Jean is an experienced Artistic Director, Managing Director, Producer and Director. She is also an actress and a published playwright, with three of her plays reaching full production, one receiving an After Dark Award from Gay Chicago Magazine. Jean was co-Artistic Director at Footsteps Theatre in Chicago where she directed all-female Shakespeare productions from 1991 through 1999. She graduated with honors from Depaul University’s The Theatre School (former the Goodman School of Drama) with an MFA in Directing in 2002, then founded New World Repertory Theatre in Downers Grove, which operated from 2003 – 2010. Jean founded Dragonfly Theatre Company in 2020 to provide a virtual platform for artists during the pandemic. From 2023-2026 Dragonfly hosted Subtext Studio Theatre Company, where Jean served as Managing Director. Jean is forever grateful to the supporters and theater-goers who attend shows and keep theater alive in Chicago!