Jimmy McDermott Named Goodman Theatre Directing Fellow

Goodman Theatre announces Jimmy McDermott, former associate artistic director at Writers' Theatre, as the recipient of the 2012/2013 Season Michael Maggio Directing Fellow for Chicago-based directors. As a fellow, McDermott will receive a stipend and the opportunity to assist on a Goodman production-from early research and design through the casting and rehearsal process to the opening-and become involved in the Goodman's artistic team. Previous Maggio Fellows include Lynn Ann Bernatowicz (2002/2003), Mignon McPherson Nance (2003/2004), Ann Filmer (2005/2006), Dado (2006/2007), Anthony Moseley (2007/2008), Joanie Schultz (2009/2010) and Anna Bahow (2011/2012).

"We are excited to welcome Jimmy as this season's Maggio Fellow," said Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls. "His strong directorial voice has been seen at Writers' Theatre and The Strange Tree Group, among others, and we look forward to contributing to his artistic development."

The Goodman established the fellowship to honor the memory of Goodman Associate Artistic Director Michael Maggio. A veteran director and producer who staged more than 60 productions in Chicago and in theaters across the country-including 22 productions at the Goodman-Maggio is the most-produced director in the Goodman's modern era. Credits include a landmark Romeo and Juliet set in Chicago's Little Italy in 1919; the Sondheim musicals Sunday in the Park with George and A Little Night Music; Keith Reddin's comic Black Snow; the musical adaptation of Wings; and the lauded world premiere of Rebecca Gilman's Boy Gets Girl. Maggio's commitment to the collaborative process and his dedication to nurturing young artists led to his appointment as the Dean of The Theatre School at DePaul University in 1999.

"As a former student of Michael Maggio's, I am honored to be affiliated with this fellowship," said McDermott, who directs Purple Heart by Bruce Norris at Redtwist Theatre December 22 – January 27, 2013. "As a Chicagoan, I am thrilled to get to witness the mechanics and the alchemy that make up a season at the Goodman."

McDermott's directing credits include The Maids, The Puppetmaster of Lodz, 365 Days/365 Plays: Week #49, The Frog Prince, A Christmas Carol and The MLK Project: The Fight for Civil Rights (Writers' Theatre); The Fourth Graders Present an Unnamed Love Suicide, The Elephant Man, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, Salome and Sweet Pretty Love Jam (the side project); Waiting for Godot (Redtwist Theatre); Tallgrass Gothic (5th Floor Productions); 2,000 Feet Away (Steep Theatre); the U.S premiere of Boojum! Nonsense, Truth and Lewis Carroll (Chicago Opera Vanguard & Caffeine Theatre); and The Sprit Play (The Strange Tree Group). He received the Jeff Award (non-Equity wing) for his direction of Strange Tree's The Three Faces of Dr. Crippen as part of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's 2011 Garage Rep. Additional credits include work at The Hypocrites and Collaboraction. His 2011 short film Keen screened at Hollyshorts, The Burbank International Film Festival and The New York International Independent Film & Video Festival, where it took awards for Best Screenplay and Best Actor. McDermott holds an MFA in Directing from The Theatre School at DePaul University and is currently an adjunct professor at University of Illinois at Chicago.

To post a comment, you must register and login.