I am pleased to announce that Tazewell Thompson, playwright of CONSTANT STAR and internationally recognized theatre and opera director, will be visiting Lexington for the opening weekend of AGL's peformances...I am particularly delighted because he has also agreed to do a couple of free talks while he is here. On Saturday, September 13 at 2:00PM, Mr. Thompson will be meeting with college students and area theatre practitioners regarding his extensive career as a director of theatre and opera. At 7:00 on Saturday, September 13; he will host a pre-show discussion about CONSTANT STAR and how he came to create this wonderful piece of theatre. CONSTANT STAR has had over a dozen performances at major regional theatres across the country and we are pleased to be bringing the powerful story of Ida B. Wells to life here in Lexington. On attending our production in Lexington, Mr. Thompson says, "I am so looking forward to Actors Guild of Lexington's production of my play with music (spirituals) CONSTANT STAR. The energy and passion emanating from your theatre is palpable and can be felt as far away as my apartment in New York City! I am thrilled that Actors Guild is bringing the story of Ida B. Wells, a true early American heroine, to a whole new audience in Lexington's wonderful stage under the direction of Sidney Shaw. Thank you, Rick St. Peter, for choosing my play to open your 25th Anniversary Season."
Tazewell Thompson (Playwright) CONSTANT STAR has had 14 national productions at major theatres across the country including Arena Stage in Wash. D.C.; Hartford Stage; Actors Theatre of Louisville; Laguna Playhouse and Florida Stage. These productions have garnered 9 Barrymore Awards; 5 NAACP Awards and 3 Carbonell Awards (all including for Best Musical/ Ensemble/ Direction.)
An acclaimed director, Mr. Thompson has produced and/or directed more than 60 plays, ranging from Moliere, Shakespeare, Brecht, Feydeau and Euripides to Athol Fugard, Wilder, Williams, August Wilson and Alan Ayckbourn and including 30 World and American Premieres. His national theatre credits include the Public Theater; Roundabout Theatre; Manhattan Theatre Club; Classic Stage Company; Soho Rep; Goodman Theatre; the Guthrie; Old Globe; Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Seattle Rep; Goodspeed Opera House; and San Diego Rep among many others. His career as an opera director has taken him to La Scala (Milan); L'Opera Bastille (Paris); Teatro Real (Madrid); Tokyo Opera; Houston Grand Opera; San Francisco Opera; New York City Opera; Los Angeles Opera; Vancouver Opera and Glimmerglass Opera. His production of PORGY AND BESS at New York City Opera, broadcast on PBS' "Live From Lincoln Center", received EMMY Nominations for Best Director and Best Classical Production. Most recently, he directed New York City Opera's new production of MARGARET GARNER by Richard Danielpour and Toni Morrison. Previously, he directed Poulenc's DIALOGUES OF THE CARMELITES and Gilbert and Sullivan's PATIENCE at both Glimmerglass Opera and New York City Opera; and Benjamin Britten's DEATH IN VENICE at Glimmerglass Opera. He directed the World Premiere of the operas VANQUI at Opera Columbus; LUYALA at Duke University; STEFAN and AS OF A DREAM at Musical Theatre Works; and he produced and directed his own production of Aaron Copland's THE SECOND HURRICANE at the New Federal Theatre in New York City. Mr. Thompson has been commissioned to write plays for Lincoln Center Theater; Arena Stage; South Coast Rep and People's Light & Theatre Company. He is a former artistic director of Syracuse Stage and Westport Country Playhouse and artistic associate/resident director at Arena Stage and the Acting Company (NYC). He is a board member of the Society of New Music and the Thornton Wilder Society.
Please help us welcome this outstanding artist to our community. Tazewell Thompson, appearing at Actors Guild of Lexington, Sept 12-14, in support of our production of CONSTANT STAR...
I'll see you at the theatre!
Peace and Love
Rick St. Peter
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