s ability to turn language into action, build community, and connect people across centuries.

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