Gordon Edelstein
{{short description|American theatre director|bot=PearBOT 5}}
Gordon Edelstein is an American theatre director. He was Artistic Director of the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut from 2002 until January 2018, when he was fired following allegations of sexual misconduct.{{cite news |last1=Paulson |first1=Michael |title=Catholic College Strips Honorary Degree From Disgraced Long Wharf Director |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/24/theater/catholic-college-strips-honorary-degree-from-disgraced-long-wharf-director.html |access-date=16 July 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=January 24, 2018}}
Biography
He received a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in History and Religious Studies from Grinnell College in 1976.{{Cite web |url=https://www.longwharf.org/artistic-director |title=Long Wharf Artistic Director |access-date=2014-10-28 |archive-date=2014-11-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108012640/https://www.longwharf.org/artistic-director |url-status=dead }} Prior to assuming artistic leadership of Long Wharf Theatre, Edelstein helmed Seattle’s ACT Theatre for five years.[http://cityarts.info/2012/12/10/gordon-edelstein-the-actors-director/ Gordon Edelstein The Actor's Director] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429192717/http://cityarts.info/2012/12/10/gordon-edelstein-the-actors-director/ |date=2014-04-29 }}
Directing Credits
- At the ACT, they "include the American premiere of Martin McDonagh's A Skull in Connemara (later presented off-Broadway by the Roundabout Theatre Company), the world premiere of Lisette Lecat Ross's Scent of the Roses with Julie Harris, and the world premiere adaptation of God of Vengeance by Donald Margulies. His inaugural ACT production of Death of a Salesman was named "One of the Best Dramas of 1998" by the Seattle Times."[http://www.longwharf.org/about_staff1.html Long Wharf Theatre] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060819103303/http://www.longwharf.org/about_staff1.html |date=August 19, 2006 }}
- At Long Wharf, they include the world premieres of Michael Henry Brown's The Day the Bronx Died, Joyce Carol Oates's How Do You Like Your Meat?, David Wiltse's A Dance Lesson, and the Joe Kennan/Brad Ross musical The Times; plus Joe Sutton's Voir Dire and Eugene O'Neill's Anna Christie. His productions of Christopher Hampton's The Philanthropist and David Ives' All in the Timing both received awards from the Connecticut Critics Circle.{{Cite web |url=https://www.longwharf.org/artistic-director |title=Artistic Director |access-date=2014-10-28 |archive-date=2014-11-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108012640/https://www.longwharf.org/artistic-director |url-status=dead }}
Awards
In 2008, he was awarded the Tom Killen Award by the Connecticut Critics Circle, their highest honor,[http://www.ctcritics.org/awards.html Awards] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002095912/http://ctcritics.org/awards.html |date=2016-10-02 }} because of "his contributions to theater arts in the state. Edelstein has directed more than 100 plays, musicals and operas across the U.S. and Europe."{{cite web|url=http://www.conntact.com/more_PEOPLE_page.lasso?id=35359 |access-date=January 4, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Grinnell College in 2003.
Sexual harassment allegations
On January 22, 2018, Edelstein was put on administrative leave from the Long Wharf Theatre, pending review of allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct. Four women have come forward with complaints of his behavior, dating back to 2003.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/22/theater/gordon-edelstein-long-wharf-theater-sexual-misconduct.html|title=Edelstein accused of sexual harassment|date=January 22, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 22, 2018}}
He was fired on January 23, 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/legit/news/gordon-edelstein-fired-sexual-misconduct-1202674837/|title=Accused Director Fired From Connecticut Theater|last=Cox|first=Gordon|date=2018-01-24|work=Variety|access-date=2018-01-24|language=en-US}}
On January 24, 2018, Edelstein was stripped of an honorary degree that had been awarded to him by Albertus Magnus College, after he joked about having sex with the college's nuns. Patricia Twohill, the prioress of the Dominican Sisters of Peace described the joke as "salacious" and said the sisters are "deeply offended".
References
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Category:American theatre directors
Category:American theatre managers and producers
Category:George W. Hewlett High School alumni
Category:People from The Five Towns, New York
Category:People from Connecticut
Category:Grinnell College alumni
Category:American artistic directors