John Turturro: 2008 Distinguished Artist-in-Residence (Acting)
John Turturro studied at the Yale School of Drama. He created the title role of John Patrick Shanley's Danny and the Deep Blue Sea in his theatrical début, for which he won an Obie Award and a Theater World Award. Since then, Turturro has returned to the stage often, in productions such as Waiting for Godot; performing the title role in Bertolt Brecht's The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui; and in Eduardo de Filippo's Souls of Naples, for which he received a Drama Desk nomination. He recently completed Samuel Beckett's ENDGAME at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM).
Mr. Turturro has also performed in more than sixty films, working with directors such as Martin Scorsese (The Color of Money), Spike Lee (Do the Right Thing and Jungle Fever), Robert Redford (Quiz Show), Peter Weir (Fearless), Tom DiCillo (Box of Moonlight), and Joel and Ethan Coen (Miller's Crossing; The Big Lebowski; O Brother, Where Art Thou?; and the lead role in Barton Fink, which won him the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival and the David di Donatello Award.) His current projects include Columbia Pictures’ The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, opposite Denzel Washington and John Travolta.
Mr. Turturro received SAG Award nominations for his television portrayals of Howard Cosell in Monday Night Mayhem and Billy Martin in ESPN's The Bronx Is Burning. He won an Emmy for his guest appearance on the hit series Monk.
John Turturro has also directed three films. His directorial debut, Mac, won the Camera d' Or at the Cannes Film Festival. He also directed Illuminata and the recently-released Romance & Cigarettes, starring James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, and Kate Winslet.
View the video of a talk given by John Turturro at The New School for Drama.
Doug Hughes: 2007 Distinguished Artist-in-Residence (Directing)
Award-winning director Doug Hughes is this year’s Distinguished Artist-in-Residence. Hughes comes to the school on the heels of directing the Broadway revival of Inherit the Wind, starring Christopher Plummer and Brian Dennehy. He recently received a Tony Award for Best Direction for Doubt, written by 2006-2007 Artist-in-Residence John Patrick Shanley; he also won the Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics, and Drama Desk Awards for the same production. In 2004 Hughes received Tony, Lortel and Outer Critic’s Circle nominations for his direction of Frozen by Bryony Lavery. Hughes is currently directing Theresa Rebeck’s Mauritius for its Broadway premiere.
As Artist-in-Residence, Hughes will teach two master classes in the fall and spring semesters. He will also address the school as a whole in a town hall meeting moderated by LuPone, describing his experiences on the stage and answering student questions. His experience in both classic and modern productions provides an excellent opportunity for all our students, not only the directors.
View the video of a talk given by Doug Hughes at The New School for Drama.
Read Doug Hughes' speech delivered on May 15, 2008 to the Class of 2008 MFA Drama recipients (PDF format).
John Patrick Shanley: 2006 Distinguished Artist-in-Residence (Writing)
Award-winning playwright John Patrick Shanley is the 2006 Distinguished Artist-in-Residence at The New School for Drama. Shanley comes to the school on the heels of winning the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2005 Tony Award for Best Play for Doubt. A director and screenwriter as well as a playwright, Shanley has extensive experience in both theater and film. He received both the Academy Award and the Writers Guild of America Award for his original screenplay for Moonstruck. His plays include Doubt, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, The Dreamer Examines His Pillow, Beggars in the House of Plenty, and Four Dogs and a Bone.
View the video of a talk given by John Patrick Shanley at The New School for Drama.