Bio

Maija García is a theater director, cultural innovator and advocate for equity in the arts. She recently directed I am Betty, a world premiere hit new musical at History Theater by Cristina Luzarrága and Denise Prosek; VALOR, a Spanish golden-age play by Ana Caro; and OUR HOOD, a bi-lingual cineplay by John Leguizamo. Director of Movement for Spike Lee's Oscar award-winning Blackkklansman, CHI-RAQ and She’s Gotta Have It on Netflix, and Executive Producer of Art of Dance, a documentary film, García generates original work at the intersection of theater, music, dance, film and tv. Having worked alongside Bill T. Jones to choreograph FELA!, the Tony award winning musical on Broadway and at the National Theater of London, she became Creative Director of FELA! world tours in the US, Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.  Directing credits include CRANE: on earth in sky by Heather Henson and Ty Defoe and Salsa Mambo Cha Cha Cha in La Habana Cuba. Regional Theater credits include original choreography for West Side Story at the Guthrie Theater; Kiss My Aztec by John Leguizamo and Tony Toccone at Berkeley Rep, and La Jolla Playhouse; Snow in Midsummer by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig at Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Cuba Libre by Carlos Lacámara at Artists Repertory Theater (PAMTA Award); and Fats Waller Dance Party with Jason Moran and Meshell N’degeocello at Harlem Stage, SF Jazz and the Kennedy Center.  Garcia founded Organic Magnetics in 2007 to generate urban folklore for the future.  She wrote, directed and produced Ghosts of Manhattan: 1512-2012 - an interactive history and immersive experience in Fort Tryon Park, and I Am NY: Juan Rodriguez at El Museo del Barrio.  Director of Education and Professional Training at the Guthrie Theater since 2018, Maija curates programming for UMN/Guthrie BFA Acting and leads A Guthrie Experience for MFA actors and theater makers. Maija earned a degree in Sustainable Development from the California Institute of Integral Studies in 2002.  Member of SDC since 2009, Tony Nominating Committee and McKnight Foundation Panel, she serves on the advisory boards of Melrose and Toro Center for Principled Leadership and Latiné Musical Theater Lab, and is an original signatory of We See You White American Theater.