As a military brat, Jessica Burton likes to say she is from everywhere and nowhere.  Most recently she is from Austin, Texas, where she received her Doctor of Musical Arts in Opera Direction from the University of Texas at Austin.  She also has a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and a Bachelor of Science in Technical Theatre from West Texas A&M University.  During the pandemic, she taught private voice and musicianship classes at Orpheus Academy of Music in Austin.  She has worked in almost every aspect of theatre: director, performer, designer, and administrator.

While in residency at Indianapolis Opera, Jessica directed mainstage shows Il barbiere di Siviglia, the Indiana premiere of Charlie Parker’s Yardbird at the historic Madam Walker Legacy Center, and the 50th Anniversary Gala Concert, all to great acclaim.  Other directing credits include Gallantry, and Veteran Journeys with Indianapolis Opera; Little Women, At the Statue of Venus, Speed Dating Tonight, and Das Lied von der Erde with UT Austin; Cendrillon and Pomme d’api with FAVA France; Angels in America, The Laramie Project, and Bent with Avenue 10; and numerous scenes and concert programs.  She has also assistant directed at Indianapolis Opera, Austin Opera, Amarillo Opera, LOLA (Local Opera Local Artists), UT Austin, Spotlight on Opera, and FAVA France.

One of Jessica’s signatures is creating dynamic projections that create a vibrant and interactive world around the actors.  From the music in Charlie Parker’s mind swirling around; to shadows overtaking the stage in a Looney Tunes version of the Barber of Seville, her projections always delight the audience.