Justin Gordon is an actor and stage director based in California and New Mexico.
Artist Statement
Storytelling is an integral part of the human experience. At once moving, inspirational, and often entertaining, it can drive us to imagine a present and future beyond that of our own existence through self-reflection and catharsis. Storytelling can be electric, educational—and at its best, transformative. Yet for me, the most important aspect of storytelling is community. Uniting a diverse crowd under one roof in order to share a common experience creates an exciting opportunity for an audience—no matter how disparate in belief—to align as one. I believe in the transformative power of theatre and film, and through the act of gathering, audiences gain yet another touchstone on the path toward tolerance, acceptance, and mutual respect. In short, theatre and film can change lives—and society—for the better.
I came to the performing arts in high school but surrendered wholly to theatre and film during my time in undergrad. Originally intending to study archaeology, I was drawn toward sifting through the past in order to learn more about our present. However, once I started studying theatre in lieu of anthropological sciences, I began to see that the two disciplines had more in common than I realized—particularly humankind’s search for meaning through art and storytelling. That discovery opened my eyes to the possibilities that theatre and film present and solidified my need to draw people together in order to share a common experience—and that need transfers to my process as an artist, whether in the director’s chair or in a character’s shoes. I believe in the ensemble, and the strong individuality and talents that unite to form a cohesive work.
This collaborative spirit drives my process, as does my background dreaming of ancient Mayan, Greek, and Egyptian artifacts. Directorially, it’s no coincidence that I am drawn toward re-imagining classical plays—particularly those of Shakespeare—in modern contexts, defying traditional expectations of Elizabethan and Jacobean staging in order to celebrate the universality of Shakespeare’s themes.
I also bring this approach to contemporary plays and musicals, asking my ensemble to think differently about character choices while still grounding them in realism, focusing on strong needs and points of view. I’m insatiably curious, and I demand my casts also live in a world of curiosity, employing multiple choices that we can mine together, as an ensemble. I find myself equally influenced by the work of Sanford Meisner, Jerzy Grotowski, Anne Bogart, and Peter Brook, veering toward immersive and minimal staging while pushing my cast toward raw, emotionally and physically aligned work. I also take this same approach when preparing my own work as an actor. A mentor from graduate school, Daniel Sullivan, once stated that our job (as artists) was to, “show up on time, know the texts backward and forward, and have a head full of ideas.” That lesson has stuck with me to this day.
I find my career in an exciting place, full of opportunity and potential. I have worked at large regional theaters, as well as scrappy, bold upstart companies. I’m producing my own work and have enjoyed adding theatre education into my artistic experience. I have films and television shows streaming on major services, and every day I expand my community, which I prize and value above all. My remaining goals are to continue to push my work forward, both as an actor, director, and educator, and to build a creative home for artists and audiences who recognize that the performing arts can be a place where ideas are shared and debated, where inclusivity, acceptance, and respect are paramount, and community is celebrated. “We are such stuff as dreams are made on,” and I believe that the power of storytelling can truly unite us, hearts aligned, as we walk toward a better world.
Biography
Born in Bakersfield, California and raised in the picturesque Sierra Nevada Mountains, Justin fostered a love of story-telling from an early age.
After a brief stint studying Archaeology at university, Justin’s passion for theatre and film eventually took over, and he began his journey to become a working theatre and film artist.
He has studied at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, England, and received his M.F.A. in Theatre from the Professional Theatre Training Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Justin has worked as an actor and director in regional theatre across the United States, and internationally as an actor in film and TV. He is the founding Artistic Director of New Canon Theatre Co.. in Monterey, CA, and is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA, Actor’s Equity Association, the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (Associate), and serves on the Advisory Board of Live Arts Santa Fe.
When he’s not working, Justin is an avid hiker, backpacker, and rock climber—holding true to his roots as a mountain brat. He splits time between California and New Mexico.
