Geoffrey Edwards Bio

 

Geoffrey Edwards is an award-winning author and stage director.  Together with his father, Metropolitan Opera

baritone Ryan Edwards, he wrote the popularly and critically acclaimed book THE VERDI BARITONE: STUDIES IN

THE DEVELOPMENT OF DRAMATIC CHARACTER (Indiana University Press). 


The success of this volume led to a much-anticipated sequel, VERDI AND PUCCINI HEROINES: DRAMATIC CHARACTERIZATION IN GREAT SOPRANO ROLES (Scarecrow Press).  Other Edwards & Edwards publications range from A.K.A. DOC: THE ORAL HISTORY OF A NEW ORLEANS STREET MUSICIAN (released as a book-CD package by Cadence Jazz Books) to extensive articles on opera and drama.  In addition, Mr. Edwards’ poetry has appeared in several international anthologies, while his dramatic adaptations and translations have been given numerous professional stagings.


An active speaker, lecturer, and university educator,

Mr. Edwards received his PhD in Theatre and Drama from Northwestern University and has served on faculties both in the United States and Europe.

Mr. Edwards’ credits as a theatre director range from ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA to THE LITTLE FOXES, from MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL to CHARLEY’S AUNT, from CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF to ARSENIC AND OLD LACE.  He has also staged hit productions of THE MISANTHROPE, THE CHERRY ORCHARD, and BLITHE SPIRIT, along with musical favorites such as MAN OF LA MANCHA, OKLAHOMA!, THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, and DIE FLEDERMAUS.


As artistic director of the Marquee Theatre Company, Mr. Edwards led MTC to prominence as one of Chicago’s leading classical theatres.  STAGEBILL declared, “Marquee Theatre Company has earned a reputation for elegantly produced classic plays in an intimate setting.”  Mr. Edwards directed an array of lauded productions for MTC, from MARY STUART, LA DAME AUX CAMÉLIAS, and CYRANO DE BERGERAC to A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL, and THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST.  He also staged the blockbuster musicals SOUTH PACIFIC, THE KING AND I, CAMELOT, and A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM.


In addition to working with such leading American opera companies as Chicago Opera Theatre, Michigan Opera Theatre, and Piedmont Opera, Mr. Edwards has served as directorial consultant to Italy’s New Opera Festival di Roma and the International Opera Academy in Rome.  As resident stage director for the DuPage Opera Theatre, he staged highly praised productions of some twenty shows, including LA TRAVIATA, MADAMA BUTTERFLY, LE NOZZE DI FIGARO, IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA, and CARMEN.  Among Mr. Edwards’ other opera credits are popular pieces like TOSCA and DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE, touring productions like EL CAPITAN, children’s musicals like SID THE SERPENT WHO WANTED TO SING, and modern works like THE FACE ON THE BARROOM FLOOR.


The press has heralded Mr. Edwards as a “visionary stage director,” and his work has been cited for excellence by both the Chicago TRIBUNE and SUN-TIMES.  Reviewers have greeted his productions with superlatives, applauding his “sophisticated staging” and calling his “marvelous opera presentations” a “feast for the eyes.”