PlayMakers director Joseph Haj honored

Joseph Haj is a man who knows how to be versatile.

In addition to his work as producing artistic director at PlayMakers Repertory Company, he has directed and produced plays with non-professionals in maximum security prisons located in Los Angeles, in the West Bank and Gaza and in rural South Carolina.

This week, PlayMakers is celebrating his success — Haj is the first member of the company to be honored with the Zelda Fichandler Award.

Members of PlayMakers said Haj brings great talent to the Chapel Hill theater community.

“Among the many causes that Joe advocates for is diversity and giving stage and voice to underrepresented populations,” said UNC dramatic arts professor Ray Dooley.

The award, named for the American director and producer, recognizes directors of regional theaters for their innovative work on and off stage. Haj was unanimously chosen from 62 other nominated directors and received a $5,000 prize. Haj will be honored on Nov. 3 in New York with a celebration, award ceremony and reception with the Stage Directors and Choreography Foundation.

Haj said he attributes much of his success to PlayMakers and the UNC community.

“To win an award that is given by one’s peers means that you have an organization that is thriving and highly functional,” he said. “The award is a great testament to the extraordinary people that I get to work with every day — the artists, artisans, craftspeople and administrators who really make this theater go.”

Producing artistic director since 2006, Haj has dedicated his time to working with the UNC theater community and engaging audiences beyond just entertainment. Along with Jeffrey Meanza, associate artistic director at PlayMakers, Haj works on scheduling the performances PlayMakers will run during the season.

“We have one of the most engaged communities in the country when it comes to theater. They love the work of this theater, and they support it meaningfully,” Haj said.

“They understand that PlayMakers plays a vital part in the cultural life of this community, and we’re very proud to be a part of that.”

Haj said he and Meanza purposefully choose plays with content that will provoke discussion and conversation with audience members.

“Joe’s a really collaborative partner and supports all of his coworkers to create and develop on their own,” Meanza said. “He empowers them to develop ideas and gives me particularly a lot of freedom and support to work with our community relationships.”

Haj said he is less focused on what the award means for him individually but rather on what it means for the company as a whole. Dooley, though, said Haj’s independent accomplishments can’t be overlooked.

“Having him win this award means to us that Joe is being recognized nationally for what we already knew about him,” Dooley said.

“That he is a great leader and a great artist.”

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