Jeri Pitcher

Jeri Pitcher came to Maine for a summer theater job in 1987 and has continuously worked as a teaching artist, theater educator, director, playwright, and performer ever since! Her work is dedicated to devising original theater through a collaborative group process which, most often, explores the questions: how do we connect to the past and how can we, together, create the future?  

As a founding faculty member at Maine Arts Academy, Jeri served as the Director of the Theater Program and Arts Faculty Chair.  She teaches as an adjunct faculty member at The University of Maine at Augusta and has created innovative projects with community partners, such as: the UMA Interactive Theater project, The Lonely Soldier, and CREATED EQUAL theater programs.

Jeri has completed well over 100 theater residencies, creating original theater in Maine schools in her 25+ years of experience, from York to Caribou and Eastport to Bethel, ME and can be found on the Teaching Artist rosters of the Maine Arts Commission and Maine Alliance for Arts Education. Jeri worked at The Theater at Monmouth, an Equity LORT repertory company, for 13 years as a director, actor, and wrote or adapted many plays for young audiences.  She also served as Second Stage Director and Associate Artistic Director in her tenure at TAM. 

Jeri received a BFA in Acting and Directing from the University of Bridgeport (CT) where she studied with Phoebe Brand and Morris Carnovsky, original members of the famed Group Theater.  

Teaching Philosophy: To devise organic and spontaneous theater that is relevant, engaging, and authentic. I use sequential improvisational exercises, brainstorming activities, and critical discussion in my devising theater workshops. We create as a group, on our feet, pushing the furniture aside. Each exercise has a specific objective: from creating focus, to team building, to creating original story material. Devising original theater as a group allows us to connect with others and bond through common experience.

You may reach Jeri at:  jeri.pitcher11@gmail.com