Mary Hall Surface

Last updated
Mary Hall Surface
Born (1958-06-15) June 15, 1958 (age 64)
Occupation(s)Theater Director, Playwright, Festival Artistic Director
Years active1982–present
Spouse
Kevin Reese
(m. 1987)
Children Malinda Kathleen Reese

Mary Hall Surface (born June 15, 1958) is an American playwright and director of theater, working primarily in the Washington, D.C. area. Surface's work has focused primarily on youth and family content. [1] Surface has received accolades from critics for the inventive use of costumes and music mixed with classic storytelling, often with origins in folk tales. [2] She has earned one Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Direction of a Resident Musical - out of eight nominations. In addition, soundtrack of her musical The Odyssey of Telémaca co-written with composer David Maddox won the 2004 Parents' Choice Gold Award. [3]

Contents

Career

In December 2008, Surface directed the world premiere of Alice, her own adaptation of the Lewis Carroll books, at Round House Theatre in Bethesda, Maryland. [4]

Personal life

In 1987, she married her husband, Kevin Reese. [5] They have one daughter, American YouTube personality, singer-songwriter and stage actress, Malinda Kathleen Reese. [6]

Helen Hayes Awards

1993Outstanding Director, Resident Musical
Tintypes , Round House Theatre Nomination [7]
2000Outstanding Director, Resident Musical
Grimm Tales, Theater of the First AmendmentNomination [8]
2001Outstanding Director, Resident Musical
Sing Down the Moon, Appalachian Wonder Tales, Theater of the First AmendmentNomination [9]
2002Outstanding Director, Resident Musical
Perseus Bayou, Theater of the First AmendmentAward Recipient [10]
2002The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play
Perseus Bayou, Theater of the First AmendmentNomination [11]
2003The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Musical
Mississippi Pinocchio, Theater of the First AmendmentNomination [12]
2007The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical
Lift:Icarus and Me, Theater of the First AmendmentNomination [13]
2009Outstanding Director, Resident Musical
Goodnight Moon, Tribute Productions and Adventure Theatre Nomination [14]

Recordings

Books

Stage

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References

  1. Via, Dan (March 23, 2001). "Keeping It in the Family". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. p. WW24. ISSN   0190-8286.
  2. Mattingly, Diane (January 9, 2003). "In Six Tales, One Show of Music, Folk History". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. p. T08. ISSN   0190-8286.
  3. Spitz, Ellen Handler (2007). The Brightening Glance: Imagination and Childhood. Anchor. p. 75. ISBN   978-0-385-72005-2.
  4. Jones, Kenneth (December 2, 2008). ""Premiere of Mary Hall Surface's "Wonderland"-Inspired Alice Opens in MD Dec. 2"". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  5. "We made a good choice 33 years ago today. Happy anniversary, Kevin Reese. Let's keep extending the run. xoxoxo". Facebook.com.
  6. "I wrote a song with my parents in quarantine". YouTube .
  7. Sommers, Pamela (March 17, 1993). "Hamlet, Musicals Lead Helen Hayes Nominees". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. p. B01. ISSN   0190-8286.
  8. Pressley, Nelson (March 22, 2000). "'Indian Ink,' 'Sweeney Todd' Top Hayes Nominations". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. p. C1. ISSN   0190-8286.
  9. "Local Playwrights, Stirring the Plot; Writers Mull Success, D.C. & Baffling Muses". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. March 25, 2001. p. G01. ISSN   0190-8286.
  10. Pressley, Nelson (May 7, 2002). "Hayes Awards For Director, Play Hit 'Home'; Washington Theater Honors Its Own With Ceremony". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. p. C01. ISSN   0190-8286.
  11. Horwitz, Jane (March 12, 2002). "Kennedy Center's 16 Lead Hayes Awards; Arena Follows With 15 Nominations". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. p. C01. ISSN   0190-8286.
  12. "Helen Hayes Awards Nominees". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. March 11, 2003. p. C05. ISSN   0190-8286.
  13. Horwitz, Jane (February 28, 2007). "In Sync With a Hollywood Legend; Lypsinka's Co-Star Finds That His Role in 'Passion' Calls for More Than Mere Lip Service". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. p. C5. ISSN   0190-8286.
  14. Marston, Sarah (February 26, 2009). "Arts In Brief". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. p. T23. ISSN   0190-8286.