American Theatre’s Artistic Directors
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- Director
- Actor
- Writer
Jon Jory was born on 1 June 1937 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a director and actor, known for Great Performances (1971), Shannon (1961) and The 34th Annual Tony Awards (1980). He has been married to Marcia Dixcy since 8 March 1987. They have one child. He was previously married to Lee Ann Fahey and Leslie Cass.Actors Theatre of Louisville in Kentucky- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Gary Alan Sinise was born in Blue Island, Illinois, to Mylles S. (Alsip) and Robert L. Sinise, A.C.E., a film editor. He is of Italian (from his paternal grandfather), English, Scottish, Irish, French, German, and Swedish ancestry. His family moved to Highland Park, where he attended high school. He was something of a rebel, playing in bands but paying little attention to school.
Gary and some friends tried out for "West Side Story" as a lark, but Gary was hooked on acting for life by closing night. Gary credits his love for theatre to his drama teacher, Barbara Patterson. In 1974, Gary, Terry Kinney, and Jeff Perry founded the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago. Initially performing in a church basement, the company grew and gained stature in the Chicago area. In addition to acting in many plays, Gary also directed some of Steppenwolf's most notable productions, including Sam Shepard's "True West". The company made its off-Broadway debut with that production, starring Gary and John Malkovich, and its Broadway debut with "The Grapes of Wrath" at the Cort Theatre in 1990. Gary's Hollywood career also started in the director's chair with two episodes of the stylish TV series Crime Story (1986), followed in 1988 by the feature Miles from Home (1988) starring Richard Gere. Gary's first feature film as an actor was the World War II fable A Midnight Clear (1992) in 1992. That year also found Gary combining his acting and directing talents with the critically acclaimed Of Mice and Men (1992). His first real notice by the public came in 1994, however. He starred in the blockbuster miniseries The Stand (1994), rapidly followed by his bravura performance as "Lt. Dan" in Forrest Gump (1994). His portrayal of the disabled, emotionally tortured veteran earned Gary numerous awards and an Oscar nomination. Busy 1994 was followed by busy 1995, first reuniting with Tom Hanks in Apollo 13 (1995) and then starring in the HBO film Truman (1995) which earned him the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards and an Emmy nomination.
Gary is married to Moira Sinise, an actress and original member of the Steppenwolf company. They have three children, Sophie Sinise, McCanna Anthony Sinise and Ella Sinise.Co founder of Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Terry Kinney, the stage, film and television actor, was born in Lincoln, Illinois and attended Illinois State University. While at university, his friend, the aspiring actor Jeff Perry, took Kinney to Chicago to see a production of "Grease" in which his best friend, Gary Sinise, was appearing. The like-minded trio of Sinise, Perry and Kinney opened their own Chicago theatrical troupe, the Steppenwolf Theatre, in 1973 in the basement of a church in Highland Park. The company's metamorphosis into one of the country's great regional theatrical companies began in 1976, after Kinney and Perry joined it full-time after graduating from college. The theater has, since 1976, put on a full season of ensemble works.
The founders of Steppenwolf supported the theater and themselves with odd jobs until he company began financially self-supporting in the early 1980s. Re-located in the old St. Nicholas Theater, Steppenwolf's productions began to attract a steady audience. Steppenwolf flourished artistically and financially in the '80s, and moved once again to its permanent home at 1650 N. Halsted Street in Chicago.
At the height of the company's fame, Kinney and Sinise were Steppenwolf's artistic co-directors, winning numerous awards, and even transferring some productions, such as their monumental adaptation of John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath", to Broadway. In addition to Kinney and Sinise, the company included such first rate actors as John Malkovich, Joan Allen and John Mahoney. As an actor, Kinney was nominated for a Tony Award for his appearance as the "Reverend Casy" in "Grapes."
Kinney made his movie debut in 1985, with a bit part in Seven Minutes in Heaven (1986), and has been much in demand as a supporting actor ever since. On television, he had a recurring role on Thirtysomething (1987) and appeared as a regular on the HBO prison drama Oz (1997).Co founder of Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Director
Jeffrey Perry is an American actor of stage, television, and film. He is known for his role as Richard Katimski on the teen drama My So-Called Life, Thatcher Grey on the medical drama series Grey's Anatomy, Cyrus Beene on the political drama series Scandal, all for ABC, and as Inspector Harvey Leek on the CBS crime drama Nash Bridges.Co founder of Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois- Director
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Arvin Brown was born on 24 May 1940 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a director and producer, known for NCIS (2003), Roswell (1999) and Diary of the Dead (1976). He was previously married to Joyce Ebert.Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut- Director
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Adrian Hall was born on 3 December 1927 in Van, Texas, USA. He was a director and writer, known for Great Performances (1971), Visions (1976) and The House of Mirth (1981). He died on 4 February 2023 in Tyler, Texas, USA.Trinity Repertory Theatre in Providence, Rhode Island- Director
- Art Director
- Additional Crew
Nikos Psacharopoulos was born on 18 January 1928 in Athens, Greece. He was a director and art director, known for Play of the Week (1959), Great Performances (1971) and Standing Room Only (1976). He died on 12 January 1989 in U.S. Virgin Islands.Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts- Producer
- Additional Crew
Zelda Fichandler was born on 18 September 1924 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. She was a producer, known for Zalmen: or, the Madness of God (1975), Sweet Tornado: Margo Jones and the American Theater (2006) and Sweet Tornado DVD Extras (2006). She was married to Fichlander, Thomas C.. She died on 29 July 2016 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA.Arena Stage in Washington DC- Writer
- Additional Crew
Margo Jones was born on 12 December 1911 in Livingston, Texas, USA. She was a writer, known for Summer and Smoke (1961), Sweet Tornado: Margo Jones and the American Theater (2006) and It's News to Me (1951). She died on 25 July 1955 in Dallas, Texas, USA.Early founder- Gilmor Brown was born on 16 June 1886 in New Salem, ND USA. He was a producer, known for The Pasadena Community Playhouse (1932). He died on 12 January 1960 in Palm Springs, California, USA.Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, California
- Producer
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Craig Noel was born on 25 August 1915 in Deming, New Mexico, USA. He was a producer and actor, known for American Playhouse (1980), Great Performances (1971) and Into the Woods (1987). He died on 3 April 2010 in San Diego, California, USA.Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California- Animation Department
- Visual Effects
- Actor
American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, California- Actor
- Writer
R.G. Davis is known for Beyond the Call of Duty (1992), Oh Dem Watermelons (1965) and Have You Heard of the San Francisco Mime Troupe? (1968).San Francisco Mime Troupe in California- Director
- Producer
From 1967 to 2005 Gordon Davidson was the Artistic Director of the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum at The Music Center. Davidson was also the Producing Director of the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre for 15 years, and the Artistic Director of the inaugural season (2004-2005) at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. In addition to redefining theatre in Southern California, he was one of the founders of the regional theatre movement and had a permanent impact on theatre throughout the country and the world.
Gordon guided hundreds of productions to the Taper stage while overseeing numerous special projects sponsored by the Taper. This work, and his direction of many plays staged at the Taper, were acclaimed both in Los Angeles and New York, garnering the Taper a Tony Award for theatrical excellence in 1977.
Gordon was born on May 7, 1933, and passed away Sunday, October 2, 2016. He is survived by his wife, Judi; their children, Adam and Rachel; and five granddaughters.Almanson; Kirk Douglas and Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, California- Angus Bowmer was born on 25 September 1904 in Bellingham, Washington. He was married to Gertrude Butler and Lois Muzzall. He died on 26 May 1979 in Ashland, Oregon, USA.Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon
- Producer
- Art Department
- Casting Director
Richard Carrothers is known for Charley's Aunt (1983), American Playhouse (1980) and Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker (1981).Co artistic director of New Theatre Restaurant in Overland Park, Kansas.- Dennis Hennessy is known for Charley's Aunt (1983), American Playhouse (1980) and Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker (1981).Co artistic director of New Theatre Restaurant in Overland Park, Kansas.
- Location Management
- Additional Crew
Eben Henson was born on 27 January 1923 in Danville, Kentucky USA. He is known for Raintree County (1957), Pharaoh's Army (1995) and Hitting the Cycle (2012). He was married to Charlotte Henson. He died on 25 April 2004 in Danville, Kentucky, USA.Founder of Pioneer Playhouse in Danville, Kentucky.- Robert (Bob) Porterfield is better known for his activities in the live theater. The beginning of his career coincided with some of the deepest days of the Great Depression and, while his movie resume may be forgotten in time, he will always be remembered for starting the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia. In 1932 he assembled a group of about 20 out-of-work stage actors from New York and brought them to southwestern Virginia to stage plays in the old city hall building on the barter system. Admission to the plays was 35 cents or the equivalent in produce (or other comestibles). The idea was that even if they did not make cash, they would at least not go hungry, as Abingdon was replete with farms of all kinds. According to reports, the first "year" (plays were produced only in the summer, and players returned to New York in the winter to continue working, if possible) in 1933 the company made a little over $4 and gained about 300 pounds in weight, collectively. Porterfield even paid some writers with Virginia hams during this time in order to secure rights to produce some of the plays. The stories about some of the items brought in for trade are hilarious and Al Hirschfeld, the famous illustrator, did a marvelous sketch in 1939. The Barter Theatre continues today as the State Theater of Virginia on a year round basis and, although prices have adjusted with the times, it is rumored that you can still barter your way in. A wonderful biography, If you Like Us, Talk About Us, by Robert L. McKinney was published in 2006 by Barter Media and recounts the whole story, including Bob's work at the Barter with actors like Gregory Peck, Patricia Neal, Ned Beatty, Ernest Borgnine, and even Kevin Spacey.Founder of Barter Theatre in Abington, Virginia
- Barbara Gaines is known for Another Saturday Night (1973), The 62nd Annual Tony Awards (2008) and Pritzker Military Library Presents (2006).Founder and artistic director of the Chicago Shakespeare Theater
- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Bain Boehlke was born on 23 July 1939 in Warroad, Minnesota USA. He is an actor and director, known for Fargo (1996), Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Memories and Perspectives (1984) and Jungle Encounters (2013).Founder and artistic director of the Jungle Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota.- Director
- Producer
- Additional Crew
John Clark Donahue was born on 5 June 1938 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He was a director and producer, known for The Red Shoes (1985), The Marvelous Land of Oz (1981) and Alice in Wonderland (1983). He died on 1 March 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.Founder and first artistic director of the Children’s Theater Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota.- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Tyrone Guthrie was born on 2 July 1900 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, UK. He was a director and writer, known for The Beachcomber (1938), Oedipus Rex (1957) and BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950). He was married to Judith Bretherton. He died on 15 May 1971 in Dublin, Ireland.Founder and namesake of the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota.- Additional Crew
Robert Brustein was born on 21 April 1927 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. He is known for NET Playhouse (1964), Camera Three (1955) and Chaos and Order: Making American Theater (2005). He was married to Doreen Beinart and Norma Ofstrock Cates Brustein (actress, teacher). He died on 29 October 2023 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.Founder and artistic director of the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts