Jessica Jahn

With degrees in both dance and psychology from Rutgers University New Jersey, Jessica Jahn danced professionally in New York before starting a career in costume design. Known for her work in the traditional repertoire, she is also dedicated to innovative work within her field. Jessica collaborated on one of the earliest performances of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s In the Red and Brown Water, directed by Tina Landau, and worked with Jessica Blank, Eric Jensen and Steve Earle on Coal Country, as well as with Tracy K. Smith and Gregory Spears on Castor and Patience at Cincinnati Opera. She was awarded both the Lucille Lortel and Drama Desk for her design of Charles Busch’s The Confession of Lily Dare. Based on her lived experience as a black woman, Jessica is dedicated to racial and social justice, taking a holistic approach to her work through the lens of equity. Currently, she is a member of the steering committees of Opera America’s Women’s Opera Network (WON) and Racial Justice Opera Network (RJON), and served as the inaugural advisor to the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) committee at the Glimmerglass Festival, as well as the lead coordinator for their equity initiatives.

DNO: Blue

Last update: 12 October 2022