Ilana Toeplitz

Ilana Ransom Toeplitz (she/her) is a director, choreographer, writer, and educator specializing in new musicals, thoughtful revivals, comedy, pop and classical music -- and stories which amplify the female voice and historical perspective. Her pedagogy celebrates musical theatre directing, dramaturgy, humor, structure, inclusivity and new musical development. 

On Broadway, Ilana worked on the creative teams of THE PROM (Tony Nomination - Best Musical), VIOLET (Starring Sutton Foster, Tony Nomination - Best Revival of a Musical) and CRAZY FOR YOU at Lincoln Center with Susan Stroman.  

Ilana has directed world premieres with Lincoln Center, Drama League, NYMF, Adrienne Arsht Center, Berkshire Theatre Group, York Theatre Company, 54 Below & Boston’s Calderwood Pavilion. Ilana was the Associate Director on the National Tours of A CHRISTMAS STORY and DIRTY DANCING, as well as the resident director/choreographer for the TWUSA international tours of CLICK, CLACK, MOO! and A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

Some of Ilana’s other favorite director/choreographer credits include REEFER MADNESS (featuring Alan Cumming at New World Stages), CHICAGO, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, LEGALLY BLONDE, SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, and the world premiere of Drew Gasparini’s WE AREN’T KIDS ANYMORE. 

Ilana holds additional credits with Leigh Silverman, Casey Nicholaw, Baayork Lee, NY City Center, the Huntington Theatre, the York theatre, Second Stage (NYC), Signature Theatre (VA), the Pittsburgh CLO, and the late Stephen Sondheim. 

Ilana served as the Artistic Director of Musical Theatre & Dance at Musical Mentors Collaborative (MMC) and is a proud native of Pittsburgh, PA. She is a SDC Associate Member, an SDC Foundation Mike Ockrent Fellow & Drama League Directors Project Alum (Leo Schull New Musicals Directing Fellow). www.IlanaDirects.com