Chen Shi-Zheng, born in 1963 in Changsha, Hunan, China, is a distinguished theater director based in New York. His artistic journey began at the Hunan Art School, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Traditional Opera. He further honed his craft with a Master’s degree from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. In recognition of his significant contributions to the arts, Chen was honored with the title of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 2000 by the French Ministry of Culture.
Chen made a notable entry into film with his directorial debut, *Dark Matter*, released in 2007, featuring acclaimed actors Liu Ye and Meryl Streep. This film garnered the prestigious Alfred P. Sloan Prize at the Sundance Film Festival the same year. Additionally, he showcased his innovative vision in theater by directing the operatic adaptation of *Monkey: Journey to the West*, a collaboration with musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, at the Manchester International Festival in mid-2007.
In 2008, Chen directed the inaugural performance of Stewart Wallace's opera *The Bonesetter's Daughter* at the San Francisco Opera, further solidifying his reputation as a versatile and imaginative director in both film and opera.
