adrian wattenmaker

adrian wattenmakeradrian wattenmakeradrian wattenmaker
  • Home
  • About
    • Bio
    • Actor
    • Director
    • Educator
  • Gallery
  • Projects
  • Classes
  • Reviews
  • Contact
  • More
    • Home
    • About
      • Bio
      • Actor
      • Director
      • Educator
    • Gallery
    • Projects
    • Classes
    • Reviews
    • Contact

adrian wattenmaker

adrian wattenmakeradrian wattenmakeradrian wattenmaker
  • Home
  • About
    • Bio
    • Actor
    • Director
    • Educator
  • Gallery
  • Projects
  • Classes
  • Reviews
  • Contact

Director

With the encouragement of actor John Glover, Adrian got his start as a director workshopping a stage adaptation of Sam Shepard short stories while a student at Towson University. His directing highlights include Neil LaBute's A Good Thing (world premiere) and Reasons To Be Pretty, Stephen Metcalfe's Spittin' Image, and Courtney Antonioli’s The Mount (presented at Edith Wharton’s home in Lenox, MA). As an associate director, Adrian worked with his mentor Austin Pendleton on both the world premiere and Broadway production of Stephen Adly Guirgis' Pulitzer Prize winning play Between Riverside and Crazy (which opened at the Helen Hayes Theatre on  November 2022), as well as on Anne Stockton's The Speed Queen (presented as part of the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at  Sing Sing Prison). He also assistant-directed with David Schweizer on the Baltimore Center Stage production of Lynn Nottage’s Crumbs from the Table of Joy, named best non-musical of the year by Terry Teachout, The Wall Street Journal. In addition to directing established  work, Adrian has developed and directed many new plays. As Associate Artistic Director of Hudson Theatre  Works he oversees The Forge Company, an incubator for new work, and has premiered new plays by Dan O'Brien, Joanne Hoersch, Neil LaBute, John Patrick Shanley, and many others.  


2020-2021, during the height of the pandemic, Adrian moved his directing activity online and into streaming live productions. With Hudson Theatre Works, he directed online readings and produced a six month Virtual Festival of original monologues by prominent playwrights. He produced the new musical Elliot & Me, which was shot on stage without an audience and streamed by Hudson Theatre Works, Sonoma Arts Live, Laguna Playhouse, and Chagrin Valley Little Theatre. In 2022, it will be performed live at each of these venues. 


Adrian has directed educational productions at Towson University, Brooklyn College, and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He is a member of The  Actors Studio Playwrights and Directors Unit and served for a season on  the Drama Desk Nominating Committee. Adrian has an MFA in theatre directing  from Brooklyn College.


BIO | ACTOR | EDUCATOR

Production stills

Reasons To Be Pretty

    For more productions stills please the gallery page.

    PHOTO Gallery

    Directing RESUMÉ

    Download PDF

    portfolio

    Download PDF

    Adrian is a very promising and intelligent director... He is one of the most accomplished, generous and promising people I've ever been around.


    - Austin Pendleton

    Award winning Actor, Director, and Playwright

    Adrian's biggest strength as a director is his humanity. He understands people; what makes them tick, their insecurities, and he knows how to instill confidence in every person he directs.


    - Ian Belknap, Artistic Director, 

    The Acting Company

    Hudson Theatre Works mounts an ambitious and fulfilling Eugene O’Neill Festival. Both shows succeed beyond expectations.


    -Jim Testa, NJ Arts

    "Between Riverside and Crazy"... A RICH NEW PLAY DELICIOUSLY MOUNTED!


    - Ben Brantley, The New York Times

    Best nonmusical revivals... Baltimore CENTERSTAGE's production of Lynn Nottage's "Crumbs From the Table of Joy," a lyrical memory play worthy of comparison with "The Glass Menagerie."


    - Terry Teachout, The Wall Street Journal

    Hire this man for anything - He's Great. And cool people too.


    - Stephen Adly Guirgis, Playwright 

    (2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama)

    "Reasons to Be Pretty" is an unsentimental look at the relationships between four people... Very well played, troupe!


    - Cliff Kasden, Brooklyn Spectator

    "The Right Reasons" is a sparkling and utterly believable bedroom sketch that explores the politics of sex in a smart and forthright way. 


    -- Di Jayawickrema, nytheatre.com

    The film shots by Adrian Wattenmaker of Columbus claiming his prize conveyed triumph as moving as a landing on the moon.

    "Columbus In The Age Of Gold"


    - OOBR (off-off-broadway review)

    Copyright © 2023 adrianwattenmaker.com - All Rights Reserved.

    Powered by GoDaddy

    This website uses cookies.

    We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

    Accept