Name:
Corey Atkins
Year Graduated:
2007
Degree:
M.F.A. in Directing
Favorite Memory of T&D:
Happy Hour at Sao Paulo's with wonderful and talented friends/peers. Both New Works Fests–directing in 2005, and as Assistant to the Producers in 2007. The wonderful leap of faith that was working in new ways with a diligent cast and design team on Kendall Lynch's Aisle 7.
Influential Professors or Classes:
I'm forever indebted to Scott Kanoff—he stepped in at a time of transition in the program and worked to ensure I got what I needed from my time at UT; a truly great mentor and friend. Also Suzan Zeder, Holly Williams, and Mary Kay Lutringer, each of whom went to bat for me in their own ways. Andrea Beckham for her unflagging support and encouragement.
Current Hometown:
Moving to NYC in August, 2008, after a summer directing at the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, NY.
Current Profession:
Director. (Also research and editorial assistant to Dr. Coleman Jennings on his books Nine Plays by José Cruz GonzálezÑ: Magical Realism and Mature Themes in Theatre for Young Audiences and The Audience and Literature of Children's Theatre; freelance graphic design, translation, and also Teaching Artist.)
Biography:
Corey Atkins is a 2008 Drama League Summer Directing Fellow. He received his M.F.A. in Directing from the University of Texas at Austin, and was awarded the 2007 W.H. ‘Deacon’ Crane Award by the Austin Critics Table for his production of Naomi Wallace's Slaughter City.
As a Drama League Summer Fellow, he will direct three productions at the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, NY, between May and August of 2008. Other regional work includes Will Eno's Thom Pain (based on nothing) for fellow UT alum Jaime Castañeda's Dallas–Fort Worth based FireStarter Productions, where he is an associate artist. UT Austin productions include Naomi Wallace's Slaughter City (5 Austin Critics Table noms, including “Best Production,” “Best Direction,” and “Best Movement”), María Irene Fornés' The Conduct of Life; new play premieres by UT M.F.A. Playwrights, Aisle 7, by Kendall Lynch (Austin Critics Table nom, “Best Direction”) and Umbrella by L. Pontius. Collaborations include working with playwright Naomi Wallace, directing a reading of her new play, Between This Breath and You, and CalArts M.F.A. playwright Alana Macias on her thesis play, Silver Circus. Corey was also Assistant to the Producers for the 2007 University Co–op presents the Cohen New Works Festival, the nation's largest collegiate new works fest. Other Austin projects include directing for Austin Script Works, and working as assistant director and dramaturg on the world premiere of Steven Tomlinson's American Theatre Critics Association Osborne Award–winning American Fiesta (State Theatre).
As an assistant director, he has worked with Mark Rucker on A Midsummer Night's Dream and Leah C. Gardiner on Fences, both at Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Michael Bloom on David Lindsay–Abaire's Rabbit Hole at Cleveland Play House; and was a Directing and Dramaturgy intern at Portland Stage Company, where he assisted Artistic Director Anita Stewart on an original adaptation of A Christmas Carol, and Paul Mullins on Sam Shepherd's True West.
Corey is also a teaching artist, writer and translator, graphic designer, and dabbles in photography. He was raised in Idaho and Utah.
