Melvin Bernhardt: Difference between revisions
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'''Melvin Bernhardt''' (b. [[Buffalo, New York]]) is an American award |
'''Melvin Bernhardt''' (b. [[Buffalo, New York]] 1941) is an American award-winning stage and [[television director]]. He was born and raised in [[Buffalo, New York]], and much of his work has been in the New York City area. He is known for his productions of ''[[The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds]]'', ''[[Da (play)|Da]]'', and ''[[Crimes of the Heart]]''. Bernhardt began his career as a [[stage manager]]; he made his directorial debut in 1965 with ''Conerico was Here to Stay'' at the [[Cherry Lane Theatre]]. |
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== Biography == |
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Bernhardt has also directed episodes of the television shows ''[[Mister Roberts (TV series)|Mister Roberts]]'', ''[[Another World (TV series)|Another World]]'', and ''[[One Life to Live]]''. |
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Melvin Bernhardt was born on 26 February 1941<ref name="playmakers"/> in [[Buffalo, New York]]. His parents were Max Bernhard and Kate Benatovich. He obtained his [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree from the [[University of Buffalo]] and his [[Master of Fine Arts]] degree from [[Yale University]].<ref name="who">{{cite encyclopedia|title=BERNHARDT, Melvin|encyclopedia=Who's Who in the Theatre|volume=1|pages=64–65|publisher=Gale Research Company|year=1981|id=ISSN 0083-9833|editor=Ian Herbert}}</ref> Bernhardt is an open [[homosexual]].<ref>{{cite journal | title = Scripting Gay Gridiron Fans | author = Tallmer, Jerry | journal = The Villager | volume = 74 | issue = 41 | date = 22 February 2005 | url = http://www.thevillager.com/vil_94/scriptinggaygridiron.html}}</ref> |
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== Career == |
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Melvin Bernhardt began his career as a [[stage manager]]. He served as the stage manager for the original [[Broadway theatre]] productions of ''[[Diary of a Scoundrel]]'' and ''[[Livin' the Life (play)|Livin' the Life]]''.<ref name="ibdb">{{ibdb name|14177}}</ref> Bernhardt directed his first play, ''Conerico was Here to Stay'', at the [[Cherry Lane Theatre]] in [[Manhattan]] in 1965.<ref name="who"/> From there, Bernhardt directed plays throughout the United States, including productions in [[Hartford]] and [[Cincinnati]] and a national tour of ''Who's Happy Now?'' in 1968. He made his [[London]] directing debut in November 1972 at the [[Hampstead Theatre Club]] with his production of ''[[The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds]]''.<ref name="who"/> Bernhardt is known as an "actor's director", as he focuses more on character development than on elaborate [[Staging (theatre)|staging]].<ref name = "playmakers">{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia = Enter the Playmakers: Directors and Choreographers on the New York Stage | title = Bernhardt, Melvin | page = 13 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=DCTUkTpL8V8C&pg=PA13&dq=And+Miss+Reardon+Drinks+a+Little+1971+bernhardt&hl=en&ei=iUQtTOnzGYbGlQe_xJyuAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=And%20Miss%20Reardon%20Drinks%20a%20Little%201971%20bernhardt&f=false | author = Hischak, Thomas S. | date = 2006 | publisher = Scarecrow Press | isbn = 978-0-8108-5747-6 }}</ref> He is currently a member of the Honorary Advisory Committee of the [[Stage Directors and Choreographers Society]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://sdcweb.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=60 | title = SDC - Board | publisher = Stage Directors and Choreographers Society | date = 2009 | accessdate = 1 July 2010}}</ref> |
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=== Broadway === |
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In addition to winning multiple [[Obie award]]s for his [[Off-Broadway]] work,<ref>{{cite web | title = 1970 Award Winners | url = http://www.villagevoice.com/obies/index/1970 | publisher = The Village Voice | accessdate = 25 June 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = 1977 Award Winners | url = http://www.villagevoice.com/obies/index/1977 | publisher = The Village Voice | accessdate = 25 June 2010 }}</ref> Bernhardt has had a successful career as a Broadway theatre director. His first Broadway production came in 1969 when he directed ''Home Fires'' and ''Cop-Out'', a pair of of one-act plays written by [[John Guare]].<ref name="who"/><ref name="ibdb"/> The production, which was staged at the [[Cort Theatre]], was harshly criticized and closed after just eight performances. Although the individual performances of the actors were well received, the plays themselves were seen as "enigmatic drama", "weak social satire", and "feeble exercises in juvenility".<ref>{{cite book | title = The Black Comedy of John Guare | author = Plunka, Gene A. | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=fjuEN4_CM2YC&pg=PA58&dq=cop-out+melvin+bernhardt+review&hl=en&ei=fj4tTPnIFMSclgfSgon0Dw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=cop-out%20melvin%20bernhardt%20review&f=false | publisher = Rosemont | date = 2002 | isbn = 0-87413-763-2 | pages = 58–5}}</ref> |
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* {{ibdb|14177}} |
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* {{imdb|76795}} |
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1 May 1978 marked the debut of the original Broadway production of ''[[Da (play)|Da]]'', a comedy by [[Hugh Leonard]] which proved to be one of the more successful plays in Bernhardt's career. The play, which ran for nearly 700 performances at the [[Morosco Theatre]],<ref>{{ibdb show|4057|Da}}</ref> earned Bernhardt the 1978 [[Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play]]<ref>{{cite web | title = 1978 Tony Award Winners | url = http://broadwayworld.com/tonyawardsyear.cfm?year=1978 | publisher = BroadwayWorld.com | date = 2010 | accessdate = 3 July 2010}}</ref> and the 1978 [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play]].<ref>{{cite web | title = 1977-1978 24th Drama Desk Awards | url = http://www.dramadesk.com/1977_1978dd.html | publisher = Drama Desk | date = 2010 | accessdate = 3 July 2010 }}</ref> Bernhardt's other major Broadway success was ''[[Crimes of the Heart]]'', which opened at the [[John Golden Theatre]] on 4 November 1981.<ref>{{ibdb show|4138|Crimes of the Heart}}</ref> The production earned a slew of awards and nominations, including nominations for the 1981 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Direction of a Play<ref>{{cite web | title = 1980-1981 27th Drama Desk Awards | url = http://www.dramadesk.com/1980_1981dd.html | publisher = Drama Desk | date = 2010 | accessdate = 4 July 2010 }}</ref> and the 1982 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://broadwayworld.com/tonyawardsyear.cfm?year=1982 | title = 1982 Tony Award Winners | publisher = BroadwayWorld.com | date = 2010 | accessdate = 4 July 2010}}</ref> |
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=== Television === |
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Although the majority of Bernhardt's directorial work has taken place on the stage, he has also had some experience in [[television directing]]. His work on ''[[Another World (TV series)|Another World]]'' earned him a nomination for the 1979 and 1980 [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team]]. He earned another nomination for this award in 1985 for his work on ''[[One Life to Live]]''.<ref>{{imdb name|0076795}}</ref> |
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== References == |
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{{DramaDesk PlayDirection}} |
{{DramaDesk PlayDirection}} |
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[[Category:Drama Desk Award winners]] |
[[Category:Drama Desk Award winners]] |
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[[Category:Tony Award winners]] |
[[Category:Tony Award winners]] |
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[[Category:People from Buffalo, New York]] |
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[[Category:Yale School of Drama alumni]] |
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{{theat-bio-stub}} |
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Revision as of 16:32, 4 July 2010
Melvin Bernhardt (b. Buffalo, New York 1941) is an American award-winning stage and television director. He was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, and much of his work has been in the New York City area. He is known for his productions of The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, Da, and Crimes of the Heart. Bernhardt began his career as a stage manager; he made his directorial debut in 1965 with Conerico was Here to Stay at the Cherry Lane Theatre.
Biography
Melvin Bernhardt was born on 26 February 1941[1] in Buffalo, New York. His parents were Max Bernhard and Kate Benatovich. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Buffalo and his Master of Fine Arts degree from Yale University.[2] Bernhardt is an open homosexual.[3]
Career
Melvin Bernhardt began his career as a stage manager. He served as the stage manager for the original Broadway theatre productions of Diary of a Scoundrel and Livin' the Life.[4] Bernhardt directed his first play, Conerico was Here to Stay, at the Cherry Lane Theatre in Manhattan in 1965.[2] From there, Bernhardt directed plays throughout the United States, including productions in Hartford and Cincinnati and a national tour of Who's Happy Now? in 1968. He made his London directing debut in November 1972 at the Hampstead Theatre Club with his production of The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds.[2] Bernhardt is known as an "actor's director", as he focuses more on character development than on elaborate staging.[1] He is currently a member of the Honorary Advisory Committee of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.[5]
Broadway
In addition to winning multiple Obie awards for his Off-Broadway work,[6][7] Bernhardt has had a successful career as a Broadway theatre director. His first Broadway production came in 1969 when he directed Home Fires and Cop-Out, a pair of of one-act plays written by John Guare.[2][4] The production, which was staged at the Cort Theatre, was harshly criticized and closed after just eight performances. Although the individual performances of the actors were well received, the plays themselves were seen as "enigmatic drama", "weak social satire", and "feeble exercises in juvenility".[8]
1 May 1978 marked the debut of the original Broadway production of Da, a comedy by Hugh Leonard which proved to be one of the more successful plays in Bernhardt's career. The play, which ran for nearly 700 performances at the Morosco Theatre,[9] earned Bernhardt the 1978 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play[10] and the 1978 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play.[11] Bernhardt's other major Broadway success was Crimes of the Heart, which opened at the John Golden Theatre on 4 November 1981.[12] The production earned a slew of awards and nominations, including nominations for the 1981 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Direction of a Play[13] and the 1982 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play.[14]
Television
Although the majority of Bernhardt's directorial work has taken place on the stage, he has also had some experience in television directing. His work on Another World earned him a nomination for the 1979 and 1980 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team. He earned another nomination for this award in 1985 for his work on One Life to Live.[15]
References
- ^ a b Hischak, Thomas S. (2006). "Bernhardt, Melvin". Enter the Playmakers: Directors and Choreographers on the New York Stage. Scarecrow Press. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-8108-5747-6.
- ^ a b c d Ian Herbert, ed. (1981). "BERNHARDT, Melvin". Who's Who in the Theatre. Vol. 1. Gale Research Company. pp. 64–65. ISSN 0083-9833.
- ^ Tallmer, Jerry (22 February 2005). "Scripting Gay Gridiron Fans". The Villager. 74 (41).
- ^ a b Melvin Bernhardt at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ "SDC - Board". Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
- ^ "1970 Award Winners". The Village Voice. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
- ^ "1977 Award Winners". The Village Voice. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
- ^ Plunka, Gene A. (2002). The Black Comedy of John Guare. Rosemont. pp. 58–5. ISBN 0-87413-763-2.
- ^ Da at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ "1978 Tony Award Winners". BroadwayWorld.com. 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
- ^ "1977-1978 24th Drama Desk Awards". Drama Desk. 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
- ^ Crimes of the Heart at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ "1980-1981 27th Drama Desk Awards". Drama Desk. 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
- ^ "1982 Tony Award Winners". BroadwayWorld.com. 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
- ^ Melvin Bernhardt at IMDb