DIRECTOR HISTORY
THEATER
Nowhere On The Border (Carlos Lacámara), The Road Theatre, N. Hollywood, CA.
3 Ovation Nominations, including Best Production of the Year
Martha (Ellen Melaver)*, The Whitefire Theatre, Sherman Oaks, CA
Ovation Nominated; Winner-Valley Theatre Award 2018, Best One Person Show
White Guy on the Bus (Bruce Graham)*, The Road Theatre, N. Hollywood, CA
Ovation Recommended; Scenie Award-Best Direction and Best Production of a Drama
Two Sisters (Gail Louw)*, Theatre 40, Beverly Hills, CA
Martha (Ellen Melaver)*, LGBT Center, Hollywood, CA
American Wee-Pie (Lisa Dillman)*, Theatre 40, Beverly Hills, CA
Scenie Award-Best Direction of Comedy
Joan’s Show An Evening with Joan Copeland*, Dicapo Opera Theater, NYC
Paul and Eddie (Ken Brisbois)*, Turnip Festival,
Best Play Award 2010 American Globe Theater, NYC
In The Middle of Nowhere (Kent R. Brown)*, Sands Theater, Deland, FL
2008 Julie Harris Playwright Award Winner
Paul and Eddie (Ken Brisbois)*, The Mercury and The Magic (Rolin Jones)*,
The Big Brain on Bobby Martin (Marco Ramirez)*
City Theater Summer Shorts America’s Short Play Festival; Arsht Center, Miami, FL
Khalass (Enough) (Thomas Coash)*, Sands Theater, Deland, FL
Famished (Frank Basloe)*, The Australia Project, Kraine Theater, NYC
2; Goering at Nurenberg (Romulus Linney)*, Theatre 40, Beverly Hills, CA
How We Talk in South Boston (David Lindsay-Abaire)*, Theatre 40, Beverly Hills, CA
Santa God (Tim Sims)*, Theatre 40, Beverly Hills, CA
A Shot In The Dark (Harry Kurnitz), Theatre 40, Beverly Hills, CA
Stay Carl, Stay (Peter Tolan)*, Theatre 40, Beverly Hills, CA
Deuces (Steve Patterson)*, Theatre 40, Beverly Hills, CA
Life History of The African Elephant (Clem Martini)*, Theatre 40, Beverly Hills, CA
A Piece of My Heart (Matt Cooper)*, The Odyssey Theater, LA, CA
Bad Brad (Brook Berry)*, Theatre 40, Beverly Hills, CA
Chateau Rene (Sam Ingraffia)*, Theatre 40, Beverly Hills, CA; Double Image Theater, NYC
Published by Samuel French as Double Image Festival winner
Heat of Re-Entry (Abby Tetenbaum)*, Theatre 40, Beverly Hills, CA
God Bless America (Steve Felson)*, The American Theater of Actors, NYC
Mad In Canada (Comedy review), (Assistant Director), Old Angelo’s Theatre, Toronto, Canada
Down The Drain/Swordplay (Original one-acts by Steve Felson)*, The Quaigh Theater Dramathon,
NYC, * World, West Coast, Eastern, Southeastern, or New York Premieres
FILM/TELEVISION
Brick Short film available on Youtube
Two Steps Back Short film available on Youtube (also writer/producer)
the front lines Short film available on Youtube (also writer/producer)
Snowflake Zoom production screened as part of Under Construction fest at Road Theatre
Perfect Opposites Feature Film (co-producer/co-writer; 2nd unit director)
(Piper Perabo, Aaron Paul, Jennifer Tilly, Joe Pantoliano, Artie Lange, etc.)
Service With A Smile 2 training films for Yankee Stadium employees (Producer/writer/director)
Bad Brad/Deuces TV versions of the original stage plays; BHTV Beverly Hills TV Cable (director)
OTHER
Member: The Actors Studio Playwright and Director Unit, Los Angeles, since 2017
Acting Teacher: American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), NYC 1987-88
American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA), CA 1989-90
Worth-Tyrell Studios, Morristown, NJ 1998-2008
Columbia-Greene Community College, Hudson, NY 2006-2010
Sands Theater, Deland, FL 2007
Private Classes: New York, LA, Toronto, Montreal
Play Workshops: University of Southern California (LA), The Road (LA), T40too at Theatre 40 (LA),
PUP; Pop Up Plays-various theatres; (LA), The Lunchbox Theater (Calgary), The Odyssey (LA),
Manhattan Class Company (NYC), First Stage (LA), South Street Theater (NYC), The Actor’s Outlet
(NYC), The Vertical Rep (Brooklyn)
Guild Member: AEA, SAG/AFTRA, The Dramatists Guild of America
Former Member: Board of Directors and Artistic Committee, Theatre 40, Beverly Hills, CA; The Road Theatre Company, N. Hollywood, CA
Stage Scenie Award: Direction of a Drama (White Guy On The Bus); Intimate Theater; 2017
Direction of a Comedy (American Wee-Pie); Intimate Theater; 2015
EDUCATION
Herbert H. Lehman College, City University of New York, B.A., English (Honors), 1977
The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, NYC, Associate of Occupational Studies, 1980
The Michael Chekhov Studio Teacher Training Program, NYC, 1983-84
Assistant Director to Peter Frisch (Former chair, Theater Dept., Carnegie Mellon), Dennis Moore
DIRECTOR REVIEWS | Click where underlined for full reviews
Nowhere On The Border by Carlos Lacámara 2020
3 Ovation Nominations, including Best Production of the Year.
“Top Plays in Los Angeles” - Theatre in LA
“Compelling…gripping…Zully’s direction is skillful and sharp. Successfully spotlight(s) one of today’s most topical issues.” - LA Times
“A political, timely… and thought-provoking question… given… new meaning. Director Stewart J. Zully does an excellent job of helming this poignant and sometimes brutal production." - Splash Magazine
“As powerful as it is timely. Zully draws passionate yet understated performances from the cast…Intense and insightful. (An) electric play.” - The Tolucan Times
“A soul-wrenching, laser-beamed treatment of the emotional and economic issues around cross-border migration from Mexico into the U.S. Southwest. Absorbing…engrossing theatre and an intensely human capsule interpretation of the issues.” - People’s World
“Beautifully written…crafted with truth and grace and fierce unflinching empathy…truly unforgettable…performances are spectacular…stories such as these can touch us and show us and change us in ways that images on the news cannot.” - Noho Arts District
Martha by Ellen Melaver 2017
Ovation Nominated
Valley Theatre Award 2018, Best One Person Show
Top Ten Recommended "A worthy tribute to a true original." - Stage Raw
"Top Plays in Los Angeles" - Theatre in LA
“From the moment she steps on stage, [Carlisi] grabs our attention and doesn’t let go until it’s over. Well balanced performance, with plenty of verbal humor and enough dance to sketch in a portrait of the artist”
– Sylvie Drake (Cultural Weekly)
"There are moments of magic when Carlisi…seems to channel the spirit of Graham. When (she) elegantly tangles herself in a telephone cord revealing the magnificent geometry of Graham's technique or performs Graham's iconic shrouded solo Lamentation, the mood of these scenes shifts into an almost awe-inspiring register.…Carlisi’s performance can be incandescent." - LA Times
"Christina Carlisi - A Tour de Force as MARTHA! Possesses all the creative elements, exquisitely combined, for a stunning one-woman show." - Broadway World
"Simply and elegantly produced, the play boasts excellence in both the direction by Stewart J. Zully and the choreography of Camille Loftin. Great theatre. See this show while you can." - Theatre Notes
"A must-see...a wonderful opportunity to explore the inner workings of a clever, very funny, interesting woman who just happens to be a dancer. Supple and talented Carlisi does a brilliant job" - LA Splash
"A poignant and insightful play that artfully investigates the life and creative soul of...Martha Graham. Carlisi embodies the physical and personal sacrifices that Graham made for her art." - SeeDance News
White Guy on the Bus by Bruce Graham 2017
Ovation Recommended
Stagescenie Award 2017-Drama; Intimate Theatre
Outstanding Direction
Outstanding Production
Outstanding Ensemble
"Under Stewart J. Zully's electric direction, performances...could not be finer. Riveting, edgy and provocative...(with) pulse pounding suspense, White Guy On The Bus finds strikingly original ways to tackle issues of race in contemporary America. You won't stop thinking about it for days after its final fade to black.” - StagesceneLA
"A complex. thought-provoking and intriguing tale...Director Stewart J. Zully does an excellent job of grounding these disparate characters and keeping the audience’s eye on the many issues in the play. The talented cast develops each of these personalities and makes them live and breathe.” - LA Splash
"Zully deftly handles this complex and unsettling story, without over complication and with some wonderfully fluid touches that really add to the momentum of the play. Suffice it to say that you won't be disappointed, not in the story, the direction and certainly not in the stellar performances. A play that tells a story we might not be prepared to hear, but one that is so very important to experience.” -Nohoartsdistrict.com
"Graham’s stark drama about America’s racial politics pumps blood into those headlines we scan over coffee. Director Stewart J. Zully deftly ensures his excellent actors make it all too real.” - The Tolucan Times
"Brilliantly directed by Stewart J. Zully, the cast is flawless.” -Theatre Spoken Here
Two Sisters by Gail Louw 2016
“We get a strong sense of who these two women are and how their relationship has developed
and evolved over the last six decades.” -Stage Raw
“An exquisite play…brilliantly told…. heartbreaking…an emotional powder keg waiting to explode.”
-Broadway World
American Wee-Pie by Lisa Dillman 2015
Stagescenie Award-2015-Comedy; Intimate Theatre
Outstanding Direction
Outstanding Production
Outstanding Ensemble
”Splendid…magical…inspirational…astute direction… one of my favorite Theatre 40 productions ever.”
-StagesceneLA
Paul and Eddie by Ken Brisbois 2008
“Zully exploits the irreverent humor, but also the shred of humanity in the last minutes of the two thieves crucified with Jesus.” -Florida Sun-Sentinel
Famished by Frank Basloe 2006
“Compelling…Zully’s direction is assured.” -NYTheatre.com
Khalass (Enough) by Thomas Coash 2006
“Presented with polish to make it work…a young American woman and a young Egyptian man clamber up the Great Pyramid for a picnic, and there they find out truths about each other that they don’t wish to know…Zully’s directing and the performances give it a pleasing sheen.” -Orlando Sentinel
2; Goering at Nuremberg by Romulus Linney 1999
“Engrossing drama….powerful…eloquent.” -Backstage West
“The production, under Zully’s tight direction, is swift and smooth and absolutely deadly. 2 moves along like clockwork.” - After Dark
How We Talk In South Boston by David Lindsay-Abaire 1999
“…Unabashed burlesque… a blast with all stops out.” -Backstage West
Santa God by Tim Sims 1994
“Superb… gracefully directed…a witty satire…speeds along like a Tim Burton nightmare.” -LA Times
“…A version of the North Pole that rings with the dark irony of Tim Burton.” -Orange County Register
Stay, Carl, Stay by Peter Tolan 1993
“The absolute shaggy dog tale of all time….it delivers the evening’s most uproarious performance
(cleverly directed by Stewart J. Zully).” -LA Times
Deuces by Steve Patterson 1993
“Directed with fine panache ….all performances are excellent.” -LA Times
A Shot In The Dark by Harry Kurnitz 1993
“Directed with a light touch…stylishly performed. ” -Dramalogue
The Life History of the African Elephant by Clem Martini 1992
“A thoroughly original view of the world…curious situations are presented humorously and with compassion, a quality in short supply these days.” -Variety
“Stewart J. Zully elicits wonderful performances from his cast.” -LA Reader
Bad Brad by Brook Berry 1991
“A poignant piece of theater that is brilliantly directed…everyone has a wild, hilarious time….Zully directs a spirited cast, all of whom perform their ditsy parts with high energy and enthusiasm.” -Dramalogue
A Piece of My Heart by Matt Cooper 1991
“Zully has concocted some hilarious scenes with great visual panache… Scott Valentine and
Catherine Mary Stewart should keep the theater full.” -Variety
“Zully gives the production high energy.” -LA Times
“Zully has directed Cooper’s play with effectively mounting interest and empathy.” -Dramalogue
Chateau Rene by Sam Ingraffia 1990
“Memorable…sensitively directed.” -LA Times
Heat of Re-Entry by Abraham Tetenbaum 1987
“One of the year’s best…a mercurial and occasionally magical piece…credit is surely due Stewart J. Zully’s staging…the cast couldn’t be better.” -LA Times