Biography

Jana Robbins just directed the West Coast Premier of CUPS at The Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center for Theater League. CUPS will also have a production this October at the Aventura Theater in Florida through The Broward Performing Arts Center. Her directing credits include CRIMES OF THE HEART (in which she appeared on Broadway) at her alma mater Stephens College as well as a production at Gettysburg College in Pa.

Jana began her directing career when she choreographed THE CZAR OF ROCK AND ROLL for The New York Stage and Film Company at The West Bank Café in New York and subsequently worked on the show at The New York Stage and Film Company. Later, while appearing on Broadway in GYPSY, Jana produced and directed the GYPSYcompany's AIDS Benefit starring Tyne Daly, and the cast of GYPSY, featuring Jule Styne center stage on a white grand piano.

When GYPSY closed on Broadway, Jana continued directing with productions of OUT THE WINDOW at Theater Geo in LA, and DOMESTIC VIOLENCE by Frederick Stropple, for which she received a DramaLogue Award as Best Director.

Jana developed and directed THE PARTICIPANT written by and starring Dayton Callie of TV's DEADWOOD which was nominated for a Best Solo Performance Award by LA Weekly.

Through the auspices of The Times Square Group, Jana taught inner city school children and directed them in A CHANGE OF HEART at the Soho Playhouse with guest star Andre De Sheilds, and BREAKING THE SILENCE at The Players Theater, as well as directing Karen Zeimba in a staged reading of THE CHOSEN WIFE.

Jana directed LITTLE WOMEN (which she also produced on Broadway) at her alma mater Stephens College, a Women's College, in Columbia, Mo., and is looking forward to directing LITTLE WOMEN again this Spring at Cal State Fullerton in California.

Jana is a recipient of the Jewish National Fund's prestigious "Tree Of Life Award."