JOANN YARROW

AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR, PRODUCER, PERFORMANCE COACH, NARRATIVE CONSULTANT

Joann Maria Yarrow is a seasoned director and producer with 35 years of experience in story development across multiple platforms. Born in Colombia with UK roots, she has worked globally in countries including Korea, Japan, Denmark, Spain, Kenya, and the US. Currently, she serves as Director of Community Engagement at Syracuse Stage and Executive Director of Distinctive Voices, specializing in theatrical narrative consulting and performance coaching. She is also the CEO of Live Animation Studios, producing bilingual film and television content.

Joann’s career began with Double Edge Theatre in Boston, followed by training at Odin Teatret in Denmark. She co-founded A Laboratory for Actor Training in NYC, worked with East Coast Artists, and assisted Broadway legend Hal Prince on productions like Phantom of the Opera and Show Boat. As Artistic Director of Teatro Prometeo for 12 years, she directed over 80 productions in Spanish and created groundbreaking multilingual works.

She collaborates internationally on animation and live-action projects and consults for ADA Animation in Kenya. A published author and Associate Producer for Directors Lab West, Joann’s work is featured in major publications and books, and she is recognized for her contributions to social justice and empowering women’s voices globally.

Joann’s passion lies in fostering multicultural productions that inspire and challenge audiences worldwide.