Daniel Sullivan (director)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Daniel Sullivan (born June 11, 1940) is an award-winning American theatre and film director and playwright.

Born in Wray, Colorado, Sullivan was raised in San Francisco, where he graduated from San Francisco State University. In 1963, he began his professional career as an actor at the city's Actor's Workshop, where he remained for two years.

Sullivan worked as both an actor and director with the Lincoln Center Repertory Company in the late 1960s and 70s. After two years as Resident Director of the Seattle Repertory Theatre, he assumed the position of Artistic Director in 1981, serving until 1997. It was there that he directed the first production of his own play, Inspecting Carol.

Sullivan has forged successful working relationships with three prominent contemporary American playwrights. He directed Herb Gardner's I'm Not Rappaport at Seattle Rep before staging it off-Broadway, on Broadway, in London's West End production, and for the United States national tour. He reteamed with Gardner to stage Conversations with My Father in Seattle, New York City, and Los Angeles. His first association with Wendy Wasserstein was the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Heidi Chronicles, which he directed at Playwrights Horizons before its transfer to Broadway. The duo later collaborated on An American Daughter and The Sisters Rosensweig. He directed both the Playwrights Horizons production and screen version of Jon Robin Baitz's The Substance of Fire, as well as his play A Fair Country.

Sullivan's Broadway acting credits include the 1973 revival of A Streetcar Named Desire, The Merchant of Venice, The Playboy of the Western World, The Good Woman of Setzuan, and Camino Real.

Sullivan has two daughters, Megan Anne and Rachel, from his first marriage. He presently is married to Shelley Plimpton and is step-father to Martha Plimpton.

[edit] Additional Broadway directing credits

Rabbit Hole (2006)
Julius Caesar (2005)
Brooklyn Boy (2005)
Sight Unseen (2004)
The Retreat From Moscow (2003)
Morning's at Seven (2002 revival)
Major Barbara (2001)
Proof (2000)
A Moon for the Misbegotten (2000 revival)
Ah, Wilderness! (1998)
The Plough and the Stars (1973)
Narrow Road to the Deep North (1972)
Hair (1968)

[edit] Awards and nominations

2006 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play (Rabbit Hole, nominee)
2006 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play (Stuff Happens, nominee)
2002 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play (Morning's at Seven, nominee)
2001 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play (Proof, winner)
2000 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play (Dinner with Friends, nominee)
1993 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play (The Sisters Rosensweig, nominee)
1993 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play (The Sisters Rosensweig, nominee)*1992 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play (Conversations With My Father, nominee)
1989 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play (The Heidi Chronicles, nominee)
1989 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play (The Heidi Chronicles, nominee)
1972 Drama Desk Award for Most Promising Director (Suggs, winner)