Jack O'Brien
Broadway: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Front Page, It's Only a Play, Macbeth, The Nance, Dead Accounts, Catch Me If You Can, Impressionism, The Coast of Utopia (Tony Award), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Tony nomination), Henry IV (Tony), Hairspray (Tony), Imaginary Friends, The Invention of Love (Tony nomination, Drama Desk Award), The Full Monty (Tony nomination), More to Love, Getting Away With Murder, Pride's Crossing, The Little Foxes, Damn Yankees, Two Shakespearean Actors (Tony nomination), Porgy and Bess (Tony nomination). Metropolitan Opera: Il Trittico.
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BIO
Broadway: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Front Page, It's Only a Play, Macbeth, The Nance, Dead Accounts, Catch Me If You Can, Impressionism, The Coast of Utopia (Tony Award), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Tony nomination), Henry IV (Tony), Hairspray (Tony), Imaginary Friends, The Invention of Love (Tony nomination, Drama Desk Award), The Full Monty (Tony nomination), More to Love, Getting Away With Murder, Pride's Crossing, The Little Foxes, Damn Yankees, Two Shakespearean Actors (Tony nomination), Porgy and Bess (Tony nomination). Metropolitan Opera: Il Trittico. Carnegie Hall: Guys and Dolls. Central Park: Much Ado About Nothing. Off-Broadway: Hapgood (Lucille Lortel Award). London: Love Never Dies, Hairspray (Olivier Award nomination). National Theatre: His Girl Friday. He was the artistic director of The Old Globe Theatre from 1981-2007 and directed six movies for PBS's "American Playhouse." Book: Jack Be Nimble, published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux. O’Brien directed the critically acclaimed national tour of The Sound of Music and the world premiere of the Jake Heggie/Terrence McNally opera Great Scott for The Dallas Opera. Mr. O'Brien was nominated for an Emmy Award for his documentary "Becoming Mike Nichols" (HBO).
Photos
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STAGE CREDITS
Productions
Writing
Lyricist
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Jack O'Brien
Connection
Awards and Nominations
Jack O'Brien, Shucked
Jack O'Brien, Shucked
Jack O'Brien, Shucked
Jack O'Brien, All My Sons
Jack O'Brien, Carousel
Jack O'Brien, The Front Page
Jack O'Brien, The Nance
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Jack O’Brien, The Coast of Utopia
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Jack O'Brien, The Coast of Utopia
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Jack O'Brien, The Coast of Utopia
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Jack O'Brien, The Coast of Utopia
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Jack O'Brien, The Coast of Utopia
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Jack O'Brien, The Coast of Utopia
Jack O'Brien, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Jack O'Brien, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
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Jack O'Brien, Henry IV
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Jack O'Brien, Henry IV
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Jack O'Brien, Hairspray
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Jack O'Brien, Henry IV (LCT)
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Jack O'Brien, Hairspray
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Jack O'Brien, Hairspray
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Jack O'Brien, The Invention of Love
Jack O'Brien, The Full Monty
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Jack O'Brien, The Invention of Love
Jack O'Brien, The Full Monty
Jack O'Brien, The Invention of Love
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Jack O'Brien, The Full Monty
Jack O'Brien, Two Shakespearean Actors
Jack O'Brien, Porgy and Bess
Jack O'Brien, Porgy and Bess
Videos
Video: Watch Brandy Clark Perform From New Album at SHUCKED Curtain Call
by Blair Ingenthron - 2023-05-20 15:19:45
Exclusive: Watch Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally Perform First Song From SHUCKED, 'Maybe Love'
by Stephi Wild - 2023-02-23 09:34:26
Photos/Video: First Look at the New Cast of HAIRSPRAY on Tour, Featuring Andrew Levitt aka Nina West
by Sneak Peek - 2022-09-29 10:51:13
VIDEO: Brandon Stalling Talks Returning to Chicago in the HAIRSPRAY Tour
by Nicole Rosky - 2022-02-12 11:44:20
VIDEO: HAIRSPRAY is Coming to the Fabulous Fox Theatre April 2022
by Alan Henry - 2022-02-11 13:39:33
VIDEO: Michael Ball, Lizzie Bea, and the London Cast of HAIRSPRAY Perform on BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT
by Stephi Wild - 2020-09-26 19:04:09
Broadway Rewind: IT'S ONLY A PLAY Arrives with Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally and More
by Nicole Rosky - 2020-09-11 17:01:00
VIDEO: Jack O'Brien Reflects on His Time at the Old Globe as Part of the ACT BREAKS Series
by Stephi Wild - 2020-05-09 09:16:45
Broadway Rewind: Cheyenne Jackson & Kate Baldwin Look to the Sky in FINIAN'S RAINBOW!
by Nicole Rosky - 2020-04-06 16:31:00
Broadway Rewind: Will Chase and Malcom Gets Turn the Page on THE STORY OF MY LIFE!
by Nicole Rosky - 2020-04-03 16:31:00
TV: Watch Lizzie Bea and Marisha Wallace Perform Songs From HAIRSPRAY
by BroadwayWorld UK TV - 2020-02-19 09:27:05
Video: Annie Sherman Goes Busking Before PIAF LIVES At The Green Room 42
by A.A. Cristi - 2019-08-07 18:46:06
VIDEO: First Look at DISNEY'S WHEN YOU WISH at Tuacahn Amphitheatre
by A.A. Cristi - 2019-07-29 20:15:12
News
by Rachel Stone - Oct 13, 2026
Tickets are now available for THE SOUND OF MUSIC, opening at West Herr Auditorium Theatre December 1-6 as part of the 2026-2027 M&T Bank Broadway Season. The North American tour, directed by Jack O'Brien, marks the musical's 65th anniversary.
by Rachel Stone - Aug 25, 2026
The Kravis Center in West Palm Beach will open ticket sales for touring productions of DIRTY DANCING: THE MUSICAL, MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT and DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! THE MUSICAL.
by Stephi Wild - Jun 3, 2026
Red Bull Theater honored John Lithgow with the Matador Award for Achievement in Classical Theater, and Joanna Cole with the George Mayer Award for Extraordinary Service to Classical Theater. Check out photos!
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 25, 2026
The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation welcomed theater artists and industry leaders to Gotham Hall this past Monday for its annual Gala, where Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher was honored with the Mr. Abbott Award. See photos of the event.
by Josh Sharpe - Mar 23, 2026
On Thursday, March 19, HBO’s The Comeback returned to the spotlight with a premiere for its third and final season featuring Broadway director Jack O’Brien, Oh, Mary! alum Tony Macht, Stephanie Styles and more. Take a look at photos here.
by Oliver Oliveros - Jan 7, 2026
The gates to the world's most famous chocolate factory are finally opening in Manila!
by Stephi Wild - Apr 28, 2025
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has released rehearsal images for the UK premiere of musical comedy Shucked. Check out the all new photos from the rehearsal room here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 14, 2025
On Monday, March 10, Lincoln Center Theater celebrated the opening night of its production of Ibsen’s GHOSTS, featuring a new version by Mark O’Rowe and directed by Jack O’Brien. See photos from the evening here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 13, 2025
The cast, crew and LCT staff gathered in a rehearsal hall in the backstage of the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center Theater for the first rehearsal of GHOSTS. See photos here!
by Bruce Glikas - Dec 11, 2024
See photos of four-time Academy Award nominee Marsha Mason receiving her portrait at Sardi's! Learn more about the life and career of Marsha Mason here!
by Stephi Wild - Nov 6, 2024
The North American tour of Shucked is now underway, kicking off in Providence, RI in October 2024. Read the reviews so far for Shucked on tour here!
by Bruce Glikas - Oct 1, 2024
The Lincoln Center Theater production of McNEAL, a new play by Ayad Akhtar, directed by Bartlett Sher opened last night at the Vivian Beaumont Theater! See photos of stars on the red carpet!
by Bruce Glikas - Sep 20, 2024
Just last week, Mia Farrow and Patti LuPone took their opening night bows in Jen Silverman’s The Roommate, which is now running at the Booth Theatre. BroadwayWorld was there and you can check out photos from the star-studded red carpet arrivals here!
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 17, 2024
Last night, the curtain was raised on the 77th Annual Tony Awards! Take a look inside the CBS broadcasts and Pluto TV pre-show below, including photos of the casts of The Outsiders, Suffs, Hell's Kitchen, The Who's Tommy, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, and more.
by Bruce Glikas - Jun 16, 2024
We're taking you to the red carpet for a look at all of the stars (and what they're wearing)! Check back all night long for more photos!
by BWW Awards - Dec 26, 2023
It's the final week left to vote for the 2023 BroadwayWorld Salt Lake City Awards! Voting ends on 12/31 at midnight. Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!
by BWW Awards - Dec 18, 2023
There's just two weeks left to vote and we have the latest standings as of Monday, December 18th for the 2023 BroadwayWorld Salt Lake City Awards! Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!
by BWW Awards - Dec 5, 2023
It's December, and the first standings of the month have been announced as of Tuesday, December 5th for the 2023 BroadwayWorld Salt Lake City Awards! Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!
by BWW Awards - Nov 27, 2023
Happy Holidays! The latest wave of standings have been announced as of Monday, November 27th for the 2023 BroadwayWorld Salt Lake City Awards! Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!
by Blair Ingenthron - May 20, 2023
Watch Brandy Clark give a special performance in celebration of her new album at the Shucked curtain call on Friday, May 19th!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Jack O'Brien has appeared on Broadway in 1 shows.
Jack O'Brien has not appeared in the West End.
Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Drama League Awards) for Shucked, Outstanding Director of a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Shucked, Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Shucked, Outstanding Director of a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for All My Sons, Outstanding Director of a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Carousel, Outstanding Director of a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Front Page, Outstanding Director of a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Nance, Best Direction of a Play (BroadwayWorld Awards) for The Coast of Utopia, Outstanding Director of a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Coast of Utopia, Outstanding Director of a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Coast of Utopia, Outstanding Director of a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Coast of Utopia, Outstanding Director of a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Coast of Utopia, Best Direction of a Play (Tony Awards) for The Coast of Utopia, Outstanding Director of a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels , Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Outstanding Director of a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Henry IV, Best Direction of a Play (Tony Awards) for Henry IV, Outstanding Director - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Hairspray, Outstanding Director - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Henry IV (LCT), Outstanding Director of a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Hairspray , Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Hairspray, Outstanding Director - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Invention of Love, Outstanding Director of a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Full Monty , Outstanding Director of a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Invention of Love, Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Full Monty, Best Direction of a Play (Tony Awards) for The Invention of Love, Outstanding Director - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for The Full Monty, Best Direction of a Play (Tony Awards) for Two Shakespearean Actors, Outstanding Director - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Porgy and Bess and Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Porgy and Bess.
Jack O'Brien has won and been nominated for numerous prestigious awards throughout his career. His accolades include Best Direction of a Play from the BroadwayWorld Awards and the Tony Awards for The Coast of Utopia. He received Outstanding Director of a Play recognition from the Drama Desk Awards and Outer Critics Circle Awards for The Coast of Utopia. O'Brien also earned Outstanding Director of a Play nominations from the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Henry IV, along with a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play for the same production. His work on Hairspray garnered Outstanding Director - Musical recognition from the Drama Desk Awards, Outstanding Director of a Musical from the Outer Critics Circle Awards, and a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical. Additionally, O'Brien received Outstanding Director - Play nominations from the Drama Desk Awards for both Henry IV (LCT) and The Invention of Love, as well as Outstanding Director of a Play recognition from the Outer Critics Circle Awards for The Invention of Love. He was also nominated for Outstanding Director - Musical from the Drama Desk Awards for The Full Monty.
Jack O'Brien has written 2 shows including The Selling of the President (Bookwriter), Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (Conceiver).
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