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James Ortiz

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James Ortiz BIO

Based in New York City, James Ortiz is a director, actor, writer, designer, and puppeteer. He was the recipient of the 2016 OBIE Award for Puppet Design for his critically acclaimed Off-Broadway show, The Woodsman.

Ortiz is co-artistic director of Strangemen & Company, which was founded in 2010 by graduates of the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Purchase.

Through spectacular life-size puppetry and original music by violinist Edward W. Hardy, the ensemble of Strangemen & Co. presented an inventive take on one of America’s original fairy tales. The Woodsman (which featured nine Purchase alums) debuted in 2012 at Standard ToyKraft in Brooklyn, followed by a 2013 run at the Ars Nova ANT Fest. It was produced Off-Broadway at 59E59 Theaters in 2014 and 2015, and at New World Stages in 2016, where it concluded its critically-lauded Off-Broadway run in May 2016.

On and Off-Broadway Ortiz has designed for the Theatre for a New Audience, The Public Theatre (King Lear), Shakespeare Theatre of DC (The Tempest), and The New Group (Mercury Fur) among others.

As a director, his work has been seen at New World Stages, Ars Nova, 59e59, and others. As an actor, Ortiz’s credits include The Woodsman (New World Stages), El Gato Con Botas (Tectonic Theatre Co.), On the Head of a Pin (Strangemen), Rhinoceros (UglyRhino Theatre Co.), Wanda’s Monster (Making Books Sing).

James Ortiz Photos

James Ortiz STAGE CREDITS

[Off-Broadway]
Off-Broadway Return Engagement, 2016
Performer

[Off-Broadway]
Off-Broadway Revival, 2015
Performer

Performer

[Off-Broadway]
Strangemen & Co. Production, 2014
Performer

James Ortiz Productions

 
[US Tour, 2023]
Puppet Design
 
[Off-Broadway, 2022]
Puppet Designer
 
[Broadway, 2022]
Puppet Designer
 
[Off-Broadway, 2019]
Puppet Desginer
 
[Off-Broadway, 2017]
Puppet Design
 
[Regional (US), 2017]
Puppet Designer
 
[Off-Broadway, 2016]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 2015]
Writer, Co-Director, Scenic/Puppet Designer
 
[Off-Broadway, 2014]
Director
Scenic Designer
Puppet Designer

Writing

Playwright

James Ortiz Awards and Nominations

Drama Desk Awards - 2022 - Outstanding Puppet Design

James Ortiz, The Skin of Our Teeth

James Ortiz Videos

James Ortiz News

Photos: Stars From SOME LIKE IT HOT, INTO THE WOODS And More Hit The Red Carpet At The 2023 Drama League Awards

The event boasted a star-studded red carpet crowd featuring stars of the Broadway season and beyond, including Jessica Chastain, Ana Uzele, Montego Glover, Patina Miller, Sara Bareilles, Alex Newell, Micaela Diamond, J. Harrison Ghee and more! See photos from the event here!

Photos: Stars From SHUCKED, SWEENEY TODD, PARADE And More Hit The Red Carpet At The 2023 Drama League Awards

The 2023 Drama League Awards welcomes stars of the Broadway season and beyond, including Josh Groban, Annaleigh Ashford, Ben Platt, Phillipa Soo, NaTasha Yvette Williams and more! See photos from the event!

SHUCKED, SOME LIKE IT HOT Lead Nominations for 2023 Drama Desk Awards

Nominations for the 67th Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced today and BroadwayWorld has the full list here!

XANADU, SPRING AWAKENING, and More Set For Skylight Music Theatre's 2023-2024 Season

Artistic Director Michael Unger has unveiled Skylight Music Theatre's 2023-2024 season at an in-person and livestreamed event from the Cabot Theatre featuring musical selections from the shows to be presented in Skylight's upcoming 64th season. Unger was joined by Skylight performers and an on-stage band.

Review: INTO THE WOODS at Blumenthal Performing Arts

The new Broadway revival of INTO THE WOODS, now touring with a significant portion of the New York cast, dispels the too-clever-by-half aftertaste I've experienced in previous productions and bares Stephen Sondheim's heart in an affecting tribute to the late master.

Video: Gavin Creel and Jason Forbach Talk INTO THE WOODS on 'The Hot Sauce Sessions'

Watch the stars of Into the Woods are get spicy in a new interview with Bluz Rogers, Director of Creative Engagement at Charlotte’s Blumenthal Performing Arts.

Review: HERCULES at Paper Mill Playhouse Brings Glitz, Glamour and Excitement to the Mythological Tale

Hercules, now on stage at Paper Mill Playhouse, exceeds your expectations and brings glitz, glamour and excitement to the mythological tale. 

Review Roundup: Disney's HERCULES Musical Opens at Paper Mill Playhouse

What did critics think of Hercules at Paper Mill Playhouse? Hercules features music by Oscar, Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Alan Menken (Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Pocahontas, Newsies) and lyrics by Tony Award winner David Zippel (City of Angels, Mulan) and a book by Tony Award winner Robert Horn (Tootsie) and Kwame Kwei-Armah (Artistic Director of London's Young Vic).

Review: INTO THE WOODS at Opera House/Kennedy Center

What did our critic think of INTO THE WOODS at Opera House/Kennedy Center?

INTO THE WOOD's Ta'Nika Gibson Takes Over Our Instagram Today!

Tune in to our Instagram story as Ta'Nika Gibson takes you behind the scenes of Into the Woods as they make their way to cities across the U.S. - starting with The Kennedy Center in D.C.!

Andy Karl to Rejoin INTO THE WOODS at the Kennedy Center This Weekend

The critically acclaimed and much-beloved production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods will welcome back Andy Karl to the company playing Rapunzel’s Prince for the production’s opening weekend in D.C. Additionally, Jason Forbach, presently playing Rapunzel’s Prince, steps into the role of The Baker while Sebastian Arcelus recovers from an injury sustained earlier in the week.

The Metropolitan Opera Announces 2023â€"24 Season Featuring Four Met Premieres & More

The Metropolitan Opera has announced a 2023–24 season with the most new works in the company’s modern history. See show details, performances dates, and how to purchase tickets!

A.C.T. Announces Cast and Creative Team For Qui Nguyen's POOR YELLA REDNECKS

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) announced the full cast and creative team for Qui Nguyen's Poor Yella Rednecks. After the rollicking success of Vietgone in 2018, Nguyen returns to A.C.T. with the second chapter in his kickass, hip-hop trilogy about a Vietnamese family who swap war-torn Saigon for rural 1970's Arkansas.

Photos/Video: First Look at Stephanie J. Block, Sebastian Arcelus, Montego Glover, Gavin Creel, and More in the INTO THE WOODS Tour

The national tour of Into the Woods will begin at Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, N.Y. before officially opening soon at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Check out photos and videos of the cast in action!

Video: Get a First Look at Bradley Gibson, Isabelle McCalla & More in HERCULES at Paper Mill Playhouse

Get a first look at footage of Disney's Hercules at Paper Mill Playhouse, starring Bradley Gibson, Shuler Hensley, Isabelle McCalla and James Monroe Iglehart.

INTO THE WOODS Tour Starring Stephanie J. Block, Sebastian Arcelus & More is Coming to the Miller Theater in April

The Kimmel Cultural Campus and The Shubert Organization will present the Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Tony Award-winning Into the Woods, as part of a strictly limited engagement running April 4 through 9, 2023 at the Miller Theater in Philadelphia.

National Tour of INTO THE WOODS Extends Boston Engagement

The national touring production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Tony Award®-winning triumph, Into the Woods, has been extended in Boston by popular demand. The limited engagement will now play for two weeks only from March 21-April 2 at Emerson Colonial Theatre.

Complete Cast and Additional Cities Announced For INTO THE WOODS Tour

The complete cast and additional cities have been announced for the highly anticipated limited engagements of across the United States of James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods, beginning February 2023 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, following preview performances in Buffalo, NY. Find out how to get tickets here.

Will HERCULES Ever Make It to Broadway?

Disney Theatrical Productions President Thomas Schumacher discussed in a recent episode of D23 Inside Disney that there is speculation about a future life for Hercules, which has been announced as a title for the licensing market.

Charity Angél Dawson, Rashidra Scott, and More Join HERCULES at Paper Mill Playhouse; Full Cast Announced!

Full casting and the creative team have been announced for the all-new musical production of Disney's Hercules at Paper Mill Playhouse. Learn more about who will be starring in the production here!

James Ortiz FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

James Ortiz has written 1 shows including The Woodsman (Playwright).

Outstanding Puppetry (Drama Desk Awards) for Into the Woods and Outstanding Puppet Design (Drama Desk Awards) for The Skin of Our Teeth .

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