Jessica Schechter has an MFA in Directing from the Actors Studio Drama School and a Bachelors degree in Educational Theatre from NYU. She is a certified theatre teacher in New York State and has been acting, directing, and running drama programs for over 15 years. Jessica is a professional stand up comedian and performed for a time with the improv troupe "Improvodox", a part of the 24/6 theater company. She came in second place in the Jewish Week's Funniest Jewish Comedian Competition and recently received the Young Leadership Award at Congregation Ohab Zedek. Jessica is a resident director at Infinite Variety Productions (IVP) a theater company dedicated to telling the untold stories of women in history. Jessica became a director member of the Actor's Studio's Playwright-Director's Unit in 2016. Trained through Stanislavsky and Meisner techniques, acting credits include: Soon By You (Noa), The Chas Veshalom Zone (Chloe), Uncle Vanya (Nanny),The Pavilion (Kari) Lou Gehrig Did Not Die of Cancer (Barbara), The Heidi Chronicles (Heidi), The Autumn Garden (Sophie), Through the Eyes of a Friend (Sarah), and Kindertransport (Eva), Jessica's directing credits include Putin and the Snowman (Strawberry Festival, Manhattan Repertory Theatre), Rhonda III (Actors Studio), Almost Finally (Thespis Festival), Insignificant (Infinite Variety Productions), Mend the Envelope (Midtown International Theater Festival), The Settler (24/6 Theater Co.) Fires in the Mirror (ASDS Repertory), Gruesome Playground Injuries (ASDS Repertory) Laundry and Bourbon (ASDS Repertory), The Third Wave (YUHSG Theater) I Never Saw Another Butterfly (HANC Drama Program) , A… My Name is Alice (ATARA Theater Co.) a special needs integrated production of The Little Mermaid (Flatbush HS), and original devised pieces at the Tizmoret Arts Conservatory. She is passionate about bringing professional quality arts programming to Jewish communities and helping people express themselves through improvisation and speaking. Jessica works as an adjunct professor in two different universities and works as a private acting and speech coach for people of all ages throughout the city. She is also the Director of Education/Business Development at a voice over company called Creative Media Design. Jessica is currently producing and acting in the hit web series "Soon By You." www.jessicaschechter.com Please vote for Jessica in the Jewish People's Choice Awards http://www.jewishpeopleschoice.com/Vote.html