Jeni Jones is a director, actor, playwright, producer, and performer whose 30-year career spans theatre, film, music, and spoken word. Known for her work as a Beckettian actor and director, she has directed productions of Waiting for Godot, Krapp’s Last Tape, NOT I, and ROCKABY, and has earned recognition including an NAACP Theatre Award. Her work combines classical theatre with contemporary approaches, including hip-hop and performance art.

In this program, Jones explores Samuel Beckett’s female-centered works, focusing on NOT I and ROCKABY. Through discussion and a hip-hop-infused demonstration, she examines Beckett’s challenging texts and her process for bringing them to life. NOT I, Beckett’s intense and rapid-fire monologue delivered by “Mouth,” and ROCKABY, a haunting meditation on memory and mortality, offer a different perspective on the playwright’s work while exploring themes of identity, isolation, and human connection.