J. Cody Spellman (he/him) is a director for theatre and film whose work thrives in the collision of tragedy, comedy, and horror, creating bold, genre-bending stories that immerse audiences in worlds of deep catharsis and surprise. A Dayton, Ohio native, Cody studied directing at Columbia College Chicago and has since led productions across the country. He has held artistic and production leadership roles at Throughline Theatre Co. and Quantum Theatre, was an SDC Observership Class recipient (2019–2021), and is currently pursuing an MFA as a John Wells Directing Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University.

Theater directing credits include: A Moon for the Misbegotten by Eugene O’Neill (Quantum Theatre | #1 Best Play of 2024, OnStage Pittsburgh), Uncle Vanya (Throughline Theatre Co.), A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller (Throughline Theatre Co.), The Miseducation of 55th Street* (The Revival Comedy Theater), Deathtrap by Ira Levin (Little Lake Theatre Co.),  Kaitlin: a solo comedy review* by Kaitlin Larson, Burn* by Ian Michael James (World Premiere (Mercy Street Theatre Company), #Matter* by Idris Goodwin (Jackalope Theatre Co. Living Newspaper Festival), Public Parts* (Blood Oath. Comedy - The Second City), Root Sin* by Paloma Nozicka(Jackalope Theatre Co. Living Newspaper Festival), Bury The Ratchet* (Blood Oath Comedy -The Second City), The Blue Room by David Hare (Stage 773), Waiting for Grimace* by Ross Berman (The Neapolitans Theatre Co.), The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh, The Glory of Living by Rebecca Gilman, 27 Wagons Full of Cotton by Tennessee Williams, Christmas in Chicago* (The Fine Print Theatre Co.)

Film credits include: The Circle Children (Short film), We Are Nowhere (Short film), Poor You (Music video, song by Reliant Tom) #matter (Short Film - written by Idris Goodwin, directed & produced by J. Cody Spellman), Solo (Short film)), Blood Oath Comedy Pilot (Written by Blood Oath. Comedy, produced & directed by J. Cody Spellman) 3x (Creative director, music video series)

Staged Reading directing credits include: The Velvet Tabernacle by Michael Allen Harris, American Nocturne by Ross Berman, My 6 Year Old Therapist by David Himmel (The Fine Print Theatre Co), The Adventures of Bozonski & Kringle by Lucas Pusatelli (City Theatre Co., Young Playwrights Festival), Brian by Kevin Lewis (Television Pilot - Point Park University, MFA Screenwriting)

Assistant directing credits include: Birthday Candles (Dir. Marc Masterson, City Theatre), Pomona (Dir. Robin Wit, Steep Theatre), Death of A Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf: A Parody (Dir. Michael Halberstam & Stuart Carden, Writers Theatre) My Name Is Asher Lev (Dir. Kimberly Senior, TimeLine Theatre Co.), The Knowledge (Dir. Jonathan Berry, Steep Theatre), The Receptionist (Dir. Joanie Schultz, Steep Theatre), The Sweeter Option (Strawdog Theatre Co.) Floyd Collins (Dir. Tom Mula, Columbia College Chicago)

Dramaturgy credits include: The Raid (Jackalope Theatre Co.), Lunacy! (Jackalope Theatre Co.), The Late Henry Moss (Artistic Home), The Killing of Michael X: A New Film by Celia Wallace (Jackalope Theatre Co.), Saloon (Peninsula Players), Rocky Road (Columbia College Chicago & Millennium Park New Theatre Lab Series), Splendora, Floyd Collins (Columbia College Chicago: Main Stage)

*Denotes: World Premiere