Alex Ates is a theater artist from New Orleans. He serves as the first Director of Arts at Kent Denver School.
Previously, he was the Director of Pre-K-12 Visual and Performing Arts and David Mallery Fellow at Westtown.
Since 2017, Alex has directed the Arts and Leadership Workshop at Teachers College, Columbia University. He regularly contributes to Backstage and has been published in American Theatre and HowlRound. Specializing in new play development and Shakespearean adaptations, he has incubated 11 works and directed The Shakespearean Jazz Show.
His academic research, featured in peer-reviewed journals, explores theater pedagogy, new play development, and youth-driven performance.
Alex has directed at Agnes Scott College, Emerson College, The University of Alabama, and Tulane University. Honors include the Performing Arts Chair Award from Emerson, the SETC Young Scholar Award, and recognition as a Dean's Graduate Scholar at NYU, where he graduated with the school's highest honor.