Bringing queer + trans stories to life

Josephine Kearns (she/her) is a theatre artist & gender consultant specializing in transgender, queer, and intersex issues.

Named a ‘person to watch’ by American Theatre Magazine, Josie’s work has been seen across the US and Canada. She is best known as one of the original conceivers of 2024’s Cats: The Jellicle Ball, currently taking the New York theatre awards season by storm. Her other credits include work with MCC, Playwrights Horizons, Delaware Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Seattle Rep, Fifth Ave. Theatre, East West Players, Royal Manitoba Theatre, and Shaw Festival Theatre, among others, as well as multiple Broadway development projects.

Josie has also served as gender consultant for Actors’ Equity Association, the American Theatre Wing, the Broadway League, Concord Theatricals, and the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA).

Her extensive background includes work as a Gender Program Coordinator at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, as a Research Specialist for TransFocus, and two decades in professional theatre. She has conducted over 200 trainings on gender inclusivity.