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MICHAEL WILSON

Theatre & Film Director

News

CURRENT

For more information, log onto https://www.wildgeesegallery.com/

PAST PRODUCTIONS
selected:

THE YOUNG MAN FROM ATLANTA

Signature Theatre 

EXTENDED

now through December 15th 2019

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Danger waits just underneath the surface in Horton Foote’s powerful, Pulitzer Prize-winning drama of an aging couple still reeling from the death of their only child. Set against the backdrop of a rapidly modernizing 1950s Houston, the Kidder family’s lives are turned upside down once again when a figure from their son’s past shows up in town. They deny, deflect and deceive in an effort to avoid the danger but can’t avoid the inevitable reckoning. How far will these grieving parents go to avoid the truths this young man from Atlanta might reveal? Director Michael Wilson (The Orphans’ Home Cycle, The Old Friends), the premier interpreter of Foote’s work, returns to Signature to spearhead the first New York revival of this beautiful, heartbreaking play that explores and dissects the American dream while revealing the depths we go to in order to keep ourselves safe.

“Wilson lets his leading players bank their fires … In the second act, though, the reticence pays off, as that stealthy Horton Foote magic asserts itself anew.”

  • NY Times, Ben Brantley

"Signature Theatre’s new revival of “The Young Man From Atlanta,” is as good as it can possibly be, mak[ing] clear the play’s surpassing excellence”

  • WSJ, Terry Teachout

“[Foote’s] body of work rivals that of Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams, and Young Man From Atlanta shows Foote at the top of his game.”

  • Newsweek, Joe Westerfield

THE KING'S SPEECH

September 12-October 20, 2019

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Paralyzed by his stammer and unable to speak to a nation in crisis, King George VI ascends the throne as England stands on the brink of war once again with Germany. Enter Lionel Logue, an Australian migrant with a career path as unexpected as the king’s. The remarkable true story of this unlikely bond between a reluctant king and a charismatic subject that inspired the Academy Award-winning film is now brought to the stage, where writer David Seidler first imagined it. Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award-winning director Michael Wilson stages this exciting North American Premiere. Following its Chicago run, the production is slated for engagements at other theaters across the country.

National Theatre https://thenationaldc.com/event/the-kings-speech-2/

Feb 11-16, 2020

 

Hartford Stage https://www.hartfordstage.org/show/2019-2020-season

March 19-April 19, 2020

 

Phoenix Theatre Company www.phoenixtheatre.com

July 8th-August 2, 2020

For inquires about tour booking contact: andy@adhamingson.com

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UPCOMING

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At Arkansas Rep. Winter 2020

Tony Award winner Elizabeth Ashley is the legendary Ann Richards in ANN, a no-holds barred look at the brassy, blue governor who changed the face of Texas politics. 

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At Walnut Street Theatre. Spring 2020

Philadelphia. The 48 hours leading up to the presidential nomination. Two candidates and their advisors play an intense winner-take-all game of political cat and mouse.

Recent

DEAR MR. WILLIAMS

Set during Hollywood’s notorious Blacklist, FELLOW TRAVELERS examines the relationship between legendary theater artists Arthur Miller and Elia Kazan and their close connection to Marilyn Monroe. Kazan directed several Miller plays, including DEATH OF A SALESMAN, and Tennessee Williams dramas, including A STREETCAR  NAMED DESIRE. Miller also wrote the modern classics THE CRUCIBLE and A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE. FELLOW TRAVELERS explores how    the politics of the McCarthy era affected their friendship and how their friendship affected their work.

For tickets & info visit: http://www.baystreet.org/calendar/world-premiere-of-fellow-travelers/

27East

"If off-Broadway isn't the next stop for this electric and stirring drama, it'll be a crime."

BroadwayWorld

"Michael Wilson directs the superb production...In this rousing world premiere...a captivating story and thrilling cast make for a great night of theatre."

Dan's Papers

"Director Michael Wilson and the show's cast have done an incredible job of bringing...rich history to life."

Patch

"...brilliantly directed by Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award-winner Michael Wilson....Clever, intelligent, and entertaining."

The Independent

"Michael Wilson...directs with precision and poignancy."

Hamptons.com

"...a riveting, thought-provoking success - a must-see play....The direction by Michael Wilson was brilliant."

  TENDER MERCIES

at the Alley Theatre & Colorado New Play Festival

January 26-28, 2018 at the Alley
June 16, 2018 at CNPF

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RECENT

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Two wealthy London bachelors each pretend to be a fictitious man called Ernest in order to win over two eligible young ladies, despite the ladies' avowed preference for that name alone—and the interference of the intimidatingly proper Lady Bracknell (Lansbury). Proceeds from The Importance of Being Earnest will benefit Roundabout’s many programs, including Education at Roundabout.

DEAR MR. WILLIAMS

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Dear Mr. Williams, a solo show written and performed by Bryan Batt, will present an invitation-only workshop in New York City October 12. Presented by Wespoke Productions and Badway on Broadway, the show—first seen at the 2018 New Orleans Tennessee Williams Literary Festival—is developed and directed by Michael Wilson.

FELLOW TRAVELERS

at Bay Street Theater

World Premiere by Jack Canfora

May 29 - June 17, 2018

Daisy Foote adapts her father’s Oscar-winning screenplay Tender Mercies for the stage. Mac Sledge was the King of Country married to the Queen, Dixie Scott, but the bottle and jealousy tore their family apart. Rosa Lee Wadsworth lost her young husband in Vietnam and now she and her boy Sonny live quietly alone. By the time Mac turns up drunk at Rosa Lee's three-cabin Texas roadside motel, he is a divorced has-been who hasn’t seen his daughter in years. Rosa Lee’s and Mac's dare for a second chance together tests their faith and love in this powerful story of human endurance and forgiveness.

FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE

SELECTED WORK

The Night of the Iguana

American Repertory Theatre

Sold out acclaimed revival of Tennessee Williams' 1961 searing drama, starring Elizabeth Ashley, Dana Delaney, Bill Heck, James Earl Jones, Susannah Perkins and Amanda Plummer.

Showing Roots
Lionsgate

Set in the year 1977, two women (Uzo Aduba & Maggie Grace) look to integrate their small town, inspired by the miniseries "Roots" as it hits the airwaves. Also starring Adam Brody, Elizabeth McGovern, & Cicely Tyson.

The Trip to Bountiful

TONY Award winning Broadway revival & television movie

Nominated for Four TONY Awards--winning, Best Actress Cicely Tyson--this acclaimed Broadway revival played over 200 performances over six months, before being adapted into a critically-lauded television film (Lifetime/Ostar Enterprises), and touring to sold out houses in Los Angeles and Boston.

Gore Vidals' The Best Man

Broadway revival

James Earl Jones, Angela Lansbury, Candice Bergen and more star in Gore Vidal's political drama about two presidential campaigns. Also starring John Larroquette, Eric McCormack, Kerry Butler, Jefferson Mays, and Michael McKean.

Selected Work

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Every Winter

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This holiday season Michael Wilson's adaptation of A Christmas Carol will be celebrating it's 16the season at Washington DC's historic Ford's Theatre, its 22nd season at Hartford Stage, and its 24th season at the Tony-award winning Alley Theatre.

A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas is a family-friendly re-telling of Charles Dickens’ classic story, which follows Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey with the three ghostly spirits who visit him on Christmas Eve. A Christmas Carol instills a powerful message about redemption and the spirit of the holiday season. 

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CONTACT

UTA - Patrick Herold

888 7th Ave (bet 56th & 57th St) 7th Floor New York NY 10106

212-500-7118 / Patrick.herold@unitedtalent.com

or fill out the form below and contact Michael directly:

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                                         BIO

MICHAEL WILSON (SDC, DGA) is a Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle award-winning director working on Broadway, off-Broadway, and at major theaters across the country.

 

On Broadway, he directed the 2013 revival of Horton Foote's The Trip to Bountiful starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Condola Rashad, Vanessa Williams and Cicely Tyson, who won the Tony Award for Best Actress. Other Broadway productions include the 2012 Tony Award nominated revival of Gore Vidal's The Best Man (starring Candice Bergen, James Earl Jones, John Larroquette, Angela Lansbury, Eric McCormack, Michael McKean and John Stamos); the Tony nominated Best Plays Dividing the Estate (starring Elizabeth Ashley, Hallie Foote and Gerald McRaney); and Enchanted April (starring Jayne Atkinson and Molly Ringwald), for which he earned his first of two Outer Critics Circle nominations.


Wilson made his screen directoral debut with the 2014 Lifetime/Ostar television film adaptation of The Trip to Bountiful, which was nominated for two 2014 Emmy Awards -- including Outstanding Television Movie - as well as a DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Movie or Mini-Series for Television. Among the film's many awards are the 2015 NAACP/Image Awards for Outstanding Actor (Blair Underwood) and Outstanding TV Movie, and the Gracie Allen Award for Outstanding Ensemble Cast, which included Keke Palmer and Clancy Brown.

His first indie film, the award-winning Showing Roots (produced by Michael Mailer Films in association with Bill Haber, starring Uzo Aduba, Maggie Grace, and Elizabeth McGovern) was acquired by Lifetime where it had its television premiere in 2016. 

Off-Broadway, his production include Signature Theater Company's revival of Arthur Miller's Incident at Vichy starring Richard Thomas, which was subsequently filmed by BroadwayHD (2015); Desire, the Acting Company's premiere bill of plays by Elizabeth Egloff, Marcus Gardley, Rebecca Gilman, David Grimm, John Guare, and Beth Henley based on short stories by Tennessee Williams; Roundabout's revivals of Landford Wilson's Talley's Folly starring Danny Burstein and Sarah Paulson (2013) and Tennessee Williams' The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore starring Olympia Dukakis (2011); and the epic three-part, nine-hour Orphans' Home Cycle. 

 

Internationally, he directed both parts of Tony Kushner's Angels in America for the 1995 Venice Biennale. 

 

Recent projects including the American Repertory Theatre revival of The Night of the Iguana starring Bill Heck, Dana Delaney, James Earl Jones, and Amanda Plummer (2017); CTG/Ahmanson Theater's Los Angeles premiere of Grey Gardens: The Musical starring Betty Buckley and Rachel York (2016); and the Alley Theatre workshop of the new musical Tender Mercies (2018).

 

Treasurer of SDC since 2015, Wilson was Artistic Director from 1998-2011 of Hartford Stage, where he commissioned and developed the Pulitzer Prize winning Water by the Spoonful by Quiara Alegria Hudes.

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