James Ortiz

Based in New York City, James Ortiz is a director, actor, writer, designer, and puppeteer. He was the recipient of the 2016 OBIE Award for Puppet Design for his critically acclaimed Off-Broadway show, The Woodsman.

Ortiz is co-artistic director of Strangemen & Company, which was founded in 2010 by graduates of the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Purchase.
Through spectacular life-size puppetry and original music by violinist Edward W. Hardy, the ensemble of Strangemen & Co. presented an inventive take on one of America’s original fairy tales. The Woodsman (which featured nine Purchase alums) debuted in 2012 at Standard ToyKraft in Brooklyn, followed by a 2013 run at the Ars Nova ANT Fest. It was produced Off-Broadway at 59E59 Theaters in 2014 and 2015, and at New World Stages in 2016, where it concluded its critically-lauded Off-Broadway run in May 2016.
On and Off-Broadway Ortiz has designed for the Theatre for a New Audience, The Public Theatre (King Lear), Shakespeare Theatre of DC (The Tempest), and The New Group (Mercury Fur) among others.
As a director, his work has been seen at New World Stages, Ars Nova, 59e59, and others. As an actor, Ortiz’s credits include The Woodsman (New World Stages), El Gato Con Botas (Tectonic Theatre Co.), On the Head of a Pin (Strangemen), Rhinoceros (UglyRhino Theatre Co.), Wanda’s Monster (Making Books Sing).