About CJ
Ciera Jo "CJ" McDonald is a theatrical director based out of Albany, NY. She attended Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania where she received a dual degree in Theatre with concentrations in Acting and Directing and Business Administration with a concentration in Management and Operational Studies. She has a background in stage management which has allowed her to work as an ASM for Playhouse Stage Company in Albany, NY, a SM for The Albany Academy, and an ASM and props mistress for Muhlenberg College. CJ has worked under the IATSE 592 (Saratoga, NY) and 14 (Albany, NY) branches as a stagehand for multiple concerts and specialty performances. Past acts she was worked for include (but are not limited to) Dave Matthews Band, Morgan Wallen, Norah Jones, Josh Groban, Train, The Lumineers, John Fogerty, Hootie and the Blowfish, The Chicks, Brit Floyd, Backstreet Boys, Dead and Co., and Rod Stewart. She is skilled in the areas of lighting and sound system construction, video wall and set building, pyrotechnics, and wardrobe/dressing. CJ has worked on the wardrobe and prop crews for The New York City Ballet for the past three years and has worked wardrobe for Caralee Carmello in The Saratoga Opera's production of Hugh Wheeler's Sweeney Todd. She has been a theatre teacher and director for children's productions on-and-off for seven years with experience through The Albany Academy and Drama Kids International. In these positions, she directed and assistant-directed Seussical Jr., Smarty Pants, The Cleanest Town in Texas, Footloose Youth Edition, Almost, Maine, Into the Woods, and How I Became a Pirate. While in college, CJ assistant-directed two productions for her institution's theatre department (Local Girls and Head Over Heels) while appearing in two other productions as an actor (The Saint Plays: The Freak and ...And Jesus Moonwalks the Mississippi) and two more ("Family Values" and ...And Jesus Moonwalks the Mississippi) as an ASM/props mistress and assistant vocal coach, respectively. She has previous experience working at Muhlenberg College's fully-functioning costume shop where she made pieces for The Importance of Being Earnest, A Raisin in the Sun, and Into the Woods as well as mainstage dance productions. She also attended the Semester-Long Physical Theatre Program at Academia dell'Arte in Arezzo, Italy in Spring of 2022 where she was trained in commedia dell'arte, clowning, devised and avant-garde theatre, and storytelling. CJ is a professional national anthem singer for both the U.S. and Canadian anthems and has performed a patriotic tribute with Emmy-Award Winning Singer/Songwriter Patrick Sieben.