Tyrone Phillips is the founding Artistic Director of Chicago’s Definition Theatre and currently leading the capital campaign and development for the organization’s new center in Woodlawn. Named one of Newcity's Players—the 50 leaders of Chicago’s theater, dance, opera and comedy culture of 2022, he is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has also studied abroad at Shakespeare’s Globe. As a first generation Jamaican-American, Tyrone is passionate about equity and inclusion in the entertainment industry and has completed advanced anti-racism training to lead change in our community through storytelling, education, and music. Select directing credits include the critically-acclaimed World Premiere production of Byhalia, Mississippi (Joseph Jefferson Awards nomination for Best Director), Dutchman (Definition Theatre), The MLK Project: The Fight for Civil Rights (Writers Theatre), Dontrell Who Kissed The Sea (Illinois Theatre), Luck of the Irish (University of Illinois-Chicago). You also may have seen his work as the assistant director for Pig Pen Theatre Company’s The Tale of Despereaux (Old Globe, Berkeley Rep), Hamlet, Red Velvet (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre) Trevor the musical, Parade, and The Mystery of Love and Sex (Writers Theatre). Select acting credits include An Octoroon, A Doll’s House, The Brothers’ Size (Definition Theatre), Father Comes Home from the Wars (Goodman Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, King Charles III (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), George Orwell’s 1984 (Steppenwolf Theatre Company). Tyrone was also an emerging professional resident at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre where he worked on A Raisin in the Sun, The Mountaintop and Clybourne Park. Film/Television credits include The Red Line (CBS), Intersection (Award-winning short film), Boss (Starz), Chicago Justice (NBC), Divergent, Gimmick, DiGiorno's "Don't Settle" commercial, and McDonald’s “Mario-Kart Happy Meal” commercial. Tyrone is a proud member of the NAACP, SAG-AFTRA, SDC, and represented by Grossman and Jack Talent. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the League of Chicago Theatre’s.