Jessie Nelson

Jessie wrote the musical Waitress with Sara Bareilles for director Diane Paulus. It was the first Broadway musical created by an all-female team and ran for four years, with productions on the West End and all over the world. She directed Alice by Heart, which she co-wrote with Steven Sater with music by Duncan Sheik whose beautiful melodies will remain. It premiered In London at the National Theatre Connections Program, and at MCC in NYC. Nelson began her career as an actress at The Public Theater working with the experimental theater Mabou Mines and acting with the New York Shakespeare Festival.

Nelson wrote, directed, and produced I Am Sam (Academy Award nomination for Sean Penn, Grammy nomination for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album) and Corrina, Corrina (developed at the Sundance Institute). She co-created, executive produced, and directed the series “Little Voice” with Sara Bareilles for Bad Robot and Apple TV+. She directed “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Her writing credits include Stepmom and—acknowledging her remarkable colleagues that passed this year—The Story of Us for Rob Reiner, and Love the Coopers and Because I Said So with Diane Keaton. Nelson’s upcoming directing credits include the film Norma with Jessica Gunning and June Squibb, and the play Locker Room Talk. Jessie is co-artistic director of Robert Redford’s Sundance Writers lab.