About

Stephen F. Murray is a freelance-director. Chicago credits: Laer's Last Prayer (Illinois Arts Council Grant), The Legend of Sleepy HollowThe Fall of the House of Usher (City Lit Theater), Spring AwakeningOur Country's Good (Promethean Theatre Ensemble), 2nd Story (Serendipity Theatre Collective), Dramatic Twerp (Links Hall & Oracle Theatre), Mark Twain: Patriot, Philosopher, Teacher (St. Sebastian Players), and Cat & Dick (Speaking Ring Theatre – winner of the Critic’s Pick 2005 Vitality Festival). His work has been seen at the New York International Fringe Festival where he directed The Darling Children. Other companies he has worked with include 500 Clown, Oracle Theatre, and Bailiwick Repertory.

Currently he is a Literary Associate at Redtwist Theatre and is an affiliated member of The Side Project. He served as the Artistic Director of Promethean Theatre Ensemble from 2005-2009. Before Promethean, he was a member of Strawdog Theatre Company where he directed Brett Neveu's Radio Man for their Radio Series.

Mr. Murray holds a degree in Theatre from Northwestern University (where he studied with Mary Zimmerman, Paul Edwards, David Downs, and Craig Kinzer) and previous to that spent his summers studying at Interlochen Arts Camp.



Artistic Statement:

My work focuses on the idea that all myths and stories deal with common themes that help explain the experience of being human. Well-known stories are reconstructed with elements from other familiar stories to draw parallels between their common themes. The next step is to build a world out of the essential items required to tell the story and bring it to life. By juxtaposing all these elements, a new narrative is created. This new experience, combined with the immediacy of live performance, forces the audience to become engaged in the new version of the story that we are creating together.