Sam Buntrock
Encyclopedia
Sam Buntrock is an English stage director.
Buntrock studied Drama at University of Bristol
.
Buntrock directed the first West End
revival of the musical Sunday In The Park With George
. The production ran at the Menier Chocolate Factory
in London, England from 18 November 2005 - 12 March 2006, before transferring to the West End's Wyndham's Theatre
, running 23 May 2006 - 2 September 2006. Buntrock received critical acclaim, and an Olivier Award nomination for this production.
He made his Broadway
debut directing the first revival of the show, for which he received Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations. The production ran at Studio 54
, from 21 February - 29 June 2008. The production made its west coast debut in 2009 at 5th Avenue Theatre
in Seattle, Washington.
Other directing credits include Daniel Goldfarb's "Cradle and All" (Off-Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club
), Lenny Henry
's "Cradle to Grave" (UK tour), Take Flight
at the Menier Chocolate Factory
and McCarter Theater, Marcus Brigstocke
's "God Collar" (Edinburgh, UK Tour and West End), the current European tour of The Rocky Horror Show
, the first London revival of Assassins and Marcus Brigstocke's one-man shows Get a Life and Help Yourself (both in Edinburgh and UK tour). As resident assistant director at the Donmar Warehouse
, he worked on productions of Juno and the Paycock
, Three Days of Rain
, Helpless and The Real Thing
(which subsequently transferred to the West End and Broadway.)
As part of the British comedy team Club Seals, Buntrock created the animation for "The Award-Winning Show," "Live Ghost Hunt," "DJ Danny," "Sins of the Grandfathers," "The Museum of Everything" and "We Are History" for BBC2. He has worked as an animation director on numerous commercial and corporate projects, most recently the film Stuart, A Life Backwards for Neal Street Productions, HBO and the BBC
.
Upcoming projects include the world premiere of Rob Handel's "A Maze" (New York Stage and Film's Powerhouse Theater season) , Much Ado About Nothing
at Two River Theater
, Tom Stoppard
's Travesties
and the world premiere of John Guare
's "Are You There, McPhee?" both at McCarter Theater.
Buntrock studied Drama at University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
.
Buntrock directed the first West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
revival of the musical Sunday In The Park With George
Sunday in the Park with George
Sunday in the Park with George is a 1984 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. The musical was inspired by the painting "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" by Georges Seurat...
. The production ran at the Menier Chocolate Factory
Menier Chocolate Factory
The Menier Chocolate Factory is an award-winning 180 seat fringe studio theatre, restaurant and gallery. It is located in a former 1870s Menier Chocolate Company factory in Southwark Street, a major street in the London Borough of Southwark, central south London, England. The theatre stages plays...
in London, England from 18 November 2005 - 12 March 2006, before transferring to the West End's Wyndham's Theatre
Wyndham's Theatre
Wyndham's Theatre is a West End theatre, one of two opened by the actor/manager Charles Wyndham . Located on Charing Cross Road, in the City of Westminster, it was designed by W.G.R. Sprague about 1898, the architect of six other London theatres between then and 1916...
, running 23 May 2006 - 2 September 2006. Buntrock received critical acclaim, and an Olivier Award nomination for this production.
He made his Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
debut directing the first revival of the show, for which he received Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations. The production ran at Studio 54
Studio 54
Studio 54 was a highly popular discotheque from 1977 until 1991, located at 254 West 54th Street in Manhattan, New York, USA. It was originally the Gallo Opera House, opening in 1927, after which it changed names several times, eventually becoming a CBS radio and television studio. In 1977 it...
, from 21 February - 29 June 2008. The production made its west coast debut in 2009 at 5th Avenue Theatre
5th Avenue Theatre
The 5th Avenue Theatre is a landmark theater building located in Seattle, Washington, USA. It has hosted a variety of theatre productions and motion pictures since it opened in 1926. The building and land is owned by the University of Washington and was once part of the original campus...
in Seattle, Washington.
Other directing credits include Daniel Goldfarb's "Cradle and All" (Off-Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club
Manhattan Theatre Club
Manhattan Theatre Club is a theater company located in New York City. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Producer Barry Grove, Manhattan Theatre Club has grown since its founding in 1970 from an Off-Off Broadway showcase into one of the country’s most acclaimed...
), Lenny Henry
Lenny Henry
Lenworth George "Lenny" Henry, is a British actor, writer, comedian and occasional television presenter.- Early life :...
's "Cradle to Grave" (UK tour), Take Flight
Take Flight
Take Flight is the debut album of Sylvester Sim. It was released on April 8, 2005. It was certified Platinum on August 2005.-Track listing:...
at the Menier Chocolate Factory
Menier Chocolate Factory
The Menier Chocolate Factory is an award-winning 180 seat fringe studio theatre, restaurant and gallery. It is located in a former 1870s Menier Chocolate Company factory in Southwark Street, a major street in the London Borough of Southwark, central south London, England. The theatre stages plays...
and McCarter Theater, Marcus Brigstocke
Marcus Brigstocke
Marcus Alexander Brigstocke is an English comedian, actor and satirist who has worked extensively in stand-up comedy, television, radio and in 2010-2011 musical theatre. He is particularly associated with the 6.30pm comedy slot on BBC Radio 4, having frequently appeared on several of its shows...
's "God Collar" (Edinburgh, UK Tour and West End), the current European tour of The Rocky Horror Show
The Rocky Horror Show
The Rocky Horror Show is a long-running British horror comedy stage musical, which opened in London on 19 June 1973. It was written by Richard O'Brien, produced and directed by Jim Sharman. It came eighth in a BBC Radio 2 listener poll of the "Nation's Number One Essential Musicals"...
, the first London revival of Assassins and Marcus Brigstocke's one-man shows Get a Life and Help Yourself (both in Edinburgh and UK tour). As resident assistant director at the Donmar Warehouse
Donmar Warehouse
Donmar Warehouse is a small not-for-profit theatre in the Covent Garden area of London, with a capacity of 251.-About:Under the artistic leadership of Michael Grandage, the theatre has presented some of London’s most memorable award-winning theatrical experiences, as well as garnered critical...
, he worked on productions of Juno and the Paycock
Juno and the Paycock
Juno and the Paycock is a play by Sean O'Casey, and one of the most highly regarded and oft-performed plays in Ireland. It was first staged at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in 1924...
, Three Days of Rain
Three Days of Rain
Three Days of Rain is a play by Richard Greenberg that was commissioned and produced by South Coast Repertory in 1997. The title comes from a line from W. S. Merwin's poem, "For the Anniversary of My Death"...
, Helpless and The Real Thing
The Real Thing (play)
The Real Thing is a play by Tom Stoppard, first performed in 1982. It examines the nature of honesty, and its use of a play within a play is one of many levels on which the author teases the audience with the difference between semblance and reality....
(which subsequently transferred to the West End and Broadway.)
As part of the British comedy team Club Seals, Buntrock created the animation for "The Award-Winning Show," "Live Ghost Hunt," "DJ Danny," "Sins of the Grandfathers," "The Museum of Everything" and "We Are History" for BBC2. He has worked as an animation director on numerous commercial and corporate projects, most recently the film Stuart, A Life Backwards for Neal Street Productions, HBO and the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
Upcoming projects include the world premiere of Rob Handel's "A Maze" (New York Stage and Film's Powerhouse Theater season) , Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy written by William Shakespeare about two pairs of lovers, Benedick and Beatrice, and Claudio and Hero....
at Two River Theater
Two River Theater
Two River Theater Company is a professional, not-for-profit theater, regional theater company providing plays and educational programs for audiences of central New Jersey and beyond. It houses two theaters: a 350-seat main stage theater, and a 99-seat black box...
, Tom Stoppard
Tom Stoppard
Sir Tom Stoppard OM, CBE, FRSL is a British playwright, knighted in 1997. He has written prolifically for TV, radio, film and stage, finding prominence with plays such as Arcadia, The Coast of Utopia, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, Professional Foul, The Real Thing, and Rosencrantz and...
's Travesties
Travesties
Travesties is a play by Tom Stoppard.The play centres on the figure of Henry Carr, an elderly man who reminisces about Zürich in 1917 during the First World War, and his interactions with James Joyce when he was writing Ulysses, Tristan Tzara during the rise of Dada, and Lenin leading up to the...
and the world premiere of John Guare
John Guare
John Guare is an American playwright. He is best known as the author of The House of Blue Leaves, Six Degrees of Separation, and Landscape of the Body...
's "Are You There, McPhee?" both at McCarter Theater.