Philip Wm. McKinley

PHILIP WM. MCKINLEY (Director) has directed record-breaking productions from Broadway to Salzburg to Tokyo. His production of SPIDERMAN: TURN OFF THE DARK with music by Bono and The Edge is one of the top 20 all-time box office grossing productions in Broadway history. After his taking over the reins, the production earned the top box office record, taking in $2,941,974 in one week.

In New York City, McKinley also directed the five-time Tony nominated Broadway musical THE BOY FROM OZ starring Hugh Jackman, the revival of THE MOST HAPPY FELLA starring Paul Sorvino at the New York City Opera, the Drama Desk-nominated comedy THWAK, and the cult Off-Broadway musical ZOMBIE PROM.

At the Salzburg Music Festival, McKinley directed WEST SIDE STORY starring Cecilia Bartoli with Gustavo Dudamel conducting the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela. The opening night of WEST SIDE STORY received a standing ovation, which is unheard of for the Salzburg Music Festival. McKinley holds the distinction of being asked to be the director of the first musical to be presented by the festival in its almost 100-year history.

McKinley directed the multi-million-dollar production STEVE WYNN’S SHOWSTOPPERS. The show was awarded Best New Show 2014 and Best Musical 2015 in Las Vegas. CNN stated it was... “One of the best Musical Show Openings in Vegas history.”

McKinley re-imagined and directed at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas the aquatic spectacular LE REVE – THE DREAM. LE REVE was renowned for its dramatic theater-in-the-round setting and high divers and acrobats flying in and out of the 1 million -gallon 27-foot-deep pool. The show was awarded the title "Best Production Show in Las Vegas" for a record-breaking nine consecutive years.

His more recent projects include a production of THAT WOMAN - WALLIS SIMPSON, DUCHESS OF WINDSOR which was recognized as the "Pick of the Fringe" top five productions for the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

His past projects include MOZART L’OPERA ROCK in Tokyo, which broke Tokyo’s theatrical box office records and BEN HUR LIVE, an operatic sports spectacular which had its world premiere in September 2009 at the 02 Dome in London and was also performed in Rome in the summer of 2011.

McKinley devised and directed Kenneth Feld’s European style one ring BARNUM’S KALEIDOSCAPE and conceived, directed and staged 128th – 133rd and 135th editions of RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY’S THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH. He conceived with Kenneth and Nicole Feld BOOM-A-RING, his tenth Ringling production, making him the person who has directed more editions of RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM AND BAILEY than any other living person.

McKinley is presently developing the verbal-sparing dramedy THE GUEST with New York Times Best Selling Author Gregg Hurwitz; and with Pulitzer and Tony nominated playwright Anna Deavere Smith a new biographical musical about the life of Ella Fitzgerald titled ELLA.

VIsit his official website: www.directorinblack.com