Irene Zhiyi Chen is an artist and educator who tells stories that dive into in-between spaces with relentless honesty and powerful tenderness, searching for belonging in transcultural, multilingual and intergenerational contexts. Chen graduated from Brown University with a B.A. (Hons) in Theatre Arts and Performance Studies and Education Studies, where she developed multiple original plays including Sailboat Lullaby (2024) and Close Embrace: A Solo Play (2025). Chen nurtures a commitment to culturally responsive education for multilingual learners in theatre and English classrooms. Chen has had the fortune of teaching classes and facilitating workshops on acting, playwriting, dancing, language learning and sexual health in school and community settings, and is currently pursuing an M.F.A. in Theatre with a specialization in drama and theatre for youth and communities at the University of Texas at Austin. Moving across the page and the stage, Chen seeks delight in creating opportunities for people to see themselves fully and build community from a place of spontaneity and honesty.
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