Daniel Bird Tobin
  • Home
  • Director & Dramaturg
    • About
    • Angels in America
    • Summer Youth Theatre
    • The Tempestuous and Tessellated Tens
    • Addison & the Black Hole
    • Conference of the Birds
    • on display
    • [De/As]cending
    • Out of Many
  • Performer
    • About
    • An Iliad
    • Conqueror of the Western Marches
    • Macbeth
    • Out of Many
    • Lobster Boy
  • Instructor & Teaching Artist
  • Science Communicator
  • Contact & CV

Director & Dramaturg

Picture

Who I am

I am a theatre archaeologist. What does that mean? Much as archaeologists reconstruct the story of a society from the artifacts they excavate, I build theatrical stories from the artifacts I uncover in my life. These might be a rug that lay in front of my grandfather’s fireplace, the process of LASIK eye surgery, or the artwork of Keith Haring. Each provides the foundation for the creation of projects ranging from a site-specific solo show to a large university production of Angels in America, Part One. Through my movement-based excavation process, I hope to find the life of these artifacts and create vibrant theatre that speaks to our current moment.
Working as  Directing and Producing Assistant at McCarter Theatre, I had the privilege of assisting the amazing directors Emily Mann, John Doyle, and Sam Buntrock as well working with Danai Gurira, Nilo Cruz, and Paula Vogel.  I received my MFA in Performance at the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University and have also trained with the Globe Theatre in London, SITI Company,  and Tectonic Theatre Project. Some of my favorite shows as a dramaturg or director include Addison & the Black Hole, Out of Many, Macbeth, and Conference of the Birds. Selections from some of these shows may be found below.

Currently I am the Theatre Specialist and Director of the Abbey Players at Saint Anselm College as well as a Senior Faculty Fellow in the Center for Communicating Science at Virginia Tech.

Recent Directing Projects

Angels in America
The Tempestuous and Tessellated Tens
Summer Youth Theatre
Addison & the Black Hole

Recent Dramaturgy Projects

Conference of the Birds
on display
[De/As]cending

Training

Arizona State University – Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts        2014-2017
  • MFA in Performance Candidate – School of Film, Dance and Theatre (Special Talent Award)
 
McCarter Theatre                                Directing/Producing Assistant               2011-2012
  • Assistant director to John Doyle, Emily Mann, and Sam Buntrock
  • Produced readings of new plays by Nilo Cruz, Julia Cho, and Loring Mandel
 
Washington University in St. Louis                                                                        2007-2011
  • B.A. in Drama and Anthropology. Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa
  • John G. Jutkowitz Memorial Prize in Performing Arts – Top prize in Performing Arts Department
 
Workshops
  • Dance Exchange Summer Institute                                             July 2017
  • Moment Work – Tectonic Theatre Company                            August 2015
  • Suzuki & Viewpoints – SITI Company                                        June – July 2015
  • Shakespeare - Globe Theatre in London                                     July 2010

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  • Home
  • Director & Dramaturg
    • About
    • Angels in America
    • Summer Youth Theatre
    • The Tempestuous and Tessellated Tens
    • Addison & the Black Hole
    • Conference of the Birds
    • on display
    • [De/As]cending
    • Out of Many
  • Performer
    • About
    • An Iliad
    • Conqueror of the Western Marches
    • Macbeth
    • Out of Many
    • Lobster Boy
  • Instructor & Teaching Artist
  • Science Communicator
  • Contact & CV