News

Kara is thrilled to share that during the 2023-2024 academic year she will be pursuing an MPhil in Theatre and Performance at Trinity College Dublin in beautiful Ireland. The program will commence in a dissertation which will seek to understand how the performing arts can create a higher education curriculum that trains young artists for a sustainable future. It is her belief that this comes from a holistic education that promotes art for social progress.

This adventure is a direct result of beginning heARTwork. Without this passion project, she would not be where she is now. She is so excited to see how this next step helps to progress the foundational discoveries she made in 2020, and hope to share my results in a public setting as time goes on.

In Summer of 2022 and 2023 Kara had the pleasure of directing the Youth Company at the Bucks County Playhouse in ALiEN8 a new musical that explores the story of a community who is visited by a being that turns their world upside down as “8” communicates using strange gestures. The show explores themes of mental health, empowering trans youth, and connection. Kara’s vision for the show can be seen below.

From the Fall of 2021 to the Summer of 2023 Kara worked for Passage Theatre Company and Artworks Trenton as the Marketing and Engagement Associate/Marketing & Media Consultant. During her time she oversaw numerous campaigns to champion the power of arts in urban settings as a tool for redevelopment, empowerment, and community gathering. To learn more about these organizations and their work please visit artworkstrenton.org and passagetheatre.org.

heARTwork is the career development process for young and aspiring artists created by Kara Jonsson. It is based on an interwoven commitment to Passion, Professionalism, and Personal Development. The organization is currently in its early stages of development and is set to launch in Fall of 2020.

Want to learn more about heARTwork?

Send us an email at heARTwork@karajonsson.com

Currently, Kara is working as an Assistant Director on the Ok Trenton Project. This two year play development process will culminate in a documentary style production in the Passage Theatre Company’s Season for 2021.

This project will use the development process created and made famous by Tectonic Theatre Project. Members of the Tectonic team will be working alongside the Ok Trenton artists to develop this play.

For more information please visit: PassageTheatreCompany.org

Recently, Kara became a member of the Director’s Gathering. With opportunities to assist in the annual DG Jam, meet with up and coming playwrights, and connect with artists throughout the Philadelphia area; Director’s Gathering is a wonderful artistic opportunity! For more information please visit www.directorsgathering.org

This Spring, Kara directed a workshop production of Lauren Gunderson’s play I and You. Featuring Jerome Manning and Julia Mandelbaum, I and You tells the story of two young adults struggling to find strength in their weakness and allow for compassion and vulnerability in an unpredictable world.

This June, Kara will be joining the Production Team of Assistants the Musical for their Off-Broadway run at The Players Theatre. Kara will be working as Assistant Director under C Ryanne Domingues. For more information about Assistants please click here. For audition information click here.

What does Broadway World have to say about Assistants the Musical? Check it out by clicking here!

This Fall, Kara accepted the position of Admissions Counselor with her Alma Mater Rider University. She will be overseeing the audition process for all incoming students Rider’s Westminster College of the Arts. Go Broncs!

This fall, Kara Stage Managed & Assistant Directed The Real Life Adventures of Jimmy de las Rosas at Passage Theatre Company. Alongside a fantastic Cast & Creative Team, Jimmy brought to life the exciting tale of three young & unlikely superheroes from Chicago who team together to save the world from a pack of mutant chihuahuas & their evil leader Don Manuel.Want to learn more about Passage Theatre Company? CLICK HERE!

 Thursday April 12th | 7:30pm | The Spitz Theatre

This spring, Kara will embark on the Direction & Choreography of the first annual Me Too Monologues at Rider University. The Monologues are a part of an international model that began at Duke University in 2009. Alongside Rider University's Student Government Association, the production team of the Monologues took anonymous submissions regarding the topic of mental health and transformed them into pieces of art including a Graphic Design Presentation, a dance piece, and group/solo monologues. 

The show will be hosted by Broadway Alumni Christopher Rice and each attendee will be entered into a drawing to win tickets to Broadway's Dear Evan Hansen. 

The Me Too Monologues provide an opportunity for the Rider community to unite in our tumultuous world, and share the message that you are never alone. 

Join us Thursday April 12th for our Mental Health Fair at 6:30pm & stay for our 7:30pm show in the Spitz Theatre.

#RUMeToo

Don't miss The Theory of Relativity at Rider University! Kara will be featured throughout the show as Julie, lover of all things feline.

Wednesday February 21st -Sunday February 25th

Admission: $25 adults, seniors/non-Rider students: $20

Box Office: 609-896-7775

Get your tickets today!

A joyous and moving look at our surprisingly interconnected lives. Whether you're allergic to cats, in love for the first or tenth time, a child of divorce, a germaphobe or simply a unique individual, audience members and actors alike are sure to find themselves in this fresh new musical. Through a seemingly unrelated collection of songs, scenes and monologues, The Theory of Relativity introduces a compelling array of characters experiencing the joys and heartbreaks, the liaisons and losses, the inevitability and the wonder of human connection.