Theatre Director

“Knead” was developed in 2015 and received its World Premiere at the Alliance Theatre in 2018. A beautifully written essay about her brother sparked the idea of building a series of family stories into a drama. Mary Lynn’s love of bread baking and the connection it provided to her mother emerged as the glue for these different tales, along with challenging notion of actually trying to bake bread on stage in real time. Composer and frequent collaborator Kendall Simpson provided the poignant and evocative music; Joe Futral designed the lights, April Andrews the costumes, and Ann Beyersdorfer the Scenic Design, while Lark Hackshaw handled Stage Management.

Aurora Theatre – Lawrenceville, GA

2016 Suzi Award winner!

After a hugely popular run of this play back in the 80s at Theatrical Outfit, Aurora Theatre Artistic Director Anthony Rodriguez and I decided to remount this classic with Kenny Raskin and Rob Cleveland reprising their roles as Nat and Midge. Anthony, who helped to build the set in the original Atlanta production, migrated to theatre owner. I switched from playing Danforth to playing director. I picked up a Suzi Award for my efforts, and Kenny Raskin won Outstanding Actor in a Play. The Curley-Clay twins earned yet another Suzi for their spectacular design of our Central Park setting.

Pictured: Joe Knezevich, Julee Cerda, Danielle Deadwyler, Neil Ghant

Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company

Atlanta Arts Top Ten 2016!

“Smart People, directed with impeccable comedic timing by David de Vries, onstage at True Colors Theatre…” Read the full review here.

“[Lydia Diamond’s] razor-sharp dialogue crackles, and director David de Vries gives the show a fever-pitched pace to match.”

A smart, sophisticated romantic comedy that leaves no stone unturned when it comes to identity, race, gender, and class. Four people at the top of the food chain in “smarts” intersect, and the complexities of modern relationships test their intelligence. Set within the confines of Harvard University, Diamond explores, with razor wit, the dilemma of confronting race and identity in academia and in America.

Alliance Theatre Company

Ken Lin’s inventive adaptation of Eric Carle’s classic children’s tale pays homage to Carle’s artistic process in a play about, well–process. With a wonderful score by Phillip de Poy, this piece was a challenge and a delight to put together. Aided by a crackerjack design crew that included Kat Conley, Jeff Cone, Mike Tutaj, Clay Benning, and Ken Yunker, Pancakes Pancakes! was a visual feast, and the extraordinary resources of the Alliance Theatre made it all come alive. Many thanks to cast members Molly Coyne, Rob Lawhon, Adam Washington, Matt Alea, and Stage Manager Liz Campbell.

Theatrical Outfit

This powerful one-man show teamed me with Theatrical Outfit Artistic Director and perennial fan favorite Tom Key as Bucky Fuller. A tour de force performance by Mr. Key brought the extraordinary journey of Fuller to life. A spectacular sound and lightscape by frequent collaborators Kendall Simpson and Joe Futral punctuated and lyricized this singular theatrical event.

Theatrical Outfit

The final installment of Shanley’s “Church and State” trilogy, Storefront Church, confronts the clash of commerce and conscience in the Bronx. Inspired by the financial meltdown of 2008, Shanley delivers a powerful message about the exercise of power and its effects on individuals. I had a wonderful cast that included Joe Knezevich (who won a Suzi Bass Award for his portrayal of Reed Van Druyten), Tom Key, Anthony Rodriguez, Clayton Landey, E. Roger Mitchell, and Donna Biscoe. Designs by James Maloof (scenic design), Ben Tilley (lighting design), and yours truly stepped in to do the sound design. I found inspiration in the music of Ben Folds and The National to set the tone of this interesting and provocative play.

Theatrical Outfit

Winner of the Suzi Bass Award for Best Production of 2012. It was an extraordinary experience, an extraordinary play—one of the highlights of my career. Watch Tom Key and Jimi Kocina (Suzi Bass Award winner) in rehearsal priming the canvas. It took some practice to find the timing of covering the 6X6 frame to the overture of “The Marriage of Figaro” by Mozart. Painting rehearsals were built into the schedule and proved to be great fun for all of us.

Watch a snippet from a rehearsal session for Red by clicking here.