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Robert Wilson

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Robert Wilson BIO

Born in Waco, Texas, Wilson is among the world's foremost theater and visual artists. His works for the stage unconventionally integrate a wide variety of artistic media, including dance, movement, lighting, sculpture, music, and text. His images are aesthetically striking and emotionally charged, and his productions have earned the acclaim of audiences and critics worldwide. After being educated at the University of Texas and Brooklyn's Pratt Institute, Wilson founded the New York-based performance collective "The Byrd Hoffman School of Byrds" in the mid?1960s, and developed his first signature works, including Deafman Glance (1970) and A Letter for Queen Victoria (1974-75). With Philip Glass he wrote the seminal opera Einstein on the Beach (1976). Wilson's artistic collaborators include many writers and musicians, such as Heiner Müller, Tom Waits, Susan Sontag, Laurie Anderson, William Burroughs, Lou Reed, and Jessye Norman. He has also left his imprint on masterworks such as Beckett's Krapp's Last Tape, Brecht/Weill's Threepenny Opera, Debussy's Pelléas et Melisande, Goethe's Faust, Homer's Odyssey, Jean de la Fontaine's Fables, Puccini's Madama Butterfly, and Verdi's La Traviata. Wilson's drawings, paintings, and sculptures have been presented around the world in hundreds of solo and group showings, and his works are held in private collections and museums throughout the world. Wilson has been honored with numerous awards for excellence, including a Pulitzer Prize nomination, two Premio Ubu awards, the Golden Lion of the Venice Biennale, and an Olivier Award. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, as well as the German Academy of the Arts, and holds eight Honorary Doctorate degrees. France pronounced him Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters (2003) and Officer of the Legion of Honor (2014); and Germany awarded him the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit (2014). Wilson is the founder and Artistic Director of The Watermill Center, a laboratory for the arts in Water Mill, New York.

Robert Wilson Photos

Robert Wilson Awards and Nominations

The Hewes Awards - 1987 - Noteworthy/Unusual Effects

Robert WilsonThe Civil Wars - Act 5, The Trees

The Hewes Awards - 1975 - Scenic Design

Robert Wilson, A Letter For Queen Victoria

Robert Wilson Videos

Robert Wilson News

Interview: Luis Salgado of AIDA at STAGES St. Louis In The Ross Family Theater At The Kirkwood Performing Arts Center

Last year, Luis Salgado directed and choreographed IN THE HEIGHTS at STAGES St. Louis. It was among the most critically acclaimed productions of the year in St. Louis. His production was recognized with 11 St. Louis Critics Circle nominations and six wins including Outstanding Production, Outstanding Ensemble and Outstanding Choreography. This year, Salgado returns to STAGES St. Louis to direct and choreograph AIDA which opens on Wednesday, June 7th in the Ross Family Theatre at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. Broadway World had the opportunity to sit down today to talk with Salgado about the production, his creative team, and who has influenced him to become the powerhouse director and choreographer he has become.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Closes The 2022-2023 Season With The Regional Premiere Dramedy MAYTAG VIRGIN, May 27 " June 18

​​​​​​​Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) closes its 2022-2023 Season with the regional premiere dramedy Maytag Virgin by Audrey Cefaly. May 27–June 18, 2023. Directed by Bridget Leak. Premiere Sponsors are John Goering; Mark Haggard and Daniel Brown.

Tickets on Sale Now for New York Stage and Film 2023 Summer Season Featuring A WRINKLE IN TIME & More

Tickets are now on sale for New York Stage and Film'S 2023 Summer Season July 14-August 6 at Marist College.

The Greek National Opera Presents Olivier Py's New Production Of MADAMA BUTTERFLY, June 1- 10

The Greek National Opera (GNO) presents leading French director Olivier Py's new production of Puccini's Madama Butterfly, following his acclaimed production of Berg's Wozzeck at GNO in 2020. Olivier Py, who has directed more than 40 operas around the world, embarks on his first staging of Madama Butterfly with a production that places the orchestra onstage and fills the outdoor venue with the aesthetics and colors of America and Japan.

New Laurence Fishburne Play, A WRINKLE IN TIME Workshop & More Set for New York Stage and Film 2023 Summer Season

New York Stage and Film returns to Marist College July 14-August 6 for their 2023 Summer Season. See the full programming, and learn how to purchase tickes!

The Greek National Opera Pays Tribute To Maria Callas On Her Centennial Anniversary

The Greek National Opera has announced its events honoring Maria Callas, the greatest soprano of the 20th century with a series of tributes curated by the Artistic Director of the Greek National Opera Giorgos Koumendakis, taking place from April to December 2023. 

Segal Theatre Announces Spring 2023 Line Up

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center will host live events and Segal Talks, comprised of conversations, readings, workshops, screenings, and book talks with and by New York and global theatre artists this March through June. After two and a half years of hibernation, The Graduate Center CUNY has finally reopened for public events

Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company to Present The World Premiere Of E-MOTION in May

Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company will present e-Motion, an intermission-less program-length dance from May 26 to June 4, 2023 at The Cherry Arts.

AVANT-GARDE-ARAMA is Coming to Kingston's Lace Mill Gallery in March

Avant-Garde-Arama Visits The Lace Mill, the latest iteration of a festival of short works of dance, music, performance art and video that originated in the Lower East Side in the '80s, will be coming to Kingston's Lace Mill Gallery.

THE GIFT Exhibition Opens This Month at Godwin-Ternbach Museum

A new exhibition at the Godwin-Ternbach Museum (GTM) at Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY), THE GIFT: Queens College Collects, on view from February 23 through May 25, 2023, will explore works from the Godwin-Ternbach Museum, QC Fashion and Textile Collection, QC Art Department, Louis Armstrong House Museum, Queens College Library, and Daghlian Collection of Chinese Art.

Theater for the New City Presents THE CONDUCTOR By Ishmael Reed, March 9-26

In 'The Conductor,' satirist playwright Ishmael Reed attacks the race-baiting and divisiveness that were widely seen in the recent, widely-reported San Francisco School Board Recall. 

Alan Cumming Returns OBE, Citing 'Toxicity' in the British Empire

Alan Cumming has taken to Instagram to reveal that he has returned his OBE, due to his feelings about the 'toxicity' of the British Empire.

MOJADA: A MEDEA IN LOS ANGELES to be Presented at Yale Repertory Theatre in March

Yale Repertory Theatre will start the second half of its 2022–23 season with Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles by Luis Alfaro, directed by Laurie Woolery, March 10–April 1 at the University Theatre.

Interview: Joe Grifasi & Patrice Johnson Chevannes on the Many Facets of Samuel Beckett's ENDGAME

Read BroadwayWorld's interview with the stars of Samuel Beckett's Endgame at Irish Repertory Theatre, Joe Grifasi and Patrice Johnson Chevannes!

Ping Chong and Company Reveals New Artistic Leadership Team

Performer and director Nile Harris and playwright, director, and dramaturg Talvin Wilks will join Ping Chong and Company Managing Director Jane Jung and Associate Director Sara Zatz to form the pioneering organization’s new Artistic Leadership Team.

Acclaimed Composer Mette Henriette to Release New Album 'Drifting'

Recorded at the recently relocated Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway, Drifting was completed at Studios La Buissonne with Grammy-winning producer Manfred Eicher and features pianist Johan Lindvall and cellist Judith Hamann. The 15-track record takes Mette Henriette in a bold new direction, as she connects with her deeper musical consciousness.

SHE'S GOT HARLEM ON HER MIND, 3 One-Acts by Eulalie Spence, to be Presented at Metropolitan Playhouse

The Obie Award-winning Metropolitan Playhouse, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, will present She’s Got Harlem on Her Mind, an evening of three short plays by influential Harlem Renaissance writer Eulalie Spence (1894–1981).

Kitka Performs World Premiere Of BABA: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF STANA By Karmina Šilec, February 23-26

Kitka Women's Vocal Ensemble has announced the world premiere of BABA: The Life and Death of Stana, authored, composed and directed by Karmina Šilec. BABA is a new opera inspired by the lives of sworn virgins of the Balkan Highlands, women who live as men after taking vows of celibacy.

Greek National Opera to Present FALSTAFF by Stephen Langridge in January

The Greek National Opera will present the premiere of a new production of Verdi’s Falstaff, staged by acclaimed opera director and Artistic Director of the Glyndebourne Festival Stephen Langridge, conducted by Pier Giorgio Morandi.

Robert Wilson FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Noteworthy/Unusual Effects (The Hewes Awards) for The Civil Wars - Act 5, The Trees Scenic Design (The Hewes Awards) for A Letter For Queen Victoria and Outstanding Director (Drama Desk Awards) for Deafman Glance .

Noteworthy/Unusual Effects (The Hewes Awards) for The Civil Wars - Act 5, The Trees Scenic Design (The Hewes Awards) for A Letter For Queen Victoriaand Outstanding Director (Drama Desk Awards) for Deafman Glance.

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