UPCOMING & ONGOING PROJECTS
Amanda is currently the Associate Director of a new musical, Paperboy. Based on the novel by Vince Vawter, Paperboy tells the story of a young boy who works to overcome his stutter during one adventurous summer in 1959 Memphis. Amanda has been helping develop this piece over the last three years with bookwriters Emily Loesser Stephenson, Don Stephenson (Director), and composer/lyricists Jim Wann and David Shenton. It will be presented March 24th, 25th and 26th at Manhattan School of Music.
JUST RECENTLY
After directing an incredibly successful performance of Sell Me, a one-woman show written and performed by Sora Baek, for the International Human Rights Festival at the Wild Project in December, the Sell Me team was invited to remount the production at the Jersey City Theatre Center in February. Sell Me tells the story of a 17 year old North Korean defector who risks everything in hopes of finding a better life.
Check out the Voice of America interview:
https://www.voakorea.com/korea/korea-social-issues/snapshotd-humanright
North Korean defector Song Byeok came to the show, and was overwhelmed by the authenticity and passion with which the story was told. Activist Hyun S. Song is working on bringing the production to Washington, DC to raise awareness about North Korean defection.
In December 2019, Amanda directing a reading of Drown by David Hilder, as part of UP Theatre Company's Dead of Winter reading series.
In October, Amanda directed a staged reading of Kingdom of the Spirits by JZ Holden as part of the John Drew Theatre Lab Series at the John Drew Theatre at Guild Hall.
In August, Amanda was the Assistant Director and Stage Manager for a reading of the Jules Feiffer play, A Bad Friend. Harris Yulin directed the reading at Guild Hall as part of their 90th Birthday Celebration for Jules Feiffer. An all-star cast included Mercedes Ruehl, F. Murray Abraham, and Harris himself!
Last June Amanda directed The Violin-Maker, a new musical with music and lyrics by Steven Dickman, book by Patricia Noonan, as part of the John Drew Theatre Lab Series at the John Drew Theatre at Guild Hall, in East Hampton. A six month development process culminated in a week-long workshop and a very successful, substantially staged reading.
Amanda also continues to step in for Jaimie Van Dyke as Hasan Minhaj's Stage Manager at The Fat Black Pussycat Comedy Club, as he workshops new material for his award-winning Netflix show, "Patriot Act".