Tazewell Thompson

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.