Tazewell Thompson
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Bio:
Tazewell Thompson is an internationally acclaimed theater and opera director and award-winning playwright. He has directing credits, more than 150, many world and American premieres, in major opera houses and theaters across the USA, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Africa, Japan and Canada. His ...
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Latest News on Tazewell Thompson
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Chris Herbie Holland, Dane Figueroa Edidi, David Emerson Toney, director Tazewell Thompson, Joy Jones, Michael Anthony Williams and Michael Zachary Tunstill
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Tazewell Thompson Biography
Tazewell Thompson is an internationally acclaimed theater and opera director and award-winning playwright. He has directing credits, more than 150, many world and American premieres, in major opera houses and theaters across the USA, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Africa, Japan and Canada. His award-winning play, Constant Star, has had 16 productions in major theaters across the country; Mary T & Lizzy K, commissioned by Molly Smith and produced at Arena Stage, is the recipient of The Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award; author of Jam & Spice; an adaptation of A Christmas Carol; and a contributing writer to Our War, short plays for Arena Stage. His a cappella musical Jubilee: Fisk Jubilee Singers had its world premiere spring of 2019 at Arena Stage. He has play commissions from Lincoln Center Theatre and People’s Light & Theatre Company. His production of Porgy and Bess, broadcast Live from Lincoln Center, received EMMY Award nominations for Best Director, and Best Production, classical music. He holds the record of directing three productions: Appomattox/ Philip Glass, Lost in the Stars/ Kurt Weill, and Cato in Utica/ Vivaldi, all in the same season in three different theaters at The Kennedy Center. His opera Blue, with composer Jeanine Tesori, commissioned by Francesca Zambello, had its world premiere in July 2019, at Glimmerglass Festival; followed by the world premiere of Freedom Ride/ Dan Shore for Chicago Opera Theatre.Tazewell Thompson Awards and Nominations
Helen Hayes Awards - 1992 - Outstanding Director, Resident Production | ||
Tazewell ThompsonJar the Floor | ||
Helen Hayes Awards - 1991 - Outstanding Director, Resident Production | ||
Tazewell ThompsonFences | ||
Olivier Awards - 1989 - Outstanding Director, Non-Resident Production | ||
Tazewell ThompsonAbyssinia |
Tazewell Thompson News

by Stephi Wild - Jun 17, 2022
This July, Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO) will present the Iowa premiere of The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess in honor of international opera star and Iowa native Simon Estes upon the announcement of his operatic farewell.

by Marissa Tomeo - May 29, 2022
TheaterWorks Hartford, under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Rob Ruggiero, is excited to announce its upcoming 2022–2023 season. Rob said 'This season, we’re focusing on plays that we hope inspire our audiences to come see LIVE theater. Great music, captivating stories, and world-class writing – these stories are uplifting, powerful … and will engage us all in important conversations. We’re particularly excited that they are written by four female playwrights representing the best and most important voices in American theater. These plays tell our stories.'

by A.A. Cristi - May 11, 2022
Having been on pause since the pandemic, Liz Player (Founding Executive and Artistic Director, Harlem Chamber Players) is pleased to announce the rare NYC performance of the Harlem Renaissance composer Nathaniel Dett's (1882-1943) masterpiece oratorio The Ordering of Moses, which was cut short during a radio broadcast in 1937.

by A.A. Cristi - Apr 25, 2022
Pittsburgh Opera's production of Jeanine Tesori and Tazewell Thompson's 'Blue' opened Saturday, April 23rd at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center.

by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 5, 2022
As General Director Timothy 2 O’Leary and Artistic Director Francesca Zambello announced today, the company’s 2022– 2023 season balances groundbreaking new work with audience favorites.

by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 29, 2022
Dutch National Opera has announced its 2022/2023 season, with La Liberté? as its central theme. It promises to be a jam-packed season with no fewer than 15 productions, 4 world premieres, 2 European premieres, 6 new productions, 4 family operas as well as a new edition of the Opera Forward Festival.

by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 25, 2022
Washington National Opera today released a recording and short documentary-film highlighting Blue, the critically-acclaimed opera—named the “Best New Opera of 2020” (The Music Critics Association of North America)—by Tony Award–winning composer Jeanine Tesori and NAACP Theatre Award winning librettist Tazewell Thompson.

by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 1, 2022
The month of March has a variety of events to offer in venues across Seattle Center’s campus with something for everyone to do. There is no shortage of fun activities taking place at Seattle Center this March, and you don’t want to miss out.
by Stephi Wild - Feb 11, 2022
The month of February has a variety of events to offer in venues across Seattle Center’s campus. Some events are presented in-person, while others feature a hybrid of in-person and virtual viewing options.

by A.A. Cristi - Feb 7, 2022
OPERA America has announced the recipients of the 2022 Repertoire Development Grants: American Lyric Theater (New York, NY); Beth Morrison Projects (New York, NY); Houston Grand Opera (Houston, TX); Lyric Opera of Chicago (Chicago, IL); MassOpera (Salem, MA); Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (St. Louis, MO); Pensacola Opera (Pensacola, FL) and OperaDelaware (Wilmington, DE); and Virginia Opera (Norfolk, VA). A total of $225,000 was awarded to eight projects (see below) by these nine companies.
Tazewell Thompson Videos

by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 13, 2021
Washington National Opera today announced its 2021–2022 season featuring a triumphant return to the Opera House stage, four world premiere commissions celebrating the Kennedy Center’s 50th Anniversary, debuts from acclaimed and rising opera stars, the return to the pit for Principal Conductor Evan Rogister and the WNO Orchestra & Chorus, and more.

by Stage Tube - Aug 31, 2020
With the support of The Glimmerglass Festival, the a?oeBluea?? casts of The Glimmerglass Festival and Washington National Opera joined for a poignant musical offering from the Music Critics Association of North Americaa??s Best New Opera of 2020.

by Stage Tube - Apr 3, 2020
What is it like to be both a black father and a police officer in America? Kenneth Kellogg, a D.C. native who plays The Father in Blue, learns lessons from a police officer.
by BroadwayWorld TV - Apr 8, 2013
Tazewell Thompson's world premiere drama Mary T. & Lizzy K. throws open the doors to the Lincoln White House at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. As one woman's skilled hands work overtime, creating the most beautiful garments of her career, the other's reality continues to slip ever further from her grasp. Old wounds and new recriminations explode in this riveting drama about loss, love and the importance of promises, both kept and broken. BroadwayWorld has highlights of the production below.