September 11, 2026

Meet the director of Wicked Lit 2026: La Llorona and The Headless Horseman: Katie Chidester! Katie is a Southern California-based stage director dedicated to making work that centers on storytelling, collaboration, and a strong female voice. This is her first time working with Unbound Productions, welcome into la familia, Katie!

Katie’s selected World/West Coast premieres include Mantinicus (Chance Theater), We Will Not Describe the Conversation (STAGEStheater), The Miss Julie Dream Project (Son of Semele), The Last Temptation of Paula Deen (Hollywood Lounge Theater), and Edge (Chance Theater, ATLA Digital Theater Festival).

Other selected credits include Sense and Sensibility (Costa Mesa Playhouse), Beautiful Star (Regional NC Triad Stage), Machinal by Sophie Treadwell (Long Beach Playhouse), Sans Merci (The Garage, Long Beach), Les Liaisons Dangereuses and Cloud 9 (UNCG), War of the Worlds (Curtis Theatre), What the Constitution Means to Me (Chance Theater, winner of Outstanding Production 2025 OCTG Theater Award).

Katie interned at Yale School of Drama, Summer Cabaret, alumni of Directors Lab West and SDC Observership. She is the co-founder of Project La Femme, and a Chance Theater Resident Artist. Katie is a board member of OC Theatre Guild. B.A. Theatre USC, M.F.A. University of North Carolina, Greensboro.