Vanessa Sears is a Dora, Toronto Theatre Critics, BroadwayWorld and Critic’s Pick Award winning artist based in Toronto. She began her training as a director through Musical Stage Company’s apprentice program where she co-directed the Banks Prize Cabaret Baapii Roho. She has since gone on to direct for The Grand, Theatre Sheridan, Talk is Free, the Stratford Festival Meighen Forum, and most recently was an assistant director on Shaw Festival’s Holiday Inn. As an educator and community member she has worked with Shakespeare in Action creating and facilitating youth summer arts programming and currently serves as the vice-chair of the board for the Canadian Green Alliance, a non-profit which aims to bridge the gap between theatre and sustainability. Vanessa is beyond thrilled and incredibly thankful to have been selected for this fellowship and is eager to begin her journey with ThisGen!