Gerald Thomas (theatre director)

Gerald Thomas
Born	Gerald Thomas Sievers July 1, 1954 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Occupation	Playwright, Opera and Theater Director

Gerald Thomas Sievers, best known as simply Gerald Thomas (born July 1, 1954, Rio de Janeiro^[1]) is a theatre and opera director and playwright who has spent his life in the United States, England, Brazil and Germany. After graduating as a reader of philosophy at the British Museum Reading Room, Thomas began his life in the theater at Ellen Stewart's La MaMa E.T.C. in New York City. During this period Thomas became an illustrator for the Op-Ed page of the New York Times while conducting workshops at La MaMa E.T.C. where he adapted and directed world premieres of Samuel Beckett's prose and dramatic pieces.

In the early 80s, Thomas began working with Beckett himself in Paris (after a lot of correspondence had been exchanged between them for almost two years), adapting new fiction by the author. Of these, the more notorious were All Strange Away and That Time starring the Living Theatre founder, Julian Beck in his only stage acting role outside of his own company.

In the mid-80s, Thomas became involved with German author Heiner Müller, directing his works in the US and Brazil, and began a long-term partnership with American composer Philip Glass.

In 1985 Thomas formed and established his Dry Opera Company, in São Paulo. It has performed in 15 countries up until 2008 (see list of works below).

In 2009 he wrote a manifesto declaring his "goodbye-to-theater" yet, in 2010, Thomas announced to Stage News that he was to set up his Dry Opera Company in London. Its first production, "Throats," written and directed by Thomas, began performances at the Pleasance Theater in Islington on Feb. 18, 2011.

Works

2014

• On April 10, 2014, Gerald Thomas premiered his "Entredentes" at SESC-Anchieta (São Paulo), featuring Ney Latorraca, Edi Botelho and Maria de Lima. According to Folha de S.Paulo, this marks the rebirth of GT as a great author and director. "Entredentes" features new music by Philip Glass and compositions by GT himself. In October of the same year, Entredentes opened at Teatro SESC Rio Ginastico, Rio de Janeiro.

2013

• Launched two books: "Scratching the Surface " (Arranhando a Superficie) - of drawings and paintings and "Citizen of the World" (Cidadão do Mundo) a biography published by Coleção Aplauso.

2012

• Toured "Gargolios 2.0" with the London Dry Opera Company to the Curitiba International Theater Festival and did a two week long workshop for professional theater people at Teatro Poeira, Rio de Janeiro.

2011

• Gargólios - written and directed by Gerald Thomas for the London Dry Opera Co., Daniella Visco - movement director, actors Angus Brown, Antonia Davies, Lucy Laing, Maria de Lima, Adam Napier, and Daniel Ben Zenou. Musical score by John Paul Jones & Gerald Thomas. Presented in association with and premiered July 9, 2011 at SESC Vila Mariana, São Paulo, Brazil in English with Portuguese supertitles.
• Throats - written and directed by Gerald Thomas for the London Dry Opera Co., Daniella Visco - movement director, actors Angus Brown, Antonia Davies, Kevin Golding, Lucy Laing, Maria de Lima, Adam Napier, and Daniel Ben Zenou. The musical score includes a special piano solo by John Paul Jones. Presented in association with the Pleasance Theater, Islington, London, UK.

2008

• Bait Man - written and directed by Gerald Thomas, with Marcelo Olinto of the Cia. dos Atores, lighting & stage design by Caetano Vilela, original music & sound design by Patrick Grant, sponsored by Petrobras and SESC Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• BlogNovela: "O Cão que Insultava as Mulheres, Kepler, The Dog!" - written and directed by Gerald Thomas, with: Fabiana Gugli, Pancho Capelletti, Duda Mamberti, Anna Americo, Luciana Froes, Simone Martins, Caca Manica. Lights: Caetano Vilela, Sound: Claudia Dorei, Production: Plato Productions (Dora Leão), Assistant Director: Ivan Andrade. Produced by SESC Unidade Av. Paulista and Videotaped by TV IG

2007

• Queen Liar (Rainha Mentira) - written and directed by Gerald Thomas - Brazil and Argentina
• Luartrovado (a funk opera adapted from Arnold Schoenberg's "Pierrot Lunaire") SESC Pinheiros June 2007
• Breve Interrupção performed at Satyrianas 2007, produced by Cia. de Teatro Os Satyros. Gerald Thomas ties up the critics Alberto Guzik and Sergio Coelho Video on YouTube

2006

• Earth in Trance (Terra em Trânsito) - written and directed by Gerald Thomas - São Paulo/Brazil and La MaMa E.T.C., NYC
• Asphalt over a Kiss (Asfaltaram o Beijo) - written and directed by Gerald Thomas - São Paulo/Brazil
• A Cube of Ice in Flames (Um Bloco de Gelo em Chamas) - written and directed by Gerald Thomas - São Paulo/Brazil
• Ashes in the Freezer (Brasas no Congelador) - written and directed by Gerald Thomas - São Paulo/Brazil

The above pieces comprise a tetralogy, produced by SESC - São Paulo with a sponsorship from Eletrobras

2005

• A Circus of Kidneys and Livers (Um Circo de Rins e Fígados) - written and directed by Gerald Thomas and starring Marco Nanini - Brazil and Argentina

2004

• Anchorpectoris - written and directed by Gerald Thomas - La MaMa E.T.C., NYC

2003

• Tristan und Isolde - opera staged by Gerald Thomas - Rio de Janeiro Opera House/Brazil - a new version, different from that of the Weimar production of 1996 which resulted in the "mooning case" after a very controversial opening.

2002

• Deus Ex-Machina - written and directed by Gerald Thomas - Brazil

2001

• Prince of Copacabana - written and directed by Gerald Thomas for Reinaldo Giannechini - Brazil

2000

• Nietzsche Contra Wagner (SESC - São Paulo) - written and directed by Gerald Thomas - Brazil
• Waiting for Beckett - written and directed by Gerald Thomas, written for Marilia Gabriela - Brazil
• Rave Party Tragedy - written and directed by Gerald Thomas - Brazil
• "Ventriloquist 2.0 (Rio de Janeiro version) opened at Espaço Sergio Porto.

1999

• Ventriloquist - written and directed by Gerald Thomas - Brazil (four years in repertoire)
• Raw War (by Karlheinz Stockhausen and Paulo Chagas) - opera staged by Gerald Thomas - Bonn Opera House/Germany

1998

• Moses und Aron (by Arnold Schoenberg) - opera staged by Gerald Thomas - Graz Opera/Austria

1997

• Lorca on a Truck: Le Chien Andaluz (produced by SESC - São Paulo) written and directed by Gerald Thomas - Brazil (toured 32 cities)
• Babylon (by Detlef Heusinger) - libretto and direction by Gerald Thomas (commissioned by the Deutsches National Theater Mannheim and the Schwetzingen Festival) /Germany
• Graal - a Portrait of a Faust as a Young Man (by Haroldo de Campos) - directed by Gerald Thomas - Brazil
• A Brief Interruption of the End (dance piece) - written and directed by Gerald Thomas - Brazil. Article by Haroldo de Campos
• A Brief Interruption of Hell - written and designed by Gerald Thomas
• A Hard Days' Night - written and directed by Gerald Thomas - Brazil

1996

• Chief Butterknife - written and directed by Gerald Thomas for the Danish Company Dr. Dante Aveny (they later became known as the Dogma 95 film movement)
• Nowhere Man - written and directed by Gerald Thomas - toured Brazil, Denmark and Croacia
• Tristan und Isolde (by Richard Wagner) - opera staged by Gerald Thomas - Deutsches National Theater Weimar/Germany

1995

• Don Juan (by Otavio Frias Filho) - directed by Gerald Thomas - Brazil
• Zaide (an unfinished opera by Mozart, completed by Luciano Berio) - opera directed by Gerald Thomas - opened at Maggio Musicale in Florence and toured eight European capitals
• Dr. Faust - an opera by Ferruccio Busoni, directed by Gerald Thomas - Graz Opera/Austria

1994

• Narcissus (by Beat Furrer) - a world premiere opera directed by Gerald Thomas - Graz Opera/Austria
• Unglauber (produced by SESC São Paulo) written and directed by Gerald Thomas - Brazil, Portugal and Copenhagen/Denmark
• Sorriso do Gato de Alice: Gal Costa's Show - conceived, written and directed by Gerald Thomas - Brazil and world tour 1995/96/97

1993

• Empire of Half Truths - written and directed by Gerald Thomas - Brazil, Portugal, Hamburg/Germany, Switzerland and Copenhagen/Denmark

1992

• Saints and Clowns - written and directed by Gerald Thomas - commissioned by Kampnagel's Fabrik Theatre (Hamburg) and Lausanne. It was performed back to back with The Flash and Crash Days

1991

• The Flash and Crash Days - written and directed by Gerald Thomas - toured 18 cities in Brazil, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Portugal, Italy and Lincoln Center/NY. It was televised by NDR 3 (German television)
• M.O.R.T.E. 2 - written and directed by Gerald Thomas - international tour included Zurich, Rome and Taormina Festival/Italy- written and directed by Gerald Thomas - international tour included Zurich, Rome and Taormina Festival/Italy

1990

• Warten auf Godot (Waiting for Godot) by Samuel Beckett - directed by Gerald Thomas - Cuvillies Thaeater - Munich State Theater/Germany
• The Said Eyes of Kalheinz Ohl written and directed by Gerald Thomas - commissioned by Pontedera and Volterra/Italy (Grotowsky's company)
• -M.O.R.T.E. (Obsessive and Redundant Movements for So Much Aesthetics) - written and directed by Gerald Thomas - Brazil
• Endgame (by Samuel Beckett) - directed by Gerald Thomas - Brazil
• Perseo and Andromeda (by Salvatore Sciarrino) - world premiere opera staged by Gerald Thomas - Stuttgart Opera House (dramaturg: Klaus Peter Kehr)

1989

• Mattogrosso (collaboration with Philip Glass) - libretto and direction by Gerald Thomas - toured Rio Opera House, São Paulo Opera House and Tokyo
• Sturmspiel - world premiere written and directed by Gerald Thomas - commissioned by the Munich State Theater (Cuvillies Theater)

1988

• Kafka Trilogy (A Process, Metamorphosis and Praga)- written and directed by Gerald Thomas - Brazil, La MaMa E.T.C., NYC and Wiener Festwochen /Vienna 1989 These pieces were broadcast by ORF (Austrian State TV) and parts of it on PBS. In the following years these pieces toured the world
• Carmen com Filtro 2.5 - written and directed by Gerald Thomas - Brazil, La MaMa/NY, Munich and Wiener Festwochen /Vienna 1989

1987

• The Flying Dutchman (by Richard Wagner) - opera staged by Gerald Thomas Rio de Janeiro Opera House/Brazil. It was broadcast live by TV Cultura in Brazil and Germany

1986

• Eletra Com Creta - written and directed by Gerald Thomas - staged at the Museum of Modern Art, Rio de Janeiro, and toured Brazil (this play establishes the birth of the Dry Opera Company)

1985

• Quartett (by Heiner Mueller) - directed by Gerald Thomas - Theater for the New City, NYC - with George Bartenieff and Crystal Field
• Quartett - Brazil with Tonia Carreiro and Sergio Britto
• Carmem Com Filtro - written and directed by Gerald Thomas - Brazil
• Beckett Trilogy (Theater 1, Theater2 and That Time) (by Samuel Beckett) - directed by Gerald Thomas - featuring Julian Beck - La MaMa E.T.C., NYC, TAT -Theater am Turm in Frankfurt and Belgrade Festival/Serbia
• Four Times Beckett (Quatro Vezes Beckett) (Theater 1, Theater 2, Nothing and That Time) (by Samuel Beckett) - directed by Gerald Thomas - Brazil

1984

• All Strange Away 1 (by Samuel Beckett) - world premiere of prose adapted and directed by Gerald Thomas - La MaMa E.T.C., NYC (actor: Ryan Cutrona)
• All Strange Away 2 (by Samuel Beckett) - directed by Gerald Thomas - The Harold Clurman Theater/NY (actor: Robert Langdon Lloyd)

References

1. Enciclopédia Itaú Cultural (em português)

External links

• Gerald Thomas - Official Web Site
• Gerald Thomas Official Blog
• London Dry Opera Official web Site
• Gerald Thomas Videos
• Gerald Thomas' former Blog
• VIDEO: Philip GLASS on Gerald THOMAS