Jenise Cook is the embodiment of the 21st-century theatre artist. An award-winning director, performer, movement specialist, intimacy director, educator, and cultural consultant, her work lives at the intersection of radical joy, rigorous craft, and visionary storytelling. She is a force in contemporary theatre practice, leading with a deep commitment to collaborative process, embodied performance, and consent-based methodologies.

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With an MFA in Acting and Directing from the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory and a BFA/BA double major from Michigan State University, Jenise’s artistic roots are both expansive and deeply grounded. Her professional career spans opera houses, regional theatres, experimental spaces, and commercial work across the country. She has performed in the international TV series Moon and Me (CBeebies), which was nominated for a BAFTA Children’s Award in the Pre-School Live Action category in 2019, and has several commercial credits to her name. Her theatre credits include world premieres at Unicorn Theatre and Glow Lyric Theatre, mainstage intimacy direction for Starlight Theatre and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and transformative devised work that centers underrepresented voices and new narratives.

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Jenise has taught at institutions including the University of Central Missouri and the University of Missouri Kansas City, where she developed and led courses in acting, movement, voice, audition technique, and period styles. She is a member of the National Alliance of Acting Teachers and was honored with the Kennedy Center’s Region 5 Acting Teacher of Excellence Award in 2024. She continues to facilitate workshops and masterclasses nationally and remains deeply invested in shaping future theatre-makers through consent-forward, culturally conscious training. Her teaching is rooted in joy, rigor, and a passion for student empowerment.

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Her intimacy work is shaped by extensive training in trauma-informed practice, anti-racism, gender and sexuality advocacy, and conflict resolution. She is currently working toward full certification with Intimacy Directors and Coordinators (IDC) and brings an intersectional lens to every project, advocating for environments that uplift artistry while honoring safety, identity, and the agency of every artist involved.

Whether she is on stage, in rehearsal, or in the classroom, Jenise Cook brings fearless imagination, cultural precision, and a devotion to the next evolution of American theatre. Her mission is clear: transform the process, elevate the work, and create space where bold, brave storytelling can thrive.