Joy Vandervort-Cobb, Associate Artistic Director at PURE Theatre and Emerita Associate Professor of African American Theatre and Performance at the College of Charleston, began her career in theatre more than 40 years ago as an actress with the Freedom Theatre in upstate New York.

Through her work with Festival Theatre USA, Ms. Vandervort-Cobb’s work was seen at the Edinburgh Arts Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, and many of her shows have toured throughout the United States and Canada. Directing credits include national tours of Jackie, Vi, & Lena; My Soul is a Witness; Black Broadway; MAHALIA; From the Mississippi Delta (first national); Dreamgirls; Purlie and for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf.