Tazewell Thompson: may be next Playhouse artistic director. Syracuse Stage photo Tazewell Thompson may become the next artistic director of the Westport Country Playhouse succeeding Joanne Woodward, the Hartford Courant reported today.
The Playhouse board is set to meet Monday. A Playhouse spokesperson could not confirm the report by Courant writer Frank Rizzo. However, a source close to the Playhouse said the report was accurate.
Thompson, a director who has worked extensively in a variety of regional houses, directed “The Old Settler” at Westport in 2003, and his own play “Constant Star” at Hartford Stage in 2001.
His work has also appeared at New York’s Manhattan Theatre Club, The Public Theater and Classic Stage Company. Thompson was artistic director of Syracuse Stage in the early ‘90s.
Anne Keefe, associate artistic director of The Westport Country Playhouse (l), introduces “The Old Settler” company in July 2003, including director Tazewell Thompson (2nd l). WestportNow.com photoIf named, Thompson would be one of the few African Americans to head a major American regional theater, the Courant said, adding: “A Thompson selection would show indicate (sic) the board is going for a strong artistic leadership.”
The Playhouse opened its newly renovated and expanded $17 million theater Thursday night with a production of “Finian’s Rainbow.”
In 2004, Washington, D.C.‘s Arena Stage, where Thompson had served as Artistic Associate/Resident Director, listed his credits this way:
Director Tazewell Thompson�s rich work history at Arena Stage includes Cheryl West�s “Jar the Floor” and “Before It Hits Home,” Federico Garcia Lorca�s “Yerma” and Bertolt Brecht�s “The Caucasian Chalk Circle.”
His play “Constant Star” has had productions at Hartford Stage, Arena Stage, Actor�s Theatre of Louisville, Fla., Stage and Syracuse Stage. Thompson directed “Porgy and Bess” at New York City Opera and on Public Television�s �Live from Lincoln Center,� for which he received an Emmy nomination.
Thompson has worked at the world�s leading opera houses including La Scala, Bastille Opera, Tokyo Opera, Teatro Real and San Francisco Opera. He has been commissioned to write plays for Arena Stage and South Coast Repertory.
In 2003, the Syracuse Post-Standard presented this timeline of Thompson’s career:
1978: Tazewell Thompson makes his Syracuse Stage debut as an actor in “The Butterfingers Angel.”
1989: Thompson makes his Stage directing debut with “How the Other Half Loves.”
1992: Thompson leaves artistic associate position at Washington D.C.‘s Arena Stage to succeed Arthur Storch as Stage’s second artistic director.
1995: Thompson takes the Stage world premiere of “Holiday Heart” into New York for a production at Manhattan Theatre Club.
1995: Thompson abruptly resigns. Despite negotiations to retain him, he refuses to stay.
1995: Thompson takes a production of “Porgy and Bess” on an international tour from Beijing to Paris to Italy. Eventually, he is hired by New York City Opera to mount another production of the Gershwin folk opera.
1999: Thompson’s first play, “Constant Star” premieres at PlayMakers Repertory in North Carolina. Several productions follow.
2001: Glimmerglass Opera signs Thompson to direct “Dialogue of the Carmelites,” a production that also plays at New York City Opera.
2003: “Constant Star” returns Thompson to Syracuse Stage for its ninth regional theater presentation.
