Jo Bonney is an Australian-American theater director who has worked Off-Broadway, regionally and internationally, primarily focused on the development of new plays.
Early life and education Bonney was born in Australia, the daughter of a Qantas airline pilot and a former-journalist. She attended Sydney University before transferring to Sydney College of the Arts (Grad. Fine Arts) and worked at The Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Marriage and children Bonney married Eric Bogosian in 1980 with whom she has two sons, Harry and Travis Bogosian.
Career Bonney moved to New York City in 1979. In the early 1980s, she co-directed two short films with Ruth Peyser, 'Another Great Day' (shown nationally on PBS) and 'Random Positions'. Bonney began her work in theater directing the solo work of her husband, Eric Bogosian. She cites The Public Theater founder, Joseph Papp as providing the support she needed to "define [herself] as a director." She has directed the premiere productions of over thirty plays – notably work by Bogosian, Lynn Nottage, Danny Hoch, Suzan-Lori Parks, Martina Majok, Neil LaBute, Naomi Wallace and José Rivera. Bonney edited Extreme Exposure: An Anthology of Solo Performance Texts from the Twentieth Century (published in 2000 by TCG).
Awards and nominations Awards and nominations Bonney has received include: 2023 Tony Award nomination, Best Direction of a Play, Cost of Living 2019 Obie Award, Sustained Excellence of Direction 2018 Lucille Lortel, Outstanding Director Nomination, Mlima's Tale 2018 Outer Critics Circle, Outstanding Director nomination, Cost of Living 2018 Legends of Off-Broadway 2014 Joseph Callaway Award (SDC) 2013 Audelco Award, Father Comes Home from the Wars: Parts 1, 2 & 3 2011 Drama Desk, Best Director nomination, By the Way, Meet Vera Stark 2011 Lucille Lortel, Best Director nomination, By the Way, Meet Vera Stark 2011 Lilly Award (Directing) 2003 Lucille Lortel, Outstanding Director Best Revival, Fifth of July 1998 Obie Award, Sustained Excellence of Direction
Work +YearPlayPlaywrightTheater1983funHouseEric BogosianActor's Playhouse1990Sex, Drugs, Rock & RollEric BogosianOrpheum Theatre1994Some PeopleDanny HochThe Public Theater1994Pounding Nails in the Floor with My ForeheadEric BogosianMinetta Lane Theatre1995subUrbiaEric BogosianStudio Theater (DC)1997The Flatted FifthSeth Zvi RosenfeldINTAR Theatre1998Stray CatsWarren LeightNaked Angels1998Stop KissDiana SonThe Public Theater1998Jails, Hospitals & Hip HopDanny HochPS 122, US & International Tour1999Look Back in AngerJohn OsborneCSC Theatre2000Wake Up and Smell the CoffeeEric BogosianJane Street Theatre2000House Arrest * Directorial ConsultantAnna Deavere SmithThe Public Theater2001Good ThingJessica GoldbergThe New Group2001SlanguageUniversesNY Theatre Workshop2001References to Salvador Dali Make Me HotJosé RiveraThe Public Theater2002Adoration of the Old WomanJosé RiveraLa Jolla Playhouse2002Humpty DumptyEric BogosianMcCarter Theatre Center2003Living OutLisa LoomerSecond Stage Theater2003Fifth of JulyLanford WilsonSignature Theater2004Fat PigNeil LaButeMCC2004Anna in the TropicsNilo CruzArena Stage2005A Soldier's PlayCharles FullerSecond Stage Theater2005On the MountainChristopher ShimmPlaywrights Horizons2005Top GirlsCaryl ChurchillWilliamstown Theatre Festival2006subUrbiaEric BogosianSecond Stage Theater2006Some Girl(s)Neil LaButeMCC2006The SevenWill PowerNY Theatre Workshop2007All That I Will Ever BeAlan BallNY Theatre Workshop2008BeastMichael WellerNY Theatre Workshop2010–2011The Break of NoonNeil LaButeMCC, Geffen Playhouse2012Emotional CreatureEve EnslerMarket Theater (Johannesburg), Cine 13 (Paris), Berkeley Rep, Signature Theatre2012An Early History of FireDavid RabeThe New Group2013Small Engine RepairJohn PollonoMCC2013The Mound BuildersLanford WilsonSignature Theatre2014–2016Father Comes Home from the War (Parts 1, 2, and 3)Suzan-Lori ParksThe Public Theater, London Royal Court, ART, CTG2015Lost GirlsJohn PollonoMCC2015KinshipCarey PerloffWilliamstown Theatre Festival2016The Body of an AmericanDan O'BrienPrimary Stages2017The Red Letter Plays: F-ing ASuzan-Lori ParksSignature Theatre2017Cost of LivingMartyna MajokManhattan Theater Club2018Eve's SongIone Patricia LloydThe Public Theater2018Mlima's TaleLynn NottageThe Public Theater2018An Ordinary MuslimHammaad ChaudryNY Theatre Workshop2018The Untranslatable Secrets of Nikki CoronaJosé RiveraGeffen Playhouse2019The Way She SpokeIsaac GomezAudible Theater202072 Miles to GoHilary BettisRoundabout Theatre Company2023Sabbath's TheaterJohn Turturro and Ariel LevyPershing Square Signature Center
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