Whitney White

Whitney White is an award-winning director, writer, and musician originally from Chicago. She earned a BA in Political Science and a certificate in Musical Theatre from Northwestern University, followed by an MFA in Acting from Brown University/Trinity Rep. While initially pursuing a career as an actor, she transitioned into directing during her graduate studies. She has since been recognized as a recipient of the Obie Award, the Lilly Award, and the Susan Stroman Directing Award, and she was selected as a protégé in the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative under the mentorship of Phyllida Lloyd.

White made her Broadway directorial debut in 2023 with Jocelyn Bioh’s Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, for which she received a Tony Award nomination for Best Direction of a Play. Her extensive directing credits include the Broadway revival of The Last Five Years and the production of Liberation, which she helmed both Off-Broadway and in its subsequent 2025 Broadway engagement. Beyond directing, she is a writer and composer known for her multi-part musical cycle exploring Shakespeare’s women, including the production Macbeth in Stride. Her work also extends to television, where she served as a staff writer for the series I’m a Virgo.