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Will Frears

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Will Frears BIO

Will Frears was born and raised in North London, and has lived in the United States since 1990. A renowned director, scriptwriter and author, Mr. Frears had his professional debut in 2003 at the Actor’s Theater of Louisville, where he directed the Pulitzer Prize finalist, Omnium Gatherum. The play—about a post-9/11 dinner party—was praised by The New Yorker’s drama critic John Lahr, as “a wow beginning” for the young director. Since this production, Mr. Frears has gone on to direct a wide range of plays and films in theaters across the States. His most recent directorial project was the 2012 production of Build, an Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award-recipient, at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.

Mr. Frears has directed nearly two dozen plays since his debut at the Actor’s Theater, many of them acclaimed productions in premier Off Broadway theaters. Working in collaboration with some of contemporary theater’s most daring, well-regarded playwrights, Mr. Frears has directed productions of Year Zero (Second Stage Uptown), Still Life (MCC), Rainbow Kiss (The Play Company), The Water’s Edge (Second Stage), Pen (Playwrights Horizons, Terrorism (The New Group/The Play Company), Omnium Gatherum (Variety Arts), Where We’re Born and God Hates the Irish (Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre), Get What You Need (Atlantic 453) and Kid-Simple (Summer Play Festival). Mr. Frears’ regional productions include Some Lovers at the Old Globe Theater, The Pillowman at George Street Playhouse, Hay Fever and The Price at Baltimore CenterStage, and Sleuth at the Bay Street Theater. Mr. Frears has also been a frequent participant in the Williamstown Theatre Festival, where he directed Romeo & Juliet, Bus Stop, The Water’s Edge and A Servant of Two Masters. He is a recipient of the Boris Sagal and Bill Foeller directing fellowships.

Mr. Frears has also directed several films, including Coach, Beloved and All Saint’s Day. (Winner, Best Narrative Short at the Savannah Film Festival). His films have screened at many Festivals, including Tribeca, Palm Springs, Morelia, Savannah, the Hamptons, Sarasota and Newport Beach.

Mr. Frears is a regular contributor to many periodicals, including The Paris Review, New York magazine, Harper’s, Town & Country, Eight by Eight, and The London Review of Books.

A proud high school drop-out, Mr. Frears went on to receive his undergraduate degree from Sarah Lawrence College, where he currently serves on the faculty. He received his MFA from the Yale School of Drama.

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Will Frears Productions

 
[Broadway, 2015]
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[Off-Broadway, 2009]
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[Off-Broadway, 2006]
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[Off-Broadway, 2006]
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[Off-Broadway, 2005]
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[Off-Broadway, 2003]
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[Off-Broadway, 2003]
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Will Frears Videos

Will Frears News


Laura Benanti, Charlie Day, Kathryn Hahn & More to Join 2024 Williamstown Theatre Festival Gala


Get all the details on the star-studded 2024 WTF Gala, featuring Laura Benanti, Charlie Day, Kathryn Hahn, and more. Mark your calendars for this unforgettable event showcasing an incredible lineup of talent.

Photos: The Stars Arrive at Opening Night of Alex Edelman's JUST FOR US


Obie Award-winning writer & performer Alex Edelman is making his Broadway debut with his award-winning solo show JUST FOR US. Directed by Adam Brace, the show will play a limited engagement through Saturday, August 19, 2023, at the Hudson Theatre. Check out photos of the stars arriving at opening night!

Amy Jo Jackson, Maria-Christina Oliveras & More to Star in KIT MARLOWE at Red Bull Theater


RED BULL THEATER announced the complete cast for the next offering of a new season of OBIE Award-winning Revelation Readings: Kit Marlowe by David Grimm, directed by Emma Rosa Went.

Helen Cespedes, Amy Jo Jackson, Maria-Christina Oliveras & More to Star in KIT MARLOWE Reading at Red Bull Theater


RED BULL THEATER has announced the complete cast for the next offering of a new season of OBIE Award-winning Revelation Readings: Kit Marlowe by David Grimm, directed by Emma Rosa Went.

FILIBUSTERED AND UNFILTERED: AMERICA READS THE MUELLER REPORT At The Arc


To ensure a separation of powers, the U.S. Federal Government is made up of three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. When authority runs amok, the ultimate check is the American citizen. 

The Civilians' Share Details of CIVILIAN DISOBEDIENCE 2019 Spring Benefit


On April 1, the celebrated Off-Broadway theater company The Civilians will host Civilian Disobedience, their annual spring benefit, which honors their Civilians of the Year: Emmy nominated, award-winning documentary filmmakers Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg (Reversing Roe, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work) as well as Marion Friedman Young for her longstanding support of The Civilians and her recent work as The Civilians partners for the Michael Friedman Legacy Fund.

Celebration Presents Los Angeles Premiere Of Drew Droege & Matthew Wilkas In BORN TO WIN


Celebration presents the first show in its 2019 season, Drew Droege (Die, Mommie, Die!) and Matthew Wilkas starring in the Los Angeles premiere of BORN TO WIN, written by Matthew Wilkas and Mark Setlock, choreography by Janet Roston and directed by Michael Matthews.

Celebration Presents Los Angeles Premiere Of Drew Droege & Matthew Wilkas In BORN TO WIN


Celebration presents the first show in its 2019 season, Drew Droege (Die, Mommie, Die!) and Matthew Wilkas starring in the Los Angeles premiere of BORN TO WIN, written by Matthew Wilkas and Mark Setlock, choreography by Janet Roston and directed by Michael Matthews.

Celebration Presents Los Angeles Premiere Of Drew Droege & Matthew Wilkas In BORN TO WIN


Celebration presents the first show in its 2019 season, Drew Droege (Die, Mommie, Die!) and Matthew Wilkas starring in the Los Angeles premiere of BORN TO WIN, written by Matthew Wilkas and Mark Setlock, choreography by Janet Roston and directed by Michael Matthews.

Ken Davenport And Kurt Deutsch Option Musical Rights To The Griswolds' 'Vacation' Story


Ken Davenport and Kurt Deutsch announced today that they have optioned the musical rights to the characters from the hit film franchise Vacation by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures to develop a new musical Broadway Vacation.

Adirondack Theatre Festival Announces Staged Reading of BIG BABIES


Big Babies will be performed as part of Adirondack Theatre Festival's new play reading series. The readings will take place at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 5, and Thursday, July 6, in the cabaret space of the Charles R. Wood Theater.

SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER Extends One Week at Second Stage Theater Uptown


Second Stage Theater's (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) production of SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER has been extended by one week and will now play through Sunday, June 25.

Cast Announced for Michael Arden-Directed THE PRIDE at The Wallis


This June, the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts will present The Pride, a stylish, witty and affecting play that alternates between two very distinct time periods and the lives of three characters whose fate is destined by their eras.

Chisa Hutchinson's SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER Finds Full Company at Second Stage


As previously announced, Second Stage Theatre will begin the 2017 Uptown Series with the world premiere of Chisa Hutchinson's SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER, directed by MAY ADRALES.

Second Stage Uptown Opens Lucy Teitler's ENGAGEMENTS Tonight


Second Stage Theatre 2016 Uptown Series' production of ENGAGEMENTS officially opens for an extended run tonight, August 4th.

Second Stage Uptown Extends Lucy Teitler's ENGAGEMENTS


Second Stage Theatre 2016 Uptown Series' production of ENGAGEMENTS has been extended by one week and will now play through Saturday, August 20.

Margo Seibert and More Star in O'Neill Center's National Playwrights Conference Readings, Starting Tonight


The eight new plays in development at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Playwrights Conference will feature Broadway actress Ali Stroker (Spring Awakening the Deaf West Broadway revival, The GLEE Project), Drama Desk Award-nominee Margo Seibert (ROCKY on Broadway), television's Jeremy Bobb (The Knick, House of Cards, Hostages), Luke Macfarlane (Brothers & Sisters, Mercy Street), and Melanie Nicholls King (The Wire).

Margo Seibert and More to Star in O'Neill Center's National Playwrights Conference Readings


Casting and directors have been announced for the eight new plays in development at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Playwrights Conference next month.

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