Our Artistic Director
Rachel Van Warnick

Rachel Van Warnick (they/she) is a transplant from Arkansas who has worked in theatre for more than 23 years. They started their stage career studying opera performance in undergrad. After school, Rachel continued to perform in numerous plays, musicals, and indie films while simultaneously completing law school and practicing law for a number of years.

They moved to Chicago in 2015 to expand their theatre experience and, for the last 10 years, have acted in, directed, and produced works throughout Chicago. Rachel joined Stage Left in 2022 as an Ensemble Member and had a fulfilling experience directing Stage Left’s spring 2023 show, In the Back On the Floor. They are honored to be trusted enough by their wildly talented peers to have been serving as Artistic Director since June 2024. Rachel largely focuses on producing these days, but continues to direct and act when the chance arises, and is represented by Promote Talent.