Playwright and Director Bios:

Will Power (Playwright) is an award-winning playwright and performer. His adaptation of the Greek tragedy Seven Against Thebes, retitled The Seven, enjoyed a successful off-Broadway run at the New York Theatre Workshop in 2006 and The La Jolla Playhouse in 2008. His solo show FLOW was featured in the Hip Hop Theater Festival before touring nationally and internationally to critical acclaim. Power’s numerous awards include a United States Artist Prudential Fellowship, a Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical, the TCG Peter Zeisler Memorial Award, a Jury Award for Best Theatre Performance at the HBO US Comedy Arts Festival, a Drama Desk Award nomination, and the Trailblazer Award from The National Black Theater Network. Power’s numerous film and television appearances include The Colbert Report (Comedy Central) and Bill Moyers on Faith & Reason (PBS).

Des McAnuff (Director)is a two-time Tony Award winner and artistic director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. He is Director Emeritus and former Artistic Director of La Jolla Playhouse, where he has directed over 30 productions. Broadway: Jersey Boys (four Tonys including Best Musical, now with seven companies around the world); Guys and Dolls; Aaron Sorkin’s The Farnsworth Invention; Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays (Theatrical Event Tony); Dracula: The Musical; How to Succeed…; The Who’s Tommy (director/co-author with Pete Townshend; Tony for Director; Olivier for Director/Musical); A Walk in the Woods; Big River (seven Tonys including Director/Musical). Stratford: Macbeth; …Forum; Caesar and Cleopatra, starring Christopher Plummer; Romeo and Juliet. Film: Cousin Bette and Rocky and Bullwinkle (director); The Iron Giant (producer); Quills (executive producer). Upcoming: The Tempest (starring Mr. Plummer) and As You Like It at Stratford; a new opera commissioned by ENO and the Met; adapting the Flaming Lips’ Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots for the stage.