Stephen Moorer

Moorer was born in Santa Monica, California. When he was 11 years old, his family moved to the Monterey Peninsula. His mother, a community theatre actress acted in amateur performances in the San Fernando Valley, and Moorer began first performing in community theatre. His first principal role was Miles in The Innocents (based on The Turn of the Screw), with a local community theater group. Moorer attended the Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, middle and high schools, becoming involved in the drama program, acting in and producing shows. From the age of 11 to 17, Moorer also studied theatre at Carmel's Children's Experimental Theatre.

After graduating from high school in 1979, Moorer appeared in a three-show repertory season at Hartnell Summer Theatre (which was later called the Western Stage). He returned to the Children's Experimental Theatre in 1980 for a paid internship. In 1982, he trained in a 16-week summer season at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.

At the Forest Theater, for the Carmel Shake-speare Festival, he played Richmond in Richard III (1993), the title role in Coriolanus (1997), and Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2000). In 2002, he returned to PacRep, where he revisited the title role in The Elephant Man (2002, opposite Barbara Babcock). Of this performance, one reviewer wrote, "Moorer reprises his 1988 role ... with skill and dignity. Working with no makeup or prosthesis to simulate Merrick's appearance, Moorer twists his face into a grotesque mask from which a high-pitched, rasping, wheezing voice emerges. From a physical aspect alone, Moorer's performance is skilled and noteworthy. Moorer also delivers a well-executed emotional performance that highlights Merrick's artistic sensitivity and droll sense of humor."Thurman, Chuck. [http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/archives/2002/2002-Jun-13/7857/1/ "The Elephant Man reveals what society struggles to conceal"],{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Monterey County Weekly, June 13, 2002. Retrieved July 20, 2009. He next played Jason in Medea (2003){{cite web|last=Thurman |first=Chuck |url=http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/archives/2003/2003-Feb-27/8788/1/@@index |title=Jeffers' Medea |work=Monterey County Weekly |date=2003-02-27 |accessdate=2009-07-20}} (directed by Joseph Chaikin).McKevitt, Karen. [http://www.theatrebayarea.org/mag/article.jsp;jsessionid=0B5890161F9A6F568955732F000DC086?thispage=archives.jsp&id=99&hi=1 "Joseph Chaikin Directs Medea at Pacific Repertory Theatre"], {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013172021/http://www.theatrebayarea.org/mag/article.jsp |date=2008-10-13 }} Theatre Bay Area, 2003. Retrieved July 20, 2009. Moorer performed as Ned in Elizabeth Rex and Edward de Vere in The Beard of Avon (2005).Masters, Ryan. [http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/archives/2006/2006-Sep-07/Article.cover_story_3/3 "Community theater is about community, but it still has its stars"], {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20070628153120/http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/archives/2006/2006-Sep-07/Article.cover_story_3/3 |date=2007-06-28 }} Monterey County Weekly, September 7, 2006, page 3. Retrieved July 20, 2009.Masters, Ryan. [http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/archives/2005/2005-Sep-22/Article.theater_review/1/ "Beard dramatizes dispute over the dramatist’s identity"], {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20070628153120/http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/archives/2005/2005-Sep-22/Article.theater_review/1/ |date=2007-06-28 }} Monterey County Weekly, September 22, 2005. Retrieved July 20, 2009.

In 2012, he appeared as Marc Antony in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, in 2014, he portrayed Pontius Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar, and in 2017 he played the title role in Cyrano at the Forest Theater.[https://www.montereyherald.com/2017/10/04/pacreps-stephen-moorer-gives-his-all-in-new-production-of-cyrano Shuler, Barbara. Monterey Herald, Oct 4, 2017]

Moorer has directed over a hundred productions, including his Shakespeare "Royal Blood" series.Connema, Richard. [http://216.92.38.150/regional/sanfran/s518.html "The Pacific Repertory Theatre Royal Blood Series continues with Henry VI, Part 3 and Richard III], TalkinBroadway.com. Retrieved July 20, 2009; and "Showy Henry IV; is Shakespeare in a blender", Monterey County Herald, August 22, 2002, p. GO11, Retrieved July 22, 2009{{Cite web |last=Thurman |first=Chuck |date=2003-08-28 |title=Pac Rep's Henry VI, parts 1 and 2, has swordplay, adultery, and Joan of Arc – for starts. |url=https://www.montereycountynow.com/entertainment/art/pac-reps-henry-vi-parts-1-and-2-has-swordplay-adultery-and-joan-of-arc/article_ad4a6a87-a3a3-5449-bd24-d4b6553c73f1.html |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Monterey County NOW}}

Image:Buddy-cast-3_000.png, San Francisco, directed by Stephen Moorer]]

In 2003, Moorer produced and directed a production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story.{{cite web |url=http://www.theatrebayarea.org/programs/bacc2004.jsp;jsessionid=1610B7046F4A65EFB6BCAD32B801C11C?hi=1 |title=The Bay Area Critics Circle Awards 2004 |publisher=Theatre Bay Area |date= |access-date=2009-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929120439/http://www.theatrebayarea.org/programs/bacc2004.jsp%3Bjsessionid%3D1610B7046F4A65EFB6BCAD32B801C11C?hi=1 |archive-date=2008-09-29 |url-status=dead }}Richter, Judy. [http://www.aislesay.com/SF-BUDDY.html Review of Buddy], Aisle Say San Francisco. Retrieved July 20, 2009. This production, starring Travis Poelle, opened at the Golden Bough Playhouse in Carmel and moved to San Jose, playing at the San Jose Stage. The production was revived in 2004 at the Post St. Theatre in San Francisco, garnering positive reviews and Bay Area Critics' awards for Best Musical, Best Ensemble, and Best Actor in a Musical (Poelle).{{Cite web |url=http://www.theatrebayarea.org/programs/bacc2004.jsp;jsessionid=1610B7046F4A65EFB6BCAD32B801C11C?hi=1 |title=Information about the Bay Area Critics' awards |access-date=2009-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929120439/http://www.theatrebayarea.org/programs/bacc2004.jsp%3Bjsessionid%3D1610B7046F4A65EFB6BCAD32B801C11C?hi=1 |archive-date=2008-09-29 |url-status=dead }} Buddy Holly's widow, Maria Elena Holly, attended the show at each location, dancing onstage with the cast at curtain call.Clisby, Heather. [http://www.shoestring.org/mmi_revs/buddythebuddyh-hc-141339581.html "Special Report: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story"], Movie Magazine International, June 16, 2004. Retrieved July 20, 2009. The production returned to Carmel for several runs, most recently in 2008.[http://www.seemonterey.com/calendar?167%5Bcommand%5D=search&category=&eday=26&emonth=5&eyear=2008&keyword=&sday=28&smonth=9&syear=2008&x=1 2008 Events Calendar], Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau

In 2009, Moorer directed Laughter on the 23rd Floor for Pacific Repertory Theatre.Shuler, Barbara Rose. [http://www.montereyherald.com/gomagazine/ci_12686367 "Pacific Repertory Theatre stages a terrific version of Neil Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor"], Monterey County Herald, June 25, 2009

In 2018 and 2019: Fun Home at the Golden Bough and Beauty and the Beast at the Forest. Following the suspension of live performances due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Moorer reopened the Forest Theater in August 2021 by producing and directing a revival of Shrek the Musical.{{cite news |last1=Shuler |first1=Barbara Rose |title=Pac Rep marks 40th anniversary |url=https://www.montereyherald.com/2022/09/20/barbara-rose-shuler-pac-rep-celebrates-40th-anniversary/ |work=Monterey County Herald |publisher=Digital First Media |date=22 September 2022 |url-access=subscription}}

By 2006, he had produced over 350 shows. He founded GroveMont Theatre, now Pacific Repertory Theatre, in 1982, acting as Artistic Director, and based the company in the Monterey Playhouse."A Theater Opens in Carmel", San Jose Mercury News, July 6, 1994, p. 3E

In 1990, Moorer founded the Carmel Shakespeare Festival,"Monterey Peninsula Takes a Theatrical Step Forward", San Jose Mercury News, March 7, 1995, p. 1E[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-2608323_ITM "25th Annual Conference to be held in Carmel, California"], Shakespeare Oxford Newsletter, January 1, 2001 an annual summer festival presenting Shakespeare, musicals, children's plays and other classic works of English-language drama.Clarkson, pp. 28–29. Moorer also founded the Monterey Bay TheatreFest"Pac Rep's TheaterFest kicks off this weekend", Monterey County Herald, June 26, 2003, p. GO27 In 1993, Moorer spearheaded the campaign to save the Golden Bough Playhouse, and he has since directed its ongoing development and renovation.Lyons, Jessica. [http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/archives/2001/2001-Oct-25/7221/1/@@index "The Packard Foundation has made a mark on global philanthropy, nowhere more profoundly than in Monterey County"], Monterey County Weekly, October 25, 2001. Retrieved July 22, 2009.Thurman, Chuck. [http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/archives/2001/2001-Jul-12/6860/@@printerfriendly "The Pacific Repertory Theatre enters a new era with its star-studded production of The Cherry Orchard"],{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }} Monterey County Weekly, July 12, 2001

In 2008, the Board of Directors of Pacific Repertory Theatre named Moorer as executive director.Hurwitt, Robert. [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/24/PKB0V0L10.DTL "For Bay Area theater, change at the top"], San Francisco Chronicle, February 24, 2008 Between September 2021 and September 2022, 14 out of 20 board members of the Pacific Repertory Theatre resigned. Disagreements over construction work to renovate the Golden Bough Playhouse resulted in a board motion to terminate Moorer as executive director of PacRep, but a vote was never taken. After this motion, board members, speaking anonymously, told a reporter they had been threatened with lawsuits and that this had led to the mass resignation; Moorer denied making any threats.{{cite news |last=Popęda |first=Agata |date=October 27, 2022 |title=A rift over management at Carmel theater nonprofit PacRep leads to an exodus of board members. |url=https://www.montereycountynow.com/entertainment/art/a-rift-over-management-at-carmel-theater-nonprofit-pacrep-leads-to-an-exodus-of-board/article_75c8586c-557c-11ed-a62f-c7e6483feae5.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241113041342/https://www.montereycountynow.com/entertainment/art/a-rift-over-management-at-carmel-theater-nonprofit-pacrep-leads-to-an-exodus-of-board/article_75c8586c-557c-11ed-a62f-c7e6483feae5.html |archive-date=November 13, 2024 |work=Monterey County Weekly}} In 2024 the Golden Bough reopened.Shuler, Barbara Rose. [https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/a-comedy-to-welcome-back-golden-bough/ar-AA1qMMnA?ocid=BingNewsVerp "A comedy to welcome back Golden Bough"], Monterey Herald, September 18, 2024, via MSN

Moorer was the top topic editor advocating the alternative view known as the Oxfordian theory of Shakespeare authorship from 2006 to 2009 in the Wikipedia article "Shakespeare authorship question" (SAQ). After an arbitration proceeding initiated by a Stratfordian editor in 2010, Moorer was suspended from editing the SAQ entry and related matters for a year.{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Margo |date=July 28, 2011 |title= Wikipedia's Shakespeare Problem: Wikipedia is a little too sure we know who authored Hamlet |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/wikipedias-shakespeare-problem |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=IEEE Spectrum}}

{{Reflist}}

• "The Madness of Kings: A Small Company Takes on the Great Theatrical Tale of America's Last Royal Ruler", San Jose Mercury News, July 14, 1995, p. 39E
• Clarkson, Philip B. [https://books.google.com/books?id=KbZhdm1FvFQC&pg=PA28&lpg=PA28&dq=stephen+moorer&num=100&output=html "Carmel Shake-speare Festival"], Shakespeare Companies and Festivals: An International Guide, pp. 28–31 (Eds. Ron Engle, Felicia Hardison Londré and Daniel J. Watermeier). Greenwood Publishing Group, 1995 {{ISBN|0-313-27434-7}}

• [http://www.mctaweb.org/spotlight/02/Jan02_StephenMoorer/stephen.html Moorer Profile at The Monterey County Theatre Alliance, Part 1]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20040711155029/http://www.mctaweb.org/spotlight/02/Feb02_StephenMoorer/stephen.html Moorer Profile at The Monterey County Theatre Alliance, Part 2]
• [http://www.sfbaytimes.com/index.php?article_id=5707&sec=article Review of Buddy]
• [http://www.pacrep.org/ Pacific Repertory Theatre's official website]

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Category:American theatre managers and producers

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Category:Male actors from Santa Monica, California

Category:Living people

Category:1961 births

Category:20th-century American male actors

Category:21st-century American male actors