ERIC SIMONSON CO-SPONSORS: Ms. J. Stephanie Giacalone and Writer and Director Eric Simonson directed The Grapes of Wrath for The Minnesota Opera, Utah Opera and Pittsburgh Opera. More recently, he directed and produced the documentary film A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin, which was nominated for an International Documentary Association Award and won an Academy Award. Mr. Simonson wrote and directed several works including Carter’s Way for Kansas City Rep and Ahab’s Tale for Milwaukee Rep, which was selected as one of the top ten productions of the year by Time magazine. He is a company member of Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago where he directed Mother Courage, an adaptation of Slaughterhouse-5, Nomathemba (co-author) and The Song of Jacob Zulu (Tony Nomination, Perth Arts Festival). Other credits include Hamlet and adaptations of The Last Hurrah and Bang the Drum Slowly at The Huntington Theatre; Rusalka, La bohème, Bok Choy Variations and The Magic Flute at The Minnesota Opera. Mr. Simonson’s first film, a documentary called Tiptoe: Gentle Steps to Freedom, received nominations for an Academy Award and Emmy, and the 2001 IDA Distinguished Achievement Award. Other film credits include Hamlet (co-directed with Campbell Scott) for Hallmark Entertainment and Topa Topa Bluffs. As an actor, Mr. Simonson appeared in the Chicago, London and Broadway productions of The Grapes of Wrath and on television on “Seinfeld,” “The Untouchables” and “The Ben Stiller Show.” He is the recipient of a Princess Grace Grant, the NCCJ Media Arts Award and the Princess Grace Statue for sustained achievement. Mr. Simonson is currently writing a new play called Speak American which will premiere at City Theatre in Pittsburgh, and a pilot television series for HBO with writer/director Thomas McCarthy. |
