McAnuff is a two-time Tony Award-winning director and former Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival. Broadway: Summer, Doctor Zhivago, Jesus Christ Superstar, Guys and Dolls, Aaron Sorkin’s The Farnsworth Invention, Jersey Boys (Tony and Olivier Awards for Best Musical), Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays (Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event), Dracula, the Musical, How to Succeed..., The Who’s Tommy (Tony and Olivier Awards for Best Director), A Walk in the Woods, Big River (Tony Awards for Best Director, Best Musical).
McAnuff is also Director Emeritus of La Jolla Playhouse, where during his tenure as Artistic Director, he staged more than 35 productions of classics, new plays, and musicals. Under his leadership, the Playhouse received the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater.
Raised in Canada, he was a part of the Toronto alternative theatre scene in the 70s. While at Stratford, he directed multiple productions including A Word or Two, The Tempest, and Caesar and Cleopatra (all starring Christopher Plummer), Tommy, Jesus Christ Superstar, Twelfth Night (starring Brian Dennehy), ...Forum, As You Like It, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet.
In 2006, he received the prestigious Julia Hansen Award for Excellence in Directing and in 2011, he was honoured with a doctorate from Ryerson University where he attended the Theatre School. In 2012, he was awarded Canada’s esteemed Governor General’s National Arts Center Award and the Order of Canada.
Des McAnuff, The Who’s Tommy
Des McAnuff, Ain't Too Proud: The Life and times of the Temptations
Des McAnuff, Jersey Boys
Des McAnuff
Des McAnuff, Jersey Boys
Des McAnuff, Jersey Boys
Des McAnuff, Tommy
Des McAnuff, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Des McAnuff -, The Who's Tommy
Des McAnuff, The Who's Tommy
Des McAnuff, The Who's Tommy
Des McAnuff, Big River
Des McAnuff, Death of Von Richtofen Witnessed from Earth
Des McAnuff, Death of Von Richtofen Witnessed from Earth
Des McAnuff has written 4 shows including Tommy (Bookwriter), How It All Began (Adaptation), The Death of Von Richtofen as Witnessed From Earth (Bookwriter), Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (Bookwriter).
Des McAnuff has been nominated for several prestigious awards throughout his career as a director, including Outstanding Direction of a Musical at the Drama League Awards for "The Who’s Tommy," Best Direction of a Musical at the Tony Awards for "Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations," and Best Director at the Olivier Awards for "Jersey Boys." He has also received the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing at the Drama League Awards, Outstanding Director of a Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "Jersey Boys," and Best Direction of a Musical at the Tony Awards for both "Jersey Boys" and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." McAnuff's nominations also include Best Director - Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "The Who's Tommy," Best Book of a Musical at the Tony Awards for "The Who's Tommy," and Best Direction of a Musical at the Tony Awards for "The Who's Tommy" and "Big River." Additionally, he received nominations for Outstanding Lyrics and Outstanding Music at the Drama Desk Awards for "Death of Von Richtofen Witnessed from Earth."
Des McAnuff has won the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing at the Drama League Awards, Best Director at the Olivier Awards for Tommy, Best Director - Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for The Who's Tommy, and Best Direction of a Musical at the Tony Awards for The Who's Tommy.
Videos