Pamela Berlin - Director

Photo of Pamela Berlin

photo: John Hart

Pamela Berlin began directing opera about five years ago, having spent most of her career directing plays. Her opera credits include Hänsel und Gretel for three New York City Opera tours, Madama Butterfly at the Utah and Vancouver Operas, Rigoletto and Lucia di Lammermoor, with Elizabeth Futral, in Vancouver. She has also directed Operetta Internationale for a New York City Opera tour, and The Mikado and H.M.S. Pinafore for the Allentown Summer Musicals.

Recently, she received rave reviews for directing Thomas McCormack's new play, Endpapers, at the Variety Arts Theatre in New York. Returning to opera, she also directed a new production of Carlisle Floyd's Of Mice and Men for Utah Opera and Vancouver Opera, and a new Cold Sassy Tree for Lyric Opera of Kansas City. She will direct this CST production at Utah Opera in May 2003.

Ms. Berlin's primary theatre credits in New York have been productions of new plays including Steel Magnolias which ran for three years off-Broadway, the national tour of Steel Magnolias, The Cemetery Club on Broadway, Crossing Delancey, To Gillian on Her 37^th Birthday at Circle in the Square; and other original works at such theatres as the Manhattan Theatre Club, Playwrights Horizons, Second Stage, WPA, Manhattan Class Company, and the Ensemble Studio Theatre.

A graduate of Harvard College, she has participated in the illustrious Sundance Institute's Theatre Workshop. Her regional productions have included A Streetcar Named Desire, South Pacific, True West, The Playboy of the Western World, The Miracle Worker, The Plough and the Stars, Dancing at Lughnasa, Joe egg, and Shirley Valentine at the Kennedy Center, Seattle Rep, Long Wharf Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse, the Pioneer, Huntington, and Virginia Stage Theatres, and the Philadelphia Festival Theatres, to name a few. She has also been a guest artist and teacher at Yale and New York Universities; and Sarah Lawrence, Middlebury, Sweetbriar, and Muhlenberg Colleges.

Pamela Berlin is also an amateur violinist and has played in various symphony and pit orchestras.

PRESS ACCLAIM

Madama Butterfly (Utah Opera):

"Stage director Pamela Berlin, known primarily for her work in theater, takes a big step into the opera world with Utah Opera's 'Butterfly.' Ms. Berlin's view of this tear-jerker is poignant, but never maudlin; the characters are well-defined, the staging is often striking - and, familiar though the story may be, the ending packs an undeniable punch."

THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE (1993)

"Indeed, every dramatic detail seems well-considered in the direction of Pamela Berlin, whose experience mostly with spoken drama results in some fresh staging insights. Many scenes are played sitting or kneeling, conveying a feeling of Oriental humility. The people move quietly but intensely, in character. And there are stage pictures, such as the final tableau, which encapsulate the story."

DESERET NEWS (1993)

(Vancouver Opera):

"Director Pamela Berlin's New York theatrical background is clearly evidenced in the piece. The director of the original productions of Steel Magnolias and Crossing Delancey elicits strong dramatic performances from all the cast."

THE VANCOUVER COURIER (1995)

Of Mice and Men (Utah Opera):

"The opera consisted of several gripping moments of music-drama accentuated by brilliant staging (by Pamela Berlin), natural and committed acting and flawless, expressive singing."

DESERET NEWS (1999)

Rigoletto (Vancouver Opera):

"…Pamela Berlin, a U.S. director with a reputation for getting balance right."

VANCOUVER (1999)

Lucia di Lammermoor (Vancouver Opera):

"…visually the show's a knockout, from the sumptuous costumes to the swashbuckling swordplay. When director Pamela Berlin deploys the cast of dozens in the wedding scene, the effect is of a Van Dyck tableau vivant."

NORTH SHORE NEWS (2000)

PRESS ACCLAIM

Madama Butterfly (Utah Opera):

"Stage director Pamela Berlin, known primarily for her work in theater, takes a big step into the opera world with Utah Opera's 'Butterfly.' Ms. Berlin's view of this tear-jerker is poignant, but never maudlin; the characters are well-defined, the staging is often striking - and, familiar though the story may be, the ending packs an undeniable punch."
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE (1993)

"Indeed, every dramatic detail seems well-considered in the direction of Pamela Berlin, whose experience mostly with spoken drama results in some fresh staging insights. Many scenes are played sitting or kneeling, conveying a feeling of Oriental humility. The people move quietly but intensely, in character. And there are stage pictures, such as the final tableau, which encapsulate the story."
DESERET NEWS (1993)

(Vancouver Opera):

"Director Pamela Berlin's New York theatrical background is clearly evidenced in the piece. The director of the original productions of Steel Magnolias and Crossing Delancey elicits strong dramatic performances from all the cast."
THE VANCOUVER COURIER (1995)

Of Mice and Men (Utah Opera):

"The opera consisted of several gripping moments of music-drama accentuated by brilliant staging (by Pamela Berlin), natural and committed acting and flawless, expressive singing."
DESERET NEWS (1999)

Rigoletto (Vancouver Opera):

"…Pamela Berlin, a U.S. director with a reputation for getting balance right."
VANCOUVER (1999)

Lucia di Lammermoor (Vancouver Opera):

"…visually the show's a knockout, from the sumptuous costumes to the swashbuckling swordplay. When director Pamela Berlin deploys the cast of dozens in the wedding scene, the effect is of a Van Dyck tableau vivant."
NORTH SHORE NEWS (2000)

UPCOMING

Cold Sassy Tree Utah Opera May 2003

UPCOMING
Cold Sassy Tree	Utah Opera	May 2003

OPERA

Cold Sassy Tree Lyric Opera of Kansas City 2002

Of Mice and Men Vancouver Opera 2002

Lucia di Lammermoor Vancouver 2000

Of Mice and Men Utah Opera 1999

Rigoletto Vancouver 1999

Madama Butterfly Vancouver Opera 1995

Utah Opera 1993

Hänsel und Gretel New York City Opera 1980

OPERA
Cold Sassy Tree	Lyric Opera of Kansas City	2002
Of Mice and Men	Vancouver Opera	2002
Lucia di Lammermoor	Vancouver	2000
Of Mice and Men	Utah Opera	1999
Rigoletto	Vancouver	1999
Madama Butterfly	Vancouver Opera	1995
	Utah Opera	1993
Hänsel und Gretel	New York City Opera	1980

OPERETTA

Operetta Internationale New York City Opera 1982

H.M.S. Pinafore Allentown Summer Musicals 1982

The Mikado Allentown Summer Musicals 1981

OPERETTA
Operetta Internationale	New York City Opera	1982
H.M.S. Pinafore	Allentown Summer Musicals	1982
The Mikado	Allentown Summer Musicals	1981

BROADWAY

The Cemetery Club Brooks Atkinson Theatre 1990

Steel Magnolias National Tour 1988

BROADWAY
The Cemetery Club	Brooks Atkinson Theatre	1990
Steel Magnolias	National Tour	1988

OFF-BROADWAY

The Adjustment Jewish Rep 1998

‘Til the Rapture Comes WPA Theatre 1998

The Red Address Second Stage 1997

Wallflowering HB Playwrights Foundation 1997

Three in the Back, Two in the Head Manhattan Class Co. 1997

Black Ink Playwrights Horizons 1996

Pretty Fire Manhattan Theatre Club 1994

Snowing at Delphi WPA Theatre 1994

The Family of Mann Second Stage 1994

Joined at the Head Manhattan Theatre Club 1993

Club Soda WPA Theatre 1992

Early One Evening at the Rainbow Bar & Grill WPA Theatre 1989

Steel Magnolias Lucille Lortel 1987

Mama Drama Ensemble Studio Theatre 1987

Crossing Delancey Jewish Rep 1986

Elm Circle Playwrights Horizons 1985

To Gillian on Her 37^th Birthday Ensemble Studio Theatre & Circle in the Square 1982-3

The Self Begotten Ensemble Studio Theatre 1982

Delusions of a Government Witness Ensemble Studio Theatre 1981

Ord-way Ames-Gay Ensemble Studio Theatre 1981

OFF-BROADWAY
The Adjustment	Jewish Rep	1998
‘Til the Rapture Comes	WPA Theatre	1998
The Red Address	Second Stage	1997
Wallflowering	HB Playwrights Foundation	1997
Three in the Back, Two in the Head	Manhattan Class Co.	1997
Black Ink	Playwrights Horizons	1996
Pretty Fire	Manhattan Theatre Club	1994
Snowing at Delphi	WPA Theatre	1994
The Family of Mann	Second Stage	1994
Joined at the Head	Manhattan Theatre Club	1993
Club Soda	WPA Theatre	1992
Early One Evening at the Rainbow Bar & Grill	WPA Theatre	1989
Steel Magnolias	Lucille Lortel	1987
Mama Drama	Ensemble Studio Theatre	1987
Crossing Delancey	Jewish Rep	1986
Elm Circle	Playwrights Horizons	1985
To Gillian on Her 37^th Birthday	Ensemble Studio Theatre & Circle in the Square	1982-3
The Self Begotten	Ensemble Studio Theatre	1982
Delusions of a Government Witness	Ensemble Studio Theatre	1981
Ord-way Ames-Gay	Ensemble Studio Theatre	1981

REGIONAL THEATRE

Tea Pittsburgh Public Theatre 2001

South Pacific Pioneer Theatre 1999

The Miracle Worker Pioneer Theatre 1998

Dancing at Lughnasa Seattle Rep 1995

Ruler of My Destiny Long Wharf Theatre 1995

Joined at the Head Pasadena Playhouse 1994

Shirley Valentine Stage West 1994

Zara Spook and Other Lures George St. Playhouse 1991

Joe Egg Portland Stage 1989

Steel Magnolias Royal George, Chicago, and Pasadena Playhouse 1988

Dian Fossey Virginia Stage 1988

Jitters Virginia Stage 1987

On the Verge Huntington Theatre 1986

The Plough and the Stars Huntington Theatre 1985

The Playboy of the Western World Capital Rep 1984

A Streetcar Named Desire People's Light & Theatre 1983

Translations Capital Rep 1983

The Subject Animal People's Light & Theatre 1982

True West Capital Rep 1982

Fast Women Philadelphia Festival 1981

Two Hotdogs with Everything Philadelphia Festival 1981

The Lady Aiao Theatre Lab Boston 1975

REGIONAL THEATRE
Tea	Pittsburgh Public Theatre	2001
South Pacific	Pioneer Theatre	1999
The Miracle Worker	Pioneer Theatre	1998
Dancing at Lughnasa	Seattle Rep	1995
Ruler of My Destiny	Long Wharf Theatre	1995
Joined at the Head	Pasadena Playhouse	1994
Shirley Valentine	Stage West	1994
Zara Spook and Other Lures	George St. Playhouse	1991
Joe Egg	Portland Stage	1989
Steel Magnolias	Royal George, Chicago, and Pasadena Playhouse	1988
Dian Fossey	Virginia Stage	1988
Jitters	Virginia Stage	1987
On the Verge	Huntington Theatre	1986
The Plough and the Stars	Huntington Theatre	1985
The Playboy of the Western World	Capital Rep	1984
A Streetcar Named Desire	People's Light & Theatre	1983
Translations	Capital Rep	1983
The Subject Animal	People's Light & Theatre	1982
True West	Capital Rep	1982
Fast Women	Philadelphia Festival	1981
Two Hotdogs with Everything	Philadelphia Festival	1981
The Lady Aiao	Theatre Lab Boston	1975

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