Darko Tresnjak () is a director of plays, musicals, and opera, and winner of several awards, including the Tony Award. He was the artistic director of the Hartford Stage in Connecticut, United States.

Early life and education Tresnjak is of Serbian heritage. Tresnjak and his mother moved from Zemun, Yugoslavia (modern-day Serbia) to Maryland in 1976.

He graduated from Swarthmore College, became a US citizen, and received a master of fine arts degree from Columbia University.Shirley, Don. "He prefers it rare" Los Angeles Times, July 29, 2004

Career Around 2000 he wrote Princess Turandot, inspired by Carlo Gozzi's play written in 1762 (upon which Puccini's opera Turandot was based). Tresnjak's play was performed by the Blue Light Theater Company in New York City in December 2000.

He served as resident artistic director at Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California, in 2009,BWW News Desk. "Old Globe’s 2009 Summer Festival" BroadwayWorld.com and directed for eight summers at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts.

He was the artistic director at Hartford Stage in Hartford, Connecticut"Darko Tresnjak" Playbill from the 2011–2012 season through the 2018–2019 season,Gates, Anita. "Darko Tresnjak Takes Over at Hartford Stage" The New York Times, September 18, 2011 where he commissioned The Man in the Case with Mikhail BaryshnikovRizzo, Frank. "Misha, 'Man In A Case,' At Hartford Stage" Hartford Courant and directed Kevin Bacon in Rear Window.Rizzo, Frank. "Kevin Bacon to Star in ‘Rear Window’ at Hartford Stage" Hartford Courant He left the Hartford Stage for freelance work in June 2019,Arnott, Christopher. "Darko Tresnjak says goodbye to Hartford Stage with the new musical 'Flamingo Kid'" Hartford Courant, May 9, 2019 and was succeeded by Melia Bensussen.

He directed two productions on Broadway: A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder in 2013 and Anastasia in 2017."Reviews" The New York Times, 2013"Awards" ibdb.com, retrieved May 19, 2019

He directed the Theatre for a New Audience production of Eugène Ionesco's The Killer in 2014 at the Polonsky Shakespeare Center, New York City."Theatre for a New Audience's THE KILLER, Starring Michael Shannon, Begins Tonight" broadwayworld.com, May 16, 2014

Awards

2014: Tony Award for Direction of a Musical; and the Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Director of a Musical, for A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder.Rizzo, Frank. "Tony Wins for Hartford Stage Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak And 'A Gentleman's Guide To Love and Murder'" Hartford Courant, June 9, 2014Cox, Gordon."Drama Desk Toasts Broadway’s ‘Gentleman’s Guide’ at 2014 Awards" Variety.com 2015: Obie Award for direction of The Killer.Winners in 2015 obieawrds.com, 2015HAMILTON, Darko Tresnjak, Ayad Akhtar & More Win 2015 Obie Awards - Full List!" BroadwayWorld.com

Productions Hartford Stage productions Tresnjak's productions at Hartford Stage have included: Heartbreak HouseArnott, Christopher. The Heartbreak House Hartford Courant, 2017 The Comedy of ErrorsHarrison, Joseph. "Review. The Comedy of Errors" Broadway World, 2017 Anastasia (which transferred to the Broadhurst Theatre on Broadway) Romeo and JulietFillo, Maryellen. "'Romeo and Juliet'" Connecticut Mag Rear WindowRizzo, Frank. "Kevin Bacon to Star in ‘Rear Window’ at Hartford Stage" Hartford Courant Kiss Me, KateMcNulty, Charles. " 'Kiss Me Kate' Review" Los Angeles Times Private LivesGates, Anita. "Review. 'Private Lives'" The New York Times, 2015 HamletRizzo, Frank. "Review. Hamlet'" Hartford Courant, 2014 MacbethRizzo, Frank. "Review. Macbeth" Hartford Courant, 2013 La DisputeGold, Sylviane. "Review. La Dispute" The New York Times, 2013 Twelfth NightGold, Sylviane. "Review. Twelfth Night" The New York Times Breath and ImaginationGold, Sylviane. "Review. Breath and Imagination" The New York Times, 2013 A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (which transferred to the Walter Kerr Theatre on Broadway)Isherwood, Charles. "Reviews" The New York Times, 2012 The TempestGold, Sylviane. The New York Times Bell, Book and CandleRizzo, Frank. "Behind the Curtain" Hartford Courant, 2012

Other theater and opera Samson et Dalila for The Metropolitan Opera (2018)Davidson, Justin. "Opera Review: The Met Brings Back 'Samson et Dalila', With Just Enough Fromage" Vulture, September 25, 2018 Macbeth for Los Angeles Opera (2016)Swed, Mark. "Plácido Domingo's sound and fury in L.A. Opera's 'Macbeth' Los Angeles Times, September 18, 2016 The Ghosts of Versailles for Los Angeles Opera (2015)Martinez, Matthew. " 'The Ghosts of Versailles' a triumph at LA Opera" Bachtrack, February 9, 2015 The Killer for Theatre for a New Audience, New York City (2014)Green, Jesse. "Review" Vulture, 2014 Der Zwerg for Los Angeles Opera (2011)Der zerbrochene Krug / Der Zwerg Opera Today, February 21, 2011 Der Zerbrochene Krug for Los Angeles Opera (2008)Mermelstein, David. "New Life for Works Hitler Tried to Kill" The New York Times, February 10, 2008 City of Angels for Goodspeed Musicals (2011)Jones, Kenneth. "Goodspeed's 'City of Angels' Will Star D.B. Bonds, Burke Moses, Laurie Wells, Nancy Anderson" Playbill, August 17, 2011 Titus Andronicus for Stratford Shakespeare Festival (2011)Nestruck, J. Kelly. "Stratford’s 'Titus Andronicus' is electrical" The Globe and Mail, July 15, 2011 The Merchant of Venice for Theatre for a New Audience and Complete Works (RSC festival)Billington, Michael. The Guardian Amadeus for Pasadena Playhouse (2026)

References

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