DAVID LEVIN - Theatre Resume
Background and Training
My involvement with theatre spans many years, both on stage and behind the scenes. During high school, I was active in the theatre group and directed several productions, including a complete performance of The Madwoman of Chaillot. At the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in addition to my major pre-medical studies, I played in the Football band and was active in the University Theatre, appearing in several productions. I was also active backstage and served as Senior Stage Manager during my Senior year. My responsibilities in that position including running the major productions on the main stage and training other students in the smaller Workshop Theatre. In addition, I took courses from the Theatre Department including Directing and Stagecraft (which included lighting, set design, etc.). After receiving my Bachelor's Degree, I did graduate work with a joint appointment in the Biochemistry Department and the Theatre Department. I designed the sets for a Children's Theatre production of Rapunzel and designed a set for Bell, Book and Candle, which was not actually produced, but for which I prepared complete detailed plans including a complete working stage model.
While in medical school, I continued my theatre work as a "techie" at a local professional theatre and managed to find the time to appear as Adi in a production of Milk and Honey. After graduation and internship, I moved to the Washington area with my family, where I continued to act and later take on the task of directing shows. In 1969, I appeared as the Emperor in the Sterling Player's production of The Emperor's New Clothes. At the Jewish Community Center, I helped found their theatre group and appeared in several shows there, as well as serving as stage manager or in other technical positions. In 1972, I produced and designed sets for the JCC Players' entry into the 44th Annual DC One-Act Play Tournament and served on the Tournament Committee as well. I also appeared in the Montgomery Light Opera's production of Kismet. For the Holy Cross Players, I designed the sets and appeared as Prince Dauntless in their 1975 production of Once Upon a Mattress. In 1977, I joined Rockville Musical Theatre and have since worked often with RMT, both onstage and behind the scenes. I served on the Board of RMT for two years. In 1997, I have expanded my interests to other groups, including RLT and am currently on the board of RLT, where I helped devolop the website and produced the programs for our productions. I served as Treasurer for 3 years and am now the vice president/president elect.
In addition to my theatre work, I sing in choral groups, from 1979-92 with Zemer Chai, from 1992-1996 with Cantate Chamber Singers, for many years with the Har Shalom Synagogue Choir and currently with the Temple Shalom Choir.
RLT Directing Experience
Arcadia will be the 7th show I have directed for RLT, following I Never Sang for My Father (1997), The Philadelphia Story (2001), You Can't Take It With You (2003), Laura (2004), The Sisters Rosensweig (2006), and The Sunshine Boys (2007). I also designed the sets for these shows.
My View of the Role of a Director
I believe that the Director of a show should serve two roles, to provide the overall artistic guidance for the show and to integrate all aspects--both artistic and technical--into a unified whole. My background includes acting, singing, dance, directing, producing, set design and construction, lighting design, sound, stage management, box office, house management, publicity, advertising, and playbill design and preparation.
I believe that one of the main purposes of community theatre is to assure that people complete a show with a feeling of accomplishment and pride, and that they have fun, and enjoy the time they invested. I work to maintain a positive environment for both actors and crew as we create a show our audiences enjoy and appreciate.
Washington Area Theatre Experience
YEAR GROUP PRODUCTION ONSTAGE BACKSTAGE 1969 SP The Emperor's New Clothes Emperor 1970 MLO Kismet chorus 1975 HCP Once Upon a Mattress Prince Dauntless set designer 1977 RMT Fiddler on the Roof Motel the Tailor 1978 RMT My Fair Lady stage manager 1979 RMT Music Man Barbershop Quartet 1980 RMT Man of La Mancha Padre 1980 RMT Oliver stage manager 1982 RLT Once Upon a Mattress Sir Studley 1983 RMT Follies chorus 1984 RMT Kismet Wazir 1986 RMT Sound of Music Max Detweiller 1987 RMT Annie asst. director, asst. stage
mgr 1988 RMT Hello, Dolly Rudolph 1988 CLS Under Milkwood Director, set designer 1989 BP Once Upon a Mattress Director, set designer 1990 RMT 42nd Street chorus, "Doc" 1991 RMT Showboat chorus 1993 RMT Gypsy Weber, Kringelein asst. stage mgr. 1994 RMT Guys and Dolls chorus/Mission Band 1995 RMT The Pajama Game Max, the salesman 1996 RMT Mame Lindsay 1997 RLT I Never Sang for My Father Director, set designer 1998 RMT Once Upon a Mattress stage manager 1998 RMT Meet Me in St. Louis chorus 1999 RMT My Fair Lady Zoltan Karpathy 2000 RMT Funny Thing Happened...Forum Senex 2001 RMT Victor/Victoria sound crew 2001 RLT The Philadelphia Story Director, set designer 2001 PTC The Fantasticks Director, set designer 2002 PTC Chainlinks Charlie 2003 RLT You Can't Take It With You Director, set designer 2003 RLT Nuts set designer 2003 RMT Li'l Abner General Bullmoose 2004 RMT High Society Director, set designer 2004 RLT Laura Director, set designer 2006 RLT The Sisters Rosensweig Director, set designer 2007 SSTG Hotel on Marvin Gardens Henry 2007 RLT The Sunshine Boys Director, set designer 2007 RLT Hay Fever set designer 2008 RLT Arcadia Director, set designer 2008 WTG Dirt Director, set designer
RLT=Rockville Little Theatre, RMT=Rockville Musical Theatre, SP=Sterling Players, MLO=Montgomery Light Opera, HCP=Holy Cross Players, CLS=Cedar Lane Stage, PTC=Potomac Theatre Company, WTG=Washington Theatre Group
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