Photo by Madeleine Barker
Hey there! My name is Jihan, a self-proclaimed mover, shaker, people-watcher, and researcher. I’m also known as a theatre maker, actor, and dancer, while some call me friend, daughter, partner, or sister.
Regardless of any one title, I am certain of a few things: I am all of these things! I love humanity. I am frustrated with humanity. I invest in excavating the human condition. And I am dedicated to amplifying the voices of my communities and those of my marginalized siblings through the art of storytelling — voices which are all too often silenced.
I was born in the Pacific Northwest to two amazing immigrant parents who constantly fueled my imagination and creativity. I grew up hearing stories of post-war Korea, the Honduran countryside, and my Lebanese ancestors. My parents used story to protect, preserve, uplift, and entertain. Before I knew it, storytelling became a part of my everyday vocabulary, a vocabulary I still use to this day.
I was once told, “Theatre doesn’t change the world. Theatre changes people who then change the world.” This slice of truth is what drives me to be the best artist I can possibly be; the possibility of change, the possibility of a shift. Every day I create, every day I move, every day I act, I am in full service to the work and to the possibility that somewhere, out there, I am creating change.