Maija García
Maija García is a visionary artist renowned for her dynamic work in theater, film & tv, music, dance and live installations. Since moving to Minneaoplis from Harlem in 2018, García has served as Director of Education and Professional Training at the Guthrie Theater where she curated advanced training and professional development for actors and theater makers and built digital theater curriculum for educators. As a director, García has helmed a range of productions, from original musicals to bilingual classics, operas and concerts. Recent world premieres include I Am Betty by Christina Luzarraga and Denise Prosek at the History Theater and VALOR, a Spanish golden-age play by Ana Caro with MFA actors in A Guthrie Experience. She is currently developing Water Riot by Derek McPhatter and Mike Prysgoda, co-produced by New York Live Arts and the National Black Theater.García’s movement direction is featured in Spike Lee’s Oscar award-winning Blackkklansman, CHI-RAQ and She’s Gotta Have It on Netflix. Maija worked alongside Bill T. Jones to choreograph FELA!, the Tony award winning musical on Broadway and at the National Theater of London; directed FELA! World Tour in the US, Europe and Africa and FELA! The Concert in Australia and New Zealand. García worked with indigenous artists in New York City to develop CRANE: on earth in sky by Heather Henson and Ty Defoe in collaboration with the Jim Henson Company, and directed Salsa Mambo Cha Cha Cha at Teatro Mella in La Habana, Cuba with Isaac Delgado, Santiago Alfonso, and X Alfonso and the film production team at Fábrica de Arte Cubano.
Prior to creating original choreography for West Side Story at the Guthrie Theater, Maija choreographed Kiss My Aztec by John Leguizamo and Tony Toccone at Berkeley Rep and La Jolla Playhouse; Snow in Midsummer by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig at Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Cuba Libre by Carlos Lacámara at Artists Repertory Theater (PAMTA Award); Another Word for Beauty by Jose Rivera at the Goodman Theater; Hatuey: Memory of Fire by Frank London Elise Thoron at Montclair Peak Performances; and Fats Waller Dance Party in collaboration with Jason Moran and Meshell N’degeocello at Harlem Stage, UMS, San Francisco Jazz Festival and the Kennedy Center. In 2006 García founded Organic Magnetics (OM) to generate urban folklore for the future and sustainable solutions through the arts. She wrote, directed & produced Ghosts of Manhattan: 1512-2012, an interactive history - an immersive exerience in Fort Tryon Park, and I Am NY: Juan Rodriguez about New York’s first immigrant at El Museo del Barrio.
An artist, intellectual and world builder, Maija studied International Relations at San Francisco State University and earned a degree in Sustainable Development from the California Institute of Integral Studies. A member of SDC (Society of Stage Directors & Choreographers) since 2009, she served on the Tony Nominating Committee for the Broadway League 2018-2022. García is an Advisory Board member of the Melrose Center for Principled Leadership at the University of St. Thomas, and serves on the Downtown Action Council for the City of Minneapolis.
Maija is a brilliant director - an inspiration in any room. Her curiosity and ambition are the bedrock of her spirit, producing impressive results on and off stage. Maija led the cast, crew, and writers alike on ‘I Am Betty’ to create and interpret a colossal story, spanning 100 years of history. Maija’s attention to detail is only matched by her love of the art form and humanity throughout the process.
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Jason Hansen
Maija is one of the most passionate and compassionate leaders I've ever had the pleasure of working with. Her vision for connecting the art form with community is unparalleled and she truly believes in the power of arts education to impact the lives of all generations.
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Beyond her work at the Guthrie, she has become a highly esteemed leader within the Twin Cities theater community and a sought-after artist and collaborator. Simply put, I would walk on hot coals and shards of glass to get the opportunity to work with her again. She adds value to any room she's in and delivers her message with generosity, hope and grace.
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Jeffrey Meanza
Maija is a masterful champion of artists and the world they inhabit. She skillfully negotiates projects with her ability to visualize and direct while creating a thriving, inclusive community. Her deep passion drives the important development of new and aspiring artists, culminating internal bridges within organizations, forging fresh partnerships, and elevating others with her keen intellect. She is a dedicated artist and a powerful force for change and inspiration.
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Michelle Hutchison