Me

I was born in the rumble and flash of a thunderstorm. For as long as I can remember, or ever since I began to notice, I have been curious about that exciting, ‘unseen energy’. What we feel but cannot see.

That lively buzz that sometimes flows in the space between people.

The curious resonance, that mysterious little tingle that can draw you sometimes, when something catches your eye, or hits your ear.

I love those moments. So, it’s no mystery that I’ve found my way to working with actors…

And when I’m working on projects—or if I’m coaching you—my selfish, underlying hope is that we discover our own ways toward more and more of those moments, where the performance is flowing and flickering with energy and life.

As a director

As a director I want to make theatre that is palpable, and fearless.  If I want to do that, I need actors who not only want to do that with me, but who can do that.

So, I teach classes and coach actors 1:1.

I am deeply curious about actors. I’m drawn to helping actors develop the audacity, skills, and awareness to work with generous bravery, and shine.

I believe creativity suffers without trust.  Trust is only possible in feelings of safety.

Because of that, I am radically committed to kindness as the bedrock of the working environment.

Current projects…

Winter | 2023
I am currently directing Ditched, a ten minute play by William Thomas Berk, for Chapel Theatre’s Play Festival.

Winter – Summer | 2023
I am currently engaged in preparation to direct Antigone, for Metropolitan Performing Arts, Spring/2023.

I am currently engaged in development and preproduction to direct The Raven, a short film inspired by the poem by Edgar Allen Poe.

Bio notes

Jeffrey Puukka is a coffee-loving fellow of Finnish and Irish roots.

Some favorite projects from more than twenty years of directing include Steven Dietz’ This Random World and Polly Teale’s Mermaid (Metropolitan Performing Arts), Bardo in collaboration with dance artist and actor Lyra Butler-Denman, David Adjmi’s Elective Affinities, presented in Portland OR, Edinburgh, and Cambodia (SAVE WORLD ART / Worcester Productions), Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire (Sandy Actor’s Theatre), as well as his own adaptations of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and Women of Troy based on Euripides’ plays Hecuba and The Trojan Women.

Other writing and adaptation: Jeffrey has written and directed adaptations of Oedipus, as well as Antigone by Sophocles, and Phedre based on plays by Euripides and Racine. Jeffrey conceived the text for and directed a production of The Readiness Is All, an intermingling of iconic moments from six Shakespeare plays. Similarly, Jeffrey conceived the text for and directed a production of A Midnight Dreary, which dramatized selections of writing from Edgar Allen Poe. Jeffrey’s play The Tower Maiden’s Daughter wove dynamics from Beauty and the Beast, Rapunzel, and Snow White and The Seven Dwarves into a single narrative.

Teaching: in addition to his independent coaching and classes, Jeffrey has taught acting for Metropolitan Performing Arts, Mt. Hood Community College, the American Association of Community Theatres, and the Parks and Recreation platform of the City of Gresham.

Following his production of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, Jeffrey was invited to talk about his production and Tennessee Williams with American Theatre History students at Washington State University.

Since 2004, Jeffrey has collaborated frequently as an Interpretive Speaking coach for Sam Barlow High School’s nationally recognized Speech and Debate team.

Respects

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Jeffrey Puukka gratefully resides on the traditional lands of the Cowlitz and Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

ANTI-RACISM COMMITMENT / COLLABORATION PHILOSOPHY

Jeffrey Puukka welcomes people of all races, ages, religions, political affiliations, genders, countries of origin, sexual orientations, sizes, and abilities into collaboration with him, and the projects he facilitates as an independent theatre practitioner. Jeffrey is committed to anti-racism as a core thread of his own ongoing education, and a core value in his ongoing independent practice.