As follow up to our previous news article announcing the shows of the 18th season, LAStageBlog.com is happy to add that the Actors Co-op has named a renowned group of directors for its 18th Anniversary Season, themed “Shattering the Darkness.” The season includes Big River directed by Richard Israel, Sherlock’s Last Case directed by Jeremy Lewit, Wit directed by Marianne Savell and The Philedelphia Story directed by Douglas Clayton.
Richard Israel returns to Actors Co-op to direct the season opener Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Music and Lyrics by Roger Miller, Book by William Hauptman, opening September 25, 2009. For Actors Co-op, Mr. Israel directed last season’s LEADING LADIES, as well as 1776 (L.A. Weekly Award Nomination for Direction and Outstanding Musical). Recent directing credits include VIOLET for the Musical Theatre Guild and the Los Angeles premiere of BIG - The Musical for West Coast Ensemble (WCE). As the Co-Artistic Director for WCE, he has directed critically-acclaimed productions of Stephen Sondheim’s ASSASSINS (L.A. Weekly Award Nomination for Direction and Outstanding Musical, LADCC Award for Musical Ensemble), Adam Guettel’s FLOYD COLLINS (Backstage West Garland Award for Direction), and the west coast premiere of the Jonathan Larson Award-winning musical VANISHING POINT, among others. Other directing highlights include productions for TheSpyAnts, Galveston Island Musicals, The Nine O’Clock Players of the Assistance League of Southern California, Idyllwild Arts Academy and Chicago’s Porchlight Theatre.
Jeremy Lewit helms SHERLOCK’S LAST CASE by Charles Marowitz, opening October 16, 2009. Mr. Lewit directed last season’s SNOOPY!!! THE MUSICAL at McCadden Place Theatre. Broadway credits include Assistant Director on Tony-nominated productions of MORNING’S AT SEVEN and THE RETREAT FROM MOSCOW, as well as BROOKLYN BOY and AFTER THE NIGHT AND MUSIC. At Carnegie Mellon, Mr. Lewit directed a number of productions for the Scotch’N'Soda Theatre Company including ASSASSINS, Christopher Durang’s THE NATURE AND PURPOSE OF THE UNIVERSE and T. S. Eliot’s THE COCKTAIL PARTY. Future directing projects include Marber’s CLOSER at The Complex in Hollywood.
Marianne Savell is set to direct the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, WIT by Margaret Edson, opening February 19, 2010. Ms. Savell directed Actors Co-op’s critically-acclaimed production of THE CRUCIBLE last season. Other directing credits include the Jeff-nominated SOMEONE WHO’LL WATCH OVER ME (Victory Gardens, Chicago), the world premiere and LA Weekly award-winner GULF VIEW DRIVE, ANGEL STREET, TRANSLATIONS, the critically-acclaimed and multi-award nominated AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A Live Radio Play, HAMLET, GOD & SHAKESPEARE, MOLLY SWEENEY and PSYCHOPATHIA SEXUALIS. She is an alumnus and participant of Directors Lab West, an associate artist with Taproot Theatre Company in Seattle and is on the Advisory Board of Provision Theater Company in Chicago. In 2008, Ms. Savell was invited to the prestigious New Harmony Project to direct Margaret Hunt’s new play AND THE RAVENS FEED US. Ms. Savell received her MFA in acting from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where she graduated with highest honors and was a guest artist at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London.
Douglas Clayton directs the final production of Actors Co-op’s 18th season, THE PHILADELPHIA STORY by Philip Barry, opening April 23, 2010. Mr. Clayton’s directing credits include the world premiere musical A PIECE OF TIN at the Lyric Theatre, 42nd Street at Azusa Pacific University, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD at Sacred Fools, and ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, STEEL MAGNOLIAS and GODSPELL for Marmac Repertory Theatre. He has also directed readings at East West Players, Musical Theatre Guild, the Colony Theatre Company and Antaeus Theatre Company and is the producer of the Colony Reading Series at the Colony Theatre. Mr. Clayton currently serves as the Programs Manager for LA Stage Alliance, the non-profit organization that serves the performing arts organizations of Greater Los Angeles and presents the annual Ovation Awards. He received his undergraduate degrees in Business Administration and Theatre from USC, and did his graduate work at Florida State University/The Asolo Conservatory.
Congratulations to all the talented directors chosen.
Feature Image of The Crucible courtesy of Actors Co-op and LA Weekly
