Shariffa Ali is an international creative leader committed to advancing radical change through the power of art & activism. She works across disciplines directing and producing plays, virtual reality experiences & film. Originally from Kenya and raised in South Africa, Shariffa has been a New York resident since 2013 where she has worked primarily as a director and administrator. 

Her early years were profoundly influenced by visits to the lush landscapes of Nandi Hills, Kenya, where she was captivated by the stories shared by her grandmother and village elders in the poetic rhythm of Kalenjin. These early experiences ignited a passion for storytelling that would shape her career in theater and performance.

In May 2013, she embarked on what was intended as a brief trip from her home in South Africa to Pittsburgh, where she was commissioned as a guest director at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture. This journey unexpectedly led her to New York City, a vibrant hub whose dynamic energy and creative fervor inspired her to establish it as her home base in 2015.

Since relocating to New York, she has made significant contributions to the arts community, notably at prestigious institutions such as The Public Theater and The New Group. In addition to her role at Brown University, she holds a faculty position at Princeton University's Lewis Center for the Arts, where she imparts her expertise in directing and storytelling to aspiring creatives.

Her artistic endeavors have extended beyond conventional boundaries, encompassing pioneering Afrofuturist virtual reality projects showcased at esteemed venues including the Sundance Institute Lab and the Royal National Theater. Her directorial achievements encompass acclaimed productions at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Off-Broadway premieres at Classic Stage Company. Grounded in a commitment to collaboration and inclusivity, she values the diverse partnerships she has cultivated with visual artists, refugees, dancers, and other communities, enriching her creative vision and practice.

As an interdisciplinary artist, producer, and arts administrator, she champions creative leadership and fosters environments conducive to artistic growth and exploration. Her work at the intersection of humanitarianism and performance reflects a steadfast belief in the transformative power of storytelling and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Selected Works:

Film/VR directing: Ash Land, Atomu (Official Selection at Sundance Festival 2020), Sink Sank Sunk, You Go Girl! (Official Selection at Sundance Festival 2022), O-Dogg (Oregon Shakespeare Festival)

Selected theatre directing:

Sweet Chariot (Public Theater UTR), Mies Julie (Classic Stage Company), School Girls; or The African Mean Girls Play (Pittsburgh Public Theatre), The Copper Children (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Mlima’s Tale (St. Louis Rep)

Honors:

New Frontier Fellow, Sundance Institute Lab;  Royal National Theater (UK); POV/PBS Spark Grant; Hermitage Major Theatre Award; Swayzee Artist in Residence, Miami University, Oxford Ohio 

For more information visit  www.Shariffa.com