Mikki Gillette

2022 New Voices Emerging Playwright

Mikki Gillette (she/her) is a trans woman playwright, whose work depicts the trans experience in all its juicy, dramatic richness. Her play The Queers enjoyed a sold-out run at Fuse Theatre Ensemble this spring. Her show Mimetic Desire is scheduled for production by the Pittsburgh Classic Players in winter 2022. Mikki’s work has been produced or developed at Artists Repertory Theatre, Transformation Theatre, the OUTwright Theatre Festival, Profile Theatre and Post5 Theatre. Her short work has appeared in inBetween Literary Journal, Rushing Thru the Dark, Masque & Spectacle, and other publications.

Currently residing: Portland, OR

Growing up: We lived in Eugene, OR, until I was 11, then moved to the San Fernando Valley in California.

Creative beginnings: I was in theater in high school with all the queers who didn’t know we were queer yet. We would make silly movies together on the weekends, which was fun. I think the real impact on my creative identity didn’t come until I went to college, majored in literature and saw what other playwrights had done with the form.

What nurtured your playwriting: After college, a former professor of mine became a mentor; my years of discussions with him helped me grow as a writer. More recently, the Fuse Theatre Ensemble in Portland has been a place that’s fostered and championed my work.

Stories you gravitate toward telling: The subjects my imagination gravitates toward are trans identity and the trauma I suffered as a survivor of sexual assault. Those are topics that felt invisible as I was growing up, and it’s cathartic to bring them to life through theater.

Writing process: When I’m writing, I tend to do one or two 90-minute sessions a day. I don’t outline, so first drafts feel like little miracles. For revisions, I usually work in consultation with a director or literary manager, or through a workshop process.

Currently inspired by: I recently had my first production in Portland, and it was a thrill. The prospect of sharing more of my work with audiences inspires me.

Currently in the works: An experimental play about early transition called The Darkroom, a family drama called Everything Hidden Will Be Revealed, and a queer romance called No More Candy.

Most looking forward to at ANPF: Being in Ashland, meeting other artists, visiting with Ellen Lewis, and the chance to develop new work.