Lear deBessonet
Latest News on Lear deBessonet:
Video: RAGTIME Releases 2025 Broadway Cast Recording; Watch the Cast Perform 'Journey On' (Jan 9, 2026)
Video: Joshua Henry and Nichelle Lewis Sing 'Wheels of a Dream' From RAGTIME (Jan 8, 2026)
Photos: Inside the RAGTIME Cast Recording Listening Party (Jan 8, 2026)
Video: RAGTIME Releases 2025 Broadway Cast Recording; Watch the Cast Perform 'Journey On' (Jan 9, 2026)
Video: Joshua Henry and Nichelle Lewis Sing 'Wheels of a Dream' From RAGTIME (Jan 8, 2026)
Photos: Inside the RAGTIME Cast Recording Listening Party (Jan 8, 2026)
BIO
Lear deBessonet is the Founder of Public Works and Resident Director at the Public Theater. For Public Works, she has directed pageant-style musical adaptations of The Tempest, The Winter's Tale, and The Odyssey at the Delacorte, each featuring two-hundred New Yorkers from all five boroughs.
Photos
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Productions
Writing
Conceiver
Awards and Nominations
winner
Drama League Awards - 2023 - Founders Award for Excellence in Directing
Lear deBessonet
winner
Drama League Awards - 2023 - Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Lear DeBessonet, Into the Woods
Tony Awards - 2023 - Best Direction of a Musical
Lear deBessonet, Into the Woods
The Lortels - 2014 - Outstanding Director
Lear deBessonet, Good Person of Szechwan
Drama Desk Awards - 2013 - Outstanding Director of a Play
Lear deBessonet, Good Person of Szechwan
winner
Obie Awards - 2013 - Direction
Lear deBessonet, The Good Person Of Szechuan
Videos
Video: Inside Opening Night of RAGTIME with Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, Brandon Uranowitz & More
by Joey Mervis - 2025-10-17 13:55:04
Video: Joshua Henry & RAGTIME Cast Rehearse 'Gettin’ Ready Rag'
by Michael Major - 2025-09-19 10:52:52
Video: Watch the RAGTIME Cast Perform the Title Song at Lincoln Center
by Michael Major - 2025-05-28 10:45:40
Video: ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Stars J. Harrison Ghee, Cheyenne Jackson, and Nikki Renee Daniels Gear Up for City Center
by A.A. Cristi - 2024-01-17 18:52:38
VIDEO: Watch the First Day with The Encores! Orchestra for ONCE UPON A MATTRESS
by Blair Ingenthron - 2023-12-23 14:01:59
Video: Cast of INTO THE WOODS Talks Opening Night in Los Angeles
by Alan Henry - 2023-07-03 11:01:07
Video: Go Inside Rehearsals for OLIVER! at New York City Center
by Blair Ingenthron - 2023-05-02 16:00:19
Video: Denee Benton Gets Her Wish as INTO THE WOODS' New Cinderella
by Nicole Rosky - 2022-12-18 12:00:20
VIDEO: Gavin Creel Helps Make a Breast Cancer Survivor's Broadway Dreams Come True Onstage at INTO THE WOODS on TODAY
by Michael Major - 2022-10-27 11:36:49
VLOG: Go Backstage At INTO THE WOODS With Kennedy Kennedy Kanagawa - Episode 3
by Alan Henry - 2022-10-15 16:00:20
VIDEO: Watch Gavin Creel & Andy Karl Perform 'Agony' From INTO THE WOODS on TODAY
by Michael Major - 2022-10-06 11:28:13
VIDEO: Watch the Cast of INTO THE WOODS Perform on THE TODAY SHOW
by Michael Major - 2022-10-06 09:55:16
Video: Watch New Highlights of Stephanie J. Block, Sebastian Arcelus & More in INTO THE WOODS on Broadway
by Show Highlights - 2022-09-28 10:38:29
News
Video: RAGTIME Releases 2025 Broadway Cast Recording; Watch the Cast Perform 'Journey On'
by Stephi Wild - Jan 9, 2026
The 2025 Broadway cast recording of Lincoln Center Theater’s revival of Ragtime, directed by Lear deBessonet, is now available digitally! CD and vinyl releases will follow on February 6 and April 3, respectively. Listen to the album here!
by Stephi Wild - Jan 9, 2026
The 2025 Broadway cast recording of Lincoln Center Theater’s revival of Ragtime, directed by Lear deBessonet, is now available digitally! CD and vinyl releases will follow on February 6 and April 3, respectively. Listen to the album here!
Video: Joshua Henry and Nichelle Lewis Sing 'Wheels of a Dream' From RAGTIME
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 8, 2026
The 2025 Broadway cast recording of Lincoln Center Theater’s revival of Ragtime, directed by Lear deBessonet, will be released. Get a look inside the recording studio, with Joshua Henry and Nichelle Lewis singing 'Wheels of a Dream'!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 8, 2026
The 2025 Broadway cast recording of Lincoln Center Theater’s revival of Ragtime, directed by Lear deBessonet, will be released. Get a look inside the recording studio, with Joshua Henry and Nichelle Lewis singing 'Wheels of a Dream'!
Industry Pro Newsletter: Broadway League Leadership Awards, ACTF Drops Affiliation with Kennedy Center
by Alex Freeman - Jan 5, 2026
Happy New Year! This week, we’re catching up on a few different stories that you might have missed while you were out for the holidays - including the ongoing tumult at the Kennedy Center, multiple Broadway box office records, and the controversial reopening of a theatre in Mariupol.
by Alex Freeman - Jan 5, 2026
Happy New Year! This week, we’re catching up on a few different stories that you might have missed while you were out for the holidays - including the ongoing tumult at the Kennedy Center, multiple Broadway box office records, and the controversial reopening of a theatre in Mariupol.
Photos: AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS Opens at Lincoln Center Theater
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 19, 2025
The holiday family opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors opened at Lincoln Center Theater. See photos from opening night here! On hand to celebrate the occasion were Billy Porter, Annaleigh Ashford, and more.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 19, 2025
The holiday family opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors opened at Lincoln Center Theater. See photos from opening night here! On hand to celebrate the occasion were Billy Porter, Annaleigh Ashford, and more.
SMU Meadows School of the Arts to Honor Brian Stokes Mitchell with 2026 Meadows Award
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 25, 2025
SMU Meadows School of the Arts has revealed that the recipient of the 2026 Meadows Award is Brian Stokes Mitchell, known for his Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award-winning performances.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 25, 2025
SMU Meadows School of the Arts has revealed that the recipient of the 2026 Meadows Award is Brian Stokes Mitchell, known for his Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award-winning performances.
Photos: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and More at WICKED: FOR GOOD New York Premiere
by Bruce Glikas - Nov 19, 2025
You can now check out photos from the red carpet of the Wicked: For Good New York City premiere, which streamed live, and marked the final stop of the press tour for the film.
by Bruce Glikas - Nov 19, 2025
You can now check out photos from the red carpet of the Wicked: For Good New York City premiere, which streamed live, and marked the final stop of the press tour for the film.
Photos: RAGTIME Celebrates Opening Night on Broadway
by Bruce Glikas - Oct 20, 2025
The second Broadway revival of Ragtime is officially open at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. In attendance were Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Hillary Clinton, and more! Check out the photos here!
by Bruce Glikas - Oct 20, 2025
The second Broadway revival of Ragtime is officially open at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. In attendance were Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Hillary Clinton, and more! Check out the photos here!
Review Roundup: RAGTIME Returns to Broadway
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 16, 2025
The curtain has risen on Ragtime, now running at Lincoln Center Theater on Broadway. Read all the reviews to see what the critics had to say about the new revival, directed by Lear deBessonet.
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 16, 2025
The curtain has risen on Ragtime, now running at Lincoln Center Theater on Broadway. Read all the reviews to see what the critics had to say about the new revival, directed by Lear deBessonet.
Photos: Caissie Levy, Brandon Uranowitz & Joshua Henry in RAGTIME on Broadway
by Nicole Rosky - Oct 16, 2025
Ragtime opens tonight, October 16, at the Vivian Beaumont Theater as Artistic Director Lear deBessonet’s first production of her inaugural season. Check out all new photos of the cast in action here!
by Nicole Rosky - Oct 16, 2025
Ragtime opens tonight, October 16, at the Vivian Beaumont Theater as Artistic Director Lear deBessonet’s first production of her inaugural season. Check out all new photos of the cast in action here!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many shows has Lear deBessonet written?
Lear deBessonet has written 1 shows including transFigures (Conceiver).
What awards has Lear deBessonet been nominated for?
Founders Award for Excellence in Directing (Drama League Awards) for , Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Drama League Awards) for Into the Woods, Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Into the Woods, Outstanding Director (The Lortels) for Good Person of Szechwan, Outstanding Director of a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Good Person of Szechwan and Direction (Obie Awards) for The Good Person Of Szechuan.
What awards has Lear deBessonet won?
Lear deBessonet has won several prestigious awards, including the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing from the Drama League Awards. She also received the Outstanding Direction of a Musical award from the Drama League Awards for Into the Woods and earned the Direction award from the Obie Awards for The Good Person of Szechuan.
Videos