To Hum is Human

Holding Space for Story: The Art and Craft of Directing

Donnabelle Casis

What happens when directing becomes an act of deep listening—where structure meets intuition, and storytelling becomes a form of connection and healing?

In this episode, I speak with Daniel Elihu Kramer, an award-winning director, writer, filmmaker, and educator whose work bridges art, leadership, and community. Daniel served as Producing Artistic Director of Chester Theatre Company from 2015 to 2022, where he brought national recognition to this small theater on the edge of the Berkshires. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, Daniel also leads as the Grace Jarcho Ross Professor of Humanities and Chair of the Theatre Department at Smith College, shaping the next generation of storytellers.

Together, we explore the craft of holding space for story—the art of guiding collaboration, creating connection, and cultivating performances that linger long after the final curtain.

✨ Tune in for a conversation about art as community, leadership as listening, and theater as transformation.

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