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Alumni of the Directing Program – A Sampling

Valerie Curtis-Newton, awarded a grant from the TCG/NEA Career Development Program for Directors, was Artistic Director of Ethnic Cultural Theatre, is Associate Professor at the University of Washington and directed A Midwife’s Apprentice at Seattle Children’s Theatre.

Tim Bond, past artistic director of The Group Theatre, and past associate artistic director at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, now producing artistic director at Syracuse Stage.

Peggy Shannon, currently Artistic Director of the Sacramento Theatre Company, where she directed A Christmas Carol and Old Wicked Songs, she also recently directed Light Up the Sky at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre.

M. Burke Walker, founder of The Empty Space Theatre, has directed at Intiman, Berkeley Rep, Delaware Theatre Co, Syracuse Stage, Seattle Shakespeare Festival, the Village Theatre and On the Boards.

Leslie Swackhamer, has directed recently at Opera Omaha, Florida Studio Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Festival, Empty Space, and Tacoma Actors Guild. She is currently Board President of Theatre of Puget Sound, and was formerly Associate Artistic Director of ACT.

Rachel Katz Carey, directed numerous shows at theatre simple, was Stephen Wadsworth’s assistant director for the Seattle Opera production of Lohengrin and has taken productions to the Piccolo Spoleto Festival and the Adelaide Fringe Festival. 

Rita Giomi, has directed at ACT, Empty Space, Village Theatre, Tacoma Actors Guild and numerous productions at Seattle Children’s Theatre, where she is also Artistic Associate.

Jude Domski, directed Straight on til Morning at the 78th Street Theatre Lab, East Village Chronicles, Volume II at Metropolitan Playhouse, her play Boy Steals Train (Fringe First & Best Ensemble awards) was named on of the top ten plays in Scotland 2003 and was recently commissioned by BBC for a radio play. 

Tlaloc Rivas, directed El Paso Blue at the Venture Theatre in Philadelphia, where he was Artistic Director. He is a recent recipient of both Drama League and NEA/TCG fellowships. He also directed at Teatro Vision in San Jose, Luna Stage Company in New Jersey and the Artsbank Theatre in Philadelphia.

Christine Sumption, Artistic Associate and Literary Manager at Seattle Rep, directed Velveteen Rabbit at Seattle Children’s Theatre.

Chuck Harper, free-lance director, recipient of the CEC ArtsLink International Collaborative award, has directed in Prague, worked with Ardeo Theatre in France and is now an assistant professor at Southern Illinois University.Mark Dalton, has worked with the Albany Theatre Project, Capital Repertory Company and now teaches acting and directing at the University of Albany.

To see more photos, view our Production Photo Slideshow

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