THOMAS JAMES O'LEARY, ​Director
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​Résumé

Picture
DIRECTING  (partial list)
33 Variations - 2018 Ovation Award for Direction of a Play and for Best Production of a Play, Intimate Theatre, 2018 LADCC Nomination for Direction and Production
Actors Co-Op, LA, Calif., February- March 2017

Kiss Me, Kate
AMDA
College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts, LA, Calif., September 2017

Sister Act
AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts, LA, Calif., April 2017

Sunday in the Park with George
AMDA 
College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts, LA, Calif., September 2016

Next to Normal
Pico Playhouse, LA, Calif., August 2016

A Horse with a View by Christopher Piehler (world premiere)
Hollywood Fringe Festival - Studio C, LA, Calif., June 2016

Nine
AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts, LA, Calif., April 2016


How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts, LA, Calif., September 2015
 
Reserve Champion by Christopher Piehler (world premiere)
Hollywood Fringe Festival — Elephant Studio, LA, Calif., June 2015
 
Feeling Good, a blues and jazz revue, Conceived and Directed
AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts, LA, Calif., January 2015
 
The Debut of Georgia by Boni Alvarez (world premiere)
The Blank Theatre – Living Room Series, LA, Calif., September 2014
 
Flim-Flam: Houdini and the Hereafter by Gene Franklin Smith, (world premiere)
Malibu Playhouse, LA, Calif., June 2014
 
Thoroughly Modern Millie
AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts, LA, Calif., May 2014
 
Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida, Staging and Acting Coaching
AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts, LA, Calif., January 2014
 
Bloodletting by Boni Alvarez (world premiere)
Skylight Theatre, LA, Calif., December 2013
 
Les Misérables, full-score production, Co-Director
California Youth Conservatory Theatre, Lyceum Theatre, San Diego, Calif., June 2013
Bravo San Diego - Best Musical Award 2013
 
Both Sides of the Fence, a musical revue, Conceived and Directed
AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts, LA, Calif., January 2013


An Ohio Tragedy by Tami Tirgrath (world premiere)
Skylight Theatre, LA, Calif., January 2013
 
The Escape Artists’ Children by Steven Harper (world premiere)
Celebration Theatre, LA, Calif., November 2012
 
Dusty de los Santos by Boni B. Alvarez (world premiere)
Skylight Theatre, LA, Calif., August 2012
 
Instant Karma by Richard Tabor (world premiere)
2012 New Play Festival, Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, Calif.
 
Equus by Peter Shaffer, East Bay Association Performing Arts Center, Barrington, R.I.; and New England Theatre Ensemble, Providence, R.I.
 
Gypsy of the Year Competition winner 1993 and 1994 — both The Phantom of the Opera’s presentation, St. James Theatre, West 44th St., New York, N.Y.

 
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES  (very partial list)
Broadway:
  • The Phantom of the Opera directed by Harold Prince — starred as the Phantom 1996-1999, over 1,000 performances, including the 10th Anniversary Celebration
  • Miss Saigon directed by Nicholas Hytner — originated role of Captain Schultz 1991-1993
National Tours:
  • Les Misérables directed by John Caird – original cast of First National Company; as a swing, I understudied 14 cast members for two years and went on hundreds of time over a two-year period
  • Chess directed by Des McAnuff — original cast of First National
Off-Broadway:
  • The Last Sunday in June by Jon Tolins, dir. Trip Cullman
  • You Never Can Tell by G.B. Shaw — Yale Rep, dir. Stan Wodjewodski
  • Two Rooms by Lee Blessing, dir. Roger Danforth
  • Medal of Honor Rag by Tom Cole, dir. Jim Pelegano
 
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
2018 Ovation Award for Direction of a Play and for Best Production of a Play, Intimate Theatre 
2018 LADCC Nomination for Direction and Production
2018 Robby Award for Best Drama

2013 Bravo San Diego - Best Musical Award for CYC’s Les Misérables
2010 LA Weekly Award for Supporting Male Performance
2010-2011 StageSceneLA Award for Featured Performance of the Year
2011 BroadwayWorld LA Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play
(all for Take Me Out at the Celebration Theatre in Hollywood)
 
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Stage Directors and Choreographers Society
Lincoln Center Directors Lab West 2015
Actors Equity Association
SAG-AFTRA
 
TEACHING
AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts, Los Angeles, Calif. — 2012-Current
  • Member of the Faculty Leadership Team
  • Master Classes in Musical Theatre Performance and Audition Technique at ​UCLA, SUNY Purchase, St. Joseph's University, and in San Diego and LA 
  • Private Coaching
  
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Trinity Rep Conservatory two-year intensive training program with a focus on acting and directing
University of Connecticut BFA in Acting (minor in English) magna cum laude, with distinction
Private Training: Acting — Harold Guskin (author of How to Stop Acting), Suzanne Shepherd (3 years of Meisner), Kyle Donnelly, M.K. Lewis; Audition Technique — Bob Krakower, Tim Phillips (author of Audition for Your Career, Not the Job), Amy Lyndon, Jack Plotnick; Singing — Bill Schumann, Joel Ewing; Vocal Coaches — Deena Kaye, Steven Lutvak
 
 
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