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]
Mary Hall Surface | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 15, 1958 Bowling Green, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Centre College |
| Occupation(s) | Theater Director, Playwright, Festival Artistic Director |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Spouse |
Kevin Reese (m. 1987) |
| Children | Malinda Kathleen Reese |
| Website | maryhallsurface.com |
Career
editIn 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
editIn 1987, she married her husband, Kevin Reese.[5] They have one daughter, American YouTuber, singer-songwriter, and stage actress, Malinda Kathleen Reese.[6]
Helen Hayes Awards
edit| 1993 | Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | |
| Tintypes, Round House Theatre | Nomination[7] | |
| 2000 | Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | |
| Grimm Tales, Theater of the First Amendment | Nomination[8] | |
| 2001 | The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play | |
| Sing Down the Moon, Appalachian Wonder Tales, Theater of the First Amendment | Nomination[9] | |
| 2001 | Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | |
| Sing Down the Moon, Appalachian Wonder Tales, Theater of the First Amendment | Nomination[10] | |
| 2002 | The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play | |
| Perseus Bayou, Theater of the First Amendment | Nomination[11] | |
| 2002 | Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | |
| Perseus Bayou, Theater of the First Amendment | Award Recipient[12] | |
| 2003 | The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Musical | |
| Mississippi Pinocchio, Theater of the First Amendment | Nomination[13] | |
| 2007 | The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical | |
| Lift: Icarus and Me, Theater of the First Amendment | Nomination[14] | |
| 2009 | Outstanding Director, Resident Musical | |
| Goodnight Moon, Tribute Productions and Adventure Theatre | Nomination[15] |
Recordings
edit- "The Nightingale" (1999) – playwright with composer David Maddox.
- "Sing Down The Moon: Appalachian Wonder Tales" (2002) – playwright with composer David Maddox.
- "Perseus Bayou: The Search for the Cajun Medusa" (2002) – playwright with composer David Maddox.
- "The Odyssey of Telémaca" (2004) – playwright with composer David Maddox.
Books
edit- "Prodigy: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart" (1988) – author. Published by Anchorage Press.
- "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" (1994) – author. Published by Anchorage Press.
- "Most Valuable Player and Four Other All-Star Plays for Middle and High School Audiences (Young Actors Series)" (1999) – author. Published by Smith & Kraus.
- "Short Scenes and Monologues for Middle School Actors" (2000) – author. Published by Smith & Kraus.
- "More Short Scenes and Monologues for Middle School Students: Inspired by Literature, Social Studies, and Real Life (Young Actor Series)" (2007) – author. Published by Smith & Kraus.
- "Spirit Shall Fly" (2007) – author. Published by Anchorage Press.
- "The Tales of the Custard Dragon" (2009) – co-author with Danny Whitman. Published by Samuel French.
Stage
edit- Sing Down The Moon: Appalachian Wonder Tales (2000) – director and playwright, composed by David Maddox at Theater of the First Amendment (VA).
References
edit- ^ Via, Dan (March 23, 2001). "Keeping It in the Family". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. p. WW24. ISSN 0190-8286.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Spitz, Ellen Handler (2007). The Brightening Glance: Imagination and Childhood. Anchor. p. 75. ISBN 978-0-385-72005-2.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "We made a good choice 33 years ago today. Happy anniversary, Kevin Reese. Let's keep extending the run. xoxoxo". Facebook.com.
- ^ "I wrote a song with my parents in quarantine". YouTube. 24 April 2020.
- ^ Sommers, Pamela (March 17, 1993). "Hamlet, Musicals Lead Helen Hayes Nominees". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. p. B01. ISSN 0190-8286.
- ^ Pressley, Nelson (March 22, 2000). "'Indian Ink,' 'Sweeney Todd' Top Hayes Nominations". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. p. C1. ISSN 0190-8286.
- ^ "Helen Hayes Nominees". The Washington Post. March 19, 2001. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Helen Hayes Awards Nominees". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. March 11, 2003. p. C05. ISSN 0190-8286.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Marston, Sarah (February 26, 2009). "Arts In Brief". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. p. T23. ISSN 0190-8286.