Kirsten Fitzgerald is a proud member of the Artistic Ensemble at A Red Orchid Theatre and has served as their Artistic Director since 2008. She’s an Actor and Director with a particular love for live theatre and nurturing new plays, especially in Chicago. She is currently on stage in A Red Orchid’s world premiere of local playwright Hanna Kime’s The Targeted. Kirsten originated roles in the world premieres of The Cave, Traitor, Pilgrim’s Progress, Weapon of Mass Impact, and 4 Murders by Brett Neveu and Grey House by Levi Holloway (at A Red Orchid), Swing State by Rebecca Gilman and I hate It Here by Ike Holter (Goodman Theatre), Lettie by Boo Kilebrew and Appropriate by Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins (Victory Gardens Theatre), as well as Tracy Letts’ Mary Page Marlow and Bruce Norris’ The Qualms (Steppenwolf Theatre). Additional Theatre credits include ROE and Sweat (Goodman); Clybourne Park, Streetcar Named Desire, and The Elephant Man (Steppenwolf); Abigail’s Party, In Quietness, The Room, Mud Blue Sky, The New Electric Ballroom, and many more (at A Red Orchid), and work with Rivendell, Prop, Defiant, Footsteps, Chicago Shakespeare, Utah Shakespeare, and more. Kirsten’s performances have been recognized with many Jeff Award nominations, and she was honored to receive an award for her performance in The Sea Horse at A Red Orchid. In 2022 Kirsten made her directorial debut with A Red Orchid’s critically acclaimed production of The Moors by Jen Silverman. This production was honored with 5 Joseph Jefferson Awards including Best Production and Best Director of a play at a mid-size theatre. Since then she has directed the world premiere of Keiko Green’s GORGEOUS at Raven Theatre, Dance Nation at Northwestern University, and most recently the sold out and critically acclaimed production of Birds of North America at A Red Orchid. Television credits include Shining Girls, Somebody Somewhere, The Exorcist, Sirens, Chicago Med/Fire/Justice, Underemployed, ER. Film: Rain Reign, Widows, Working Man. Kirsten is represented by Grossman & Jack Talent.
