Associate Professor William Partlan
School of Film, Dance and Theatre
Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
Arizona State University
PO Box 872002
Tempe, AZ 85287-2002
480-727-6115
EDUCATION:
M.F.A. Bush Foundation Fellow in Directing, University of Minnesota, 1976
B.A. Magna Cum Laude, Dartmouth College, 1973
Certificate National Theatre Institute, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, 1970
POSITIONS HELD:
Associate Professor, School of Film, Dance and Theatre, Arizona State University, 2006-present
Artistic Director, Triple Espresso, LLC, 1997-present
Artistic Director, Cricket Theatre, 1987-1996
Adjunct Professor, University of Minnesota, 1995
Founding Artistic Director, The Bottom Line Theater Project, NYC, 1984-85
Producing Artistic Director, New Stage Theatre, 1981-1983
Director of New Play Development, The Empty Space Theatre, 1980-1981
Casting Director/Production Manager, National Playwrights Conference, 1976-1980
Assistant Director/Composer, Shakespeare and Company, England and U.S., 1973
Professional Freelance Director, 1976-present
GRANTS: Cricket Theatre
General Mills Foundation, annual operating support, 1986-1995
Deluxe Corporation, annual operating support, 1987-1990
National Endowment for the Arts, annual operating support, 1988-1994
Honeywell Corporation, annual operating, 1988-1995
Burlington Northern Foundation, operating support, 1989
Ernst and Young, annual operating support, 1989-1991
Minnesota State Arts Board, annual operating support, 1989-1994
McKnight Foundation, annual operating support, 1989-1995
Northern States Power, operating support, 1990
The Minneapolis Foundation, annual operating support, 1990-1991
Grand Metropolitan Foundation, annual operating support, 1990-1994
Control Data Corp./Ceridian, annual operating support, 1990-1995
Dayton Hudson Foundation, annual operating support, 1991-1994
The St. Paul Companies, annual operating support, 1991-1995
US West Foundation, annual operating support, 1991-1993
W. Alton Jones Foundation, $25,000 Project support for development and touring throughout US and England of SACRED JOURNEY by Matthew Witten
GRANTS: New Stage Theatre
National Endowment for the Arts, operating support, 1982
Allstate Insurance Co., operating support, 1982
Delta Steel Co, operating support, 1982
The Community Foundation, operating support, 1982
Elizabeth M. Irby Foundation, operating support, 1982
Gulf Oil Foundation, operating support, 1982
Southern Mississippi Bottling Co., operating support, 1982
Telemedia, Inc. operating support, 1982
W.E. Walker Foundation, operating support, 1982
Board of Economic Development, State of Mississippi, Project support for world premiere of the opera of Eudora Welty’s THE PONDER HEART, 1982
ARTISTIC ACTIVITY:
DIRECTING: NATIONALLY/INTERNATIONALLY PROMINENT THEATRES:
Phoenix Theatre, AZ
Forward by Angelica Howland, 2015- 2016
Mixed Blood Theatre, Minneapolis, MN
Hijab Tube by Seema Sueko, 2015
Mixed Blood Theatre, Minneapolis, MN
A World Created by a Drunken God by Drew Hayden Taylor, 2014
Music Box Theatre, Minneapolis, MN
Triple Espresso by Arnold, Donley, Stromberg, Annually 2008-2016
Temple of Art Theatre, Des Moines, IA
Triple Espresso by Arnold, Donley, Stromberg. 2016, 2012, 2010, 2008,
Cosmopolitan Cabaret, Sacramento, CA
Triple Espresso by Arnold, Donley, Stromberg, 2012
Southern Theatre, Minneapolis
Triple Espresso by Arnold, Donley, Stromberg. 2011
Theatre L’Homme Dieu, Alexandria, MN.
Triple Espresso by Arnold, Donley, Stromberg, 2011
Mixed Blood Theatre, MN
Hijab Tube by Seema Sueko, 2015
Hijab Tube by Seema Sueko, 2015, 2012, 2010, 2009
Actors Theatre of Phoenix:
Triple Espresso by Arnold, Donley, Stromberg, 2010, 2009
Geva Theatre, Rochester, NY:
Triple Espresso by Arnold, Donley, Stromberg, 2008
Admiralspalast Theatre, Berlin, (German Adaptation):
Triple Espresso by Arnold, Donley, Stromberg, 2007
Tollwood Festival, Munich, (German Adaptation):
Triple Espresso by Arnold, Donley, Stromberg, 2006
Capital Repertory Theatre, Albany NY.
Triple Espresso by Arnold, Donley, Stromberg, 2006
El Portal Theatre and Hermosa Beach Playhouse, Los Angeles:
Triple Espresso by Arnold, Donley, Stromberg, 2006
Music Hall, Ghent, (Flemish Adaptation):
Triple Espresso by Arnold, Donley, Stromberg, 2006, 2005
Indiana Repertory Theatre:
Triple Espresso by Arnold, Donley, Stromberg, 2005
Florida Stage:
Permanent Collection by Thomas Gibbons, 2005
Andrew’s Lane Theatre, Dublin, (Irish Adaptation):
Triple Espresso by Arnold, Donley, Stromberg, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002
Grandel Theatre, St. Louis:
Triple Espresso by Arnold, Donley, Stromberg, 2004
Shakespeare Santa Cruz, CA:
The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare, 2003
Arts Theatre, London’s West End (British Adaptation):
Triple Espresso by Arnold, Donley, Stromberg, 2003
Primary Stages, Off-Broadway, NYC
Sacred Journey by Matthew Witten, 1994
Westside Theatre, Off-Broadway, NYC:
The Best of Friends by Hugh Whitemore, 1993
(Produced by Michael Douglas, starring Roy Dotrice)
New Mexico Repertory Theatre:
Sacred Journey by Matthew Witten, 1993
Milwaukee Repertory Theatre:
Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill by Lanie Robertson, 1992
Primary Stages, Off-Broadway, NYC:
Swim Visit by Wesley Moore, 1990
Philadelphia Festival Theatre for New Plays:
Wizards of Quiz by Steve Feffer, 1991
The Deal by Matthew Witten, 1987
Lambs Theatre, Off-Broadway, NYC:
All God’s Dangers by Theodore Rosengarten, 1989
(Starring Cleavon Little. Subsequently broadcast on PBS: American Playhouse.)
Alabama Shakespeare Festival:
All God’s Dangers by Theodore Rosengarten, 1989
Painting Churches by Tina Howe, 1988
Trinity Repertory Theatre, Providence:
Woman In Mind by Alan Ayckbourn, 1989
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom by August Wilson, 1987
Jewish Repertory Theatre, Off-Broadway, NYC:
The Converts by Michael Taav, 1987
(Starring John Diehl)
The Bottom Line, Off-Broadway, NYC:
Leader of the Pack by Ellie Greenwich, 1985
(Starring Darlene Love and Paul Shaffer) world premier leading to Broadway run
Yale Repertory Theatre:
Stitchers and Starlight Talkers by Kathleen Betsko , (featuring Oscar-winner, Mary McDonnell), 1986
Rum and Coke by Keith Reddin, (with Courtney Vance, Dylan Baker, Chris Noth), 1985
New Playwrights Theatre, Washington, DC:
Brotherhood by John Richardson, 1986
Alliance Theatre, Atlanta:
Blue Window by Craig Lucas, 1986
Actors Theatre of Louisville:
War of the Roses by Lee Blessing, 1985
Virginia Stage Company:
A Lesson From Aloes by Athol Fugard 1984
(featuring Delroy Lindo)
The Empty Space Theatre, Seattle:
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare, 1981
The Killing Floor by Lisa Shipley, 1980
DIRECTING, AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR:
Cricket Theatre, Minneapolis:
Triple Espresso by Bill Arnold, Michael Pierce Donley and Bob Stromberg, 1996
(world premier, has performed in many American cities and Canada; adapted for London, Dublin, adapted and translated for Copenhagen, Ghent, Munich and Berlin)
Gospel In Blues Time (commissioned world premier), 1996
The Second Story Man by Richard Strand, (world premier), 1995
What’s the Matter With Molly? by Nancy Reasoner, (world premier), 1995
Three Postcards by Craig Lucas, 1995
Talley’s Folly by Lanford Wilson, 1995
Five Women Wearing the Same Dress by Alan Ball, 1994
(Academy Award-winning author of American Beauty)
A Drop in the Bucket by Edward Belling, (world premier), 1994
Sacred Journey by Matthew Witten, (world premier), 1994
Tough Love by Nancy Bagshaw-Reasoner, (world premier) 1993
Scotland Road by Jeffrey Hatcher, 1993
Holiday Memories by Russell Vandenbroucke, 1993
Under Yelena by Buffy Sedlachek, (world premier), 1993
Down the Shore by Tom Donaghy, 1992
Mr. Williams and Miss Wood by Max Wilk (world premier), 1992
Tribes by Jim Stowell (commissioned world premier), 1992
From Slavery to Freedom Let Gospel Ring by Kim Hines, (commissioned world premier), 1992
Ready for the River by Neal Bell, 1991
Closer Than Ever by Maltby and Shire, 1991
Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll by Eric Bogosian, 1991
The Best of Friends by Hugh Whitemore, (American premier), 1991
1940’s Big Band Holiday Show by Dane Stauffer, (world premier), 1991
Birdsend by Keith Huff, 1990
Tomfoolery by Tom Lehrer, adapted by Cameron Mackintosh & Robin Ray, 1990
Drinking in America by Eric Bogosian, 1990
Marvin’s Room by Scott McPherson, 1990
Diamond Cut Diamond by Jeffrey Wanshel, (world premier), 1989
All God’s Dangers by Theodore Rosengarten, (world premier), 1989
Reckless by Craig Lucas, 1989
This Must Be Christmas by J.D. Steele, (commissioned world premier) 1989
Savage In Limbo by John Patrick Shanley, 1988
Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill by Lanie Robertson, 1988
The Downside by Richard Dresser, 1988
Red Hot Holidays II company-created (world premier), 1988
The Deal by Matthew Witten, 1987
Red Hot Holidays by John Richardson, (commissioned world premier), 1987
New Stage Theater, Jackson, MS:
The Ponder Heart by Alice Parker, (world-premier opera adapted from Eudora Welty novella) 1982
Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan, 1982
The Diviners by Jim Leonard, 1982
The Blood Knot by Athol Fugard, 1982
Some Rain by Jim Luczak, (world premier), 1982
Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley, 1982
Deathtrap by Ira Levin, 1981
Getting Out by Marsha Norman, 1981
1959 Pink Thunderbird by James McClure, 1981
The Robber Bridegroom by Alfred Uhry, 1980
DIRECTING: NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT AND WORKSHOPS:
Phoenix Theatre, Phoenix:
Community by Stephen Kaplan, 2017
Forward by Angelica Howland (in workshop production), 2016
Forward by Angelica Howland, 2015
First Casualty by Monte Merrick, 2012
Kundalini Rising by Nathan Sanders, 2010
Black River by Ken Love, 2009
The Onset Phenomenon by Jacob Clark, 2008
ATHE Conference New Play Development/Workshop: Scottsdale AZ
Bread by Yichao Wang, 2014
Music Box Theatre, Minneapolis:
Stupid in Love by Bill Arnold, John Gaspard, Michael Donley, 2009, 2008, 2007
Festival of New Work, Arizona State University and Phoenix Theatre:
Black Sheep Gospel by Katie May, 2007, 2006
Skylark Dreams by Wind Woods, 2006
National Playwrights Conference, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center:
afterdark by Cara Manning, 2004
Josephine 65 by Kirsten Greenidge, 1999
Pork Pie by Michael Genet, 1999
How I Became An Interesting Person by Will Dunne, 1998
The Last Communist Trio by Dmitry Gelfand, 1998
Fuddy Meers by David Lindsay-Abaire, 1998
The Eye of the Storm...A Shipwreck Trilogy by Hilary Bell, 1997
(subsequently staged at Russian National Playwrights Seminar), 1998
The Second Generation by Joshua Metzger, 1997
The End of the Road by Robert Kerr, 1997
Most Wanted by Peter Sagal, (Host of Wait, Wait…on NPR) 1996
Swimming on the Moon by John Richards Soster, 1996
The Adventures of Herculina by Kira Obolensky, 1996
There by Herman Daniel Farrell, III, 1995
Between Men and Cattle by Richard Kalinoski, 1995
The Second Story Man by Richard Strand, 1995
Bedfellows by Herman Daniel Farrell, III, 1994
The Clan of the Quillins by John Paul, 1994
The Book of Lamb by Kirk Aanes, 1993
A Name for the Moon by Thomas W. Stephens, 1993
In the Valley of the Human Spirit by Leslie-Jo Morizono, 1993
Tough Call by Ronald Kidd, 1992
Scotland Road by Jeffrey Hatcher, 1992
Charlie’s Wedding Day by Patricia Goldstone, 1992
Charisma by John Darago, 1991
Home Grown by Rick Cleveland, 1991
Dinosaur Dreams by Tom Szentgyorgyi, 1991
(With August Wilson as dramaturge, subject of Smithsonian Magazine feature)
Down The Shore by Tom Donaghy, 1990
The Wizards of Quiz by Steve Feffer, 1990
Songs Without Words by Jonathan Levy, 1989
Heaven On Earth by Robert Schenkkan, 1989
(Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Kentucky Cycle)
Ready for the River by Neal Bell, 1989
The Beach by Anthony Giardina, 1988
Birdsend by Keith Huff, 1988
(Featuring Gregg German and John Turturro)
Angela by E.A. Wyatt, 1987
The My House Play by Wendy MacLeod, 1987
The Last Good Moment of Lily Baker by Russell Davis, 1986
The Squeeze by Stephen Davis Parks, 1986
Thaw: A Russian Melodrama by Roger Cornish, 1985
Trinity Site by Janeice Scarbrough, 1985
(With Athol Fugard as dramaturge, featuring Frances McDormand)
Mitzi’s Glory by Carl Capotorto, 1984
Savage In Limbo by John Patrick Shanley, 1984
(Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Doubt)
Fences by August Wilson, 1983
(Starring Mary Alice, subsequently moved to Broadway, Tony Award for Best Play, Featured Actress Tony Award for Mary Alice)
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom by August Wilson, 1982
(Subsequently moved to Broadway with same cast)
Some Rain by James Edward Luczak, 1982
Going Over by Stuart Browne, 1981
Midwest PlayLabs at The Playwrights Center, Minneapolis:
Show and Tell by Anthony Clarvoe, 1991
Shelter by Caridad Svich, 1991
The Deal by Matthew Witten, 1986
Retribution Rag by Buffy Sedlachek, 1986
Ghost Dance by Jaime Meyer, 1985
Medicine Lake by Gary Amdahl, 1985
Hidden Parts by Lynne Alvarez, 1985
The Wonderful Tower of Humbert Lavoignet by Lynne Alvarez, 1984
Brotherhood by John Richardson, 1984
The Sudden Migration of Suburban Flamingos by Janice Finney, 1984
The Bottom Line, NYC:
Leader of the Pack by Ellie Greenwich, 1984 (moved to Broadway in 1985)
Disappearing Acts by Phillip Bosakowski, 1983
New Dramatists Director’s Unit, NYC:
Kolyma by Crispin Larangeira, 1983
The Child by Anthony Giardina, 1983
Metro-Park by Gene Radano, 1982
PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING:
Philadelphia Festival Theatre for New Plays, 1986
EARPLAY, National Public Radio, 1978-1980
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION:
Arthur Foundation Grant, 1983-1984
National Endowment for the Arts Directing Fellowship, 1980-1981
Bush Foundation Fellowship in Directing, Guthrie Theatre, 1973-1976
CHRONOLOGY OF TEACHING:
At Arizona State University:
Senior Projects, Spring 2017
Acting: Research and Performance, Spring 2017
Directing the New Play, Spring 2017
Intermediate Directing, Spring 2017
Directing for the Stage, Fall 2016
Advanced Directing, Fall 2016
Acting: Research and Performance, Fall 2016
Senior Projects, Fall 2016
Orientation to Theatre and Film, Fall 2016
Acting: Research and Performance, Spring 2016
Directing the New Play, Spring 2016
Intermediate Directing, Spring 2016
Theatre Production, Spring 2016
Senior Projects, Spring 2016
Special Topics: Play Development Directing, Fall 2015
Advanced Directing, Fall 2015
Acting: Research and Performance, Fall 2015
Senior Projects, Fall 2015
Orientation to Theatre and Film, Fall 2015
Directing the New Play, Spring 2015
Practicum: Directing, Spring 2015
Intermediate Directing, Spring 2015
Acting: Research and Performance, Spring 2015
Introduction to Directing, Fall 2014
Advanced Directing, Fall 2014
Graduate Colloquium, Fall 2014
Intermediate Directing, Spring 2014
Directing the New Play, Spring 2014
Advanced Directing, Fall 2013
Acting: Research and Performance, Fall 2013
Introduction to Directing, Fall 2013
Orientation to Theatre and Film, Recitation, Fall 2013
Orientation to Theatre and Film, Recitation, Fall 2012
Intermediate Directing, Spring 2013
Acting: Research and Performance, Spring 2013