Biography
Jesse Marchese is a fourth-year PhD student in the Department of Theatre & Dance at UC San Diego. He is a theater writer, scholar, director, dramaturg, and administrator whose research and production work exists at the intersection of queer theory, post-structuralism, and 20th century performance. For UC San Diego, he directed IYA: The Ex’celen Remember by Luis “xago” Juarez and inspired by Louise J. Miranda Ramirez, tribal chairwoman of the Ohlone/Costanoan-Esselen Nation, as well as Epicene: A Queer Extravaganza, which he co-wrote with Emmalias and a company of undergraduate students. He also served as production dramaturg for Napoli by Eduardo De Filippo and directed by Marco Barricelli.
From 2017 to 2019, Jesse was Executive Director of Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) in Queens, where he produced acclaimed productions of Follies and Caroline, or Change, and premiere productions of Madhuri Shekar’s Queen and Monet Hurst-Mendoza’s Veil’d. Prior to his work at APAC, Jesse served as Associate Director of Off-Broadway’s award-winning Mint Theater Company where he helped to produce nearly fifteen productions, two of which he also directed: The Lucky One by A.A. Milne and The Fatal Weakness by George Kelly (nominated for two 2015 Drama Desk Awards and three Henry Hewes Design Awards). His work, as a writer, researcher, dramaturg, and director, has also been seen at The Civilians, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, New York City Children’s Theater, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, York Theatre Company, New World Stages, Theater for the New City, Gallery Players, Village Light Opera Group, and Marymount Manhattan College. He received his BA in Theatre Arts at Marymount Manhattan College and his MA in Theatre at CUNY Hunter College, where he was twice awarded with the Vera Mowry Roberts Foundation Fellowship for academic excellence.
Research
Twentieth Century American, British and Irish Theater, Musical Theatre, Queer Theater
UCSD Credits
Napoli (dramaturg)
IYA: The Ex’celen Remember (director)
Epicene: A Queer Extravaganza (director)