about

BIG IDEAS, AMBITIOUS AESTHETICS

if it’s not Transcendent, annihilating, sexy and bold

stay home and watch Netflix.

April Cleveland is the Artistic Director of The Exodus Ensemble, an immersive theatre company based in Santa Fe.

With a background in Philosophy and Mathematics, April seeks out texts with big ideas and universal questions, transforming them into fast-paced and theatrical thrillers. She is drawn to visceral versions of classic texts, disorienting plays set in dystopic futures, and new work that investigates our contemporary perception of reality. April is deeply inspired by international theatre makers, and she is committed to fostering tight-knit ensembles of actors and designers.

Before Covid times, she directed for Classic Stage Company (NY), Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Red theatre (Chicago), and Jackalope Theatre (Chicago). April has served as the assistant director for badass directors like Robert Icke on HEXENJAGD at Theatre Basel, Switzerland, director Pam Mackinnon on DOWNSTATE in a coproduction between London’s National Theatre and Steppenwolf, and director Vanessa Stalling on A SHAYNA MAIDEL at TimeLine Theatre in Chicago.

April is a graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University (MFA Directing, 2019) and The Great Books Program at St. John’s College (BA, Philosophy, Mathematics, 2015). She studied acting at The Lee Strasberg Institute for Theatre and Film.