Nancy Robillard

Courses Taught:
PLAYS IN PROGRESS Mentor

I am passionate about working with writers and my directing career has focused on new plays. When the heart of the play touches me, I dive into the world of the play and its style. My directing projects range from plays that focus on social justice issues, to musicals to farce, and I happily move from one genre to another. I have worked with writers at all stages of their careers.

I am most drawn to plays that are highly theatrical, with rich, dense language, plays that need to be seen on stage, that would not make an obvious translation to film. My approach with writers starts with a deep analysis of the text, so that I enter the vision of the work. My role is to help you write the script you want to write. Every suggestion I make -- on strengthening intention, tightening a scene, or making a laugh land -- is based on the writer’s vision.  I have a deep respect for writers and honor the playwright/director relationship.

Interests: theatricality, stylized/poetic language, social issues, magic realism, comedy, musicals

NANCY ROBILLARD is a New York-based theatre director who has worked on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in regional theater, summer theatre and university productions.  Her world premieres have included Honor and the River by Anton Dudley, which was hailed by the New York Times as a "stunner", Rosemary and I by Leslie Avayzian and Slow Dance with a Hot Pickup by John Pielmeier and Matty Selman.

Her New York production work has been at the Culture Project, Vital Theatre, Directors Company, Red Fern Theatre Company, Algonquin Theatre, Theatre for the New City, and HERE. Robillard’s notable regional: Kennedy Center, Walnut Street Theatre, MetroStage, Northern Stage, Luna Stage, Gateway Playhouse, and Theater Masters national new play festival in Aspen. Robillard worked as a director and dramaturg in the Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts for over 15 years. She has an MFA in directing from Illinois State University (home of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater), and has taught acting and directing at several colleges. She is a member of SDC.

www.nancyrobillard.com