Emma Canalese is a graduate of The Western Australian Academy Of Performing Arts and The Neighborhood Playhouse NYC. She works between Australia and the USA, primarily as director/choreographer. Selected credits include: Pride and Prejudice (Australian Premiere), Blithe Spirit (nominated Best Director/Best Play, Broadway World Regional Awards), When We Were Young and Unafraid (nominated Best Director/Best Play, Broadway World Regional Awards), Peter and The Starcatcher (nominated Best Director of a Musical, Broadway World Regional Awards), Silent Sky (Naples Weekly Top Pick), Einstein and Mileva (World Premiere,Theatre Row), Hollywood, Hollywood (MITF, nominated Best Direction/ Choreography). Co-writer and director of 100 Years of the History of Dance, a Western Australian Critics Choice winner at Fringe World Festival with seasons at Brisbane Powerhouse and La Boite. Associate Director for the new musical Maggie, US Premiere at Goodspeed Musicals.
Emma is a recipient of Ensemble Theatre Sandra Bates Director’s Award ‘23. For Ensemble Theatre: Uncle Vanya (World Premiere of adaptation by Joanna Murray-Smith) Assistant Director to Mark Kilmurry, Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall Choreographer and Assistant Director to Mark Kilmurry, Suddenly Last Summer Assistant Director to Shaun Rennie. Her short film The Joneses has been screened in the USA, including SOHO ’24, and at The Croatian International Film Festival. Previous teaching engagements include Paper Mill Playhouse including Paper Mill Playhouse, RSAC at Rutgers, Pomona College, UNSW School of Theatre, Film and Dance, Stagedoor Manor, The Neighborhood Playhouse, and Talent Unlimited High School. She was a Guest artist at Norman Thomas High School through the Grand Street Initiative, and co-produced, directed and performed in The Collective NY’s C:10 To Go, a touring production of short plays and workshops aimed at university level training and taken to Coastal Carolina University. www.emmacanalese.