DES McANUFF is a two-time Tony Award-winning director and was recently named co-artistic director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. He is director emeritus of La Jolla Playhouse, which he headed for much of the past 25 years. Broadway credits (developed at the Playhouse): Jersey Boys (2006, four Tony Awards including Best Musical), Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays (2004, Tony Award), Dracula: The Musical (2004), How to Succeed… (1995), The Who’s Tommy (director/co-author with Pete Townshend, 1993 Tony Award Best Director of a Musical; 1997 London Olivier Awards Best Director/Best Musical), A Walk in the Woods (1988) and Big River (1985, seven Tonys including Best Director of a Musical and Best Musical). Recent productions directed at the Playhouse: The Wiz (2006), Zhivago (2005), Palm Beach (2005), Private Fittings (2005), Tom Donaghy’s Eden Lane (2003), Tartuffe (2002), Michael Ondaatje’s The Collected Works of Billy the Kid (2001). Film credits: Cousin Bette and The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (director), Iron Giant (producer), Quills (executive producer). Upcoming: Caesar and Cleopatra (with Christopher Plummer and Anika Noni Rose) and Romeo and Juliet in Stratford; adapting Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots for the stage with Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips and Aaron Sorkin.

Currently appearing in Show Theatre Role Jersey Boys August Wilson Theatre Director

Previously seen in Show Theatre Role Farnsworth Invention, The Music Box Theatre Director

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