Kara Raphaeli

Kara holds a PhD from the joint program in Theatre and Drama at UC San Diego and UC Irvine, with a certification in Critical Gender Studies. Restoration Theatre, Performance of Gender, Crossdressing, Trans Studies, LGBTQ+ Performance. Their dissertation,  “The Clothes Make the Man: Theatrical Crossdressing as Expression of Gender Fluidity in Seventeenth- through Nineteenth-Century Performance” examines historical crossdressing and male impersonation as trans performances. Kara is currently researching non-normative gender representation in early 20th century children’s literature.

Before moving to San Diego in 2013, Kara spent a decade as a director, producer, and dramaturg in New York City including performances at the New York Fringe Festival, Midtown International Festival, Planet Connections Festivity and the New York Avant Garde Arts Festival (winner, Best Director, 2012). They prefer to develop new plays which showcase queer and trans performers and apporach the rehearsal room as a collaborative space. Kara is currently based in San Diego, though spending a few months a year in their hometown of New York City, so sent an e-mail if you are interested in collaborating in either city.