bio

Long Version

LUKE LANDRIC LEONARD is an American artist, theatre director, actor, playwright, filmmaker, and educator. He is the founder and artistic director of Monk Parrots in NYC, and Assistant Professor of Experimental Media and Performance at Seoul Institute of the Arts. His critically acclaimed opera, theatre, and film projects have premiered in Australia, England, Italy, and the United States and have been described as “outstanding” by The New York Times.

Directing credits include love fail (Yarra Valley Opera Festival - Australian Premiere), The Difficulty of Crossing a Field (Nagambie Lakes Opera Festival - Australian Premiere, and UT-Austin - Texas Premiere), Bum Phillips All-American Opera (La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club - World Premiere), Turn of the Screw (Symphony Space), Welcome to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (59E59 Theaters - World Premiere), Here I Go (59E59 Theaters - World Premiere, and Creative Hub Cantiere Oberdan - European Premiere), M*cBeth (Yarra Valley Opera Festival - World Premiere), The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep (SITE Santa Fe - World Premiere), Beth Morrison Projects: Next Generation (National Sawdust - World Premiere), and The Dinner Party Operas (Brooklyn Museum - World Premiere).

In addition to SeoulArts, Luke has taught at Long Island University-Post, The University of Texas at Austin, and as a guest artist at New York University Tisch School of the Arts and at Australian Contemporary Opera Company in Melbourne. His creative research includes new play development, experimental theatre, contemporary opera, and new media.

Accolades include Opera Chaser Awards for Outstanding Stage Director and Outstanding Lighting Design. L.L.L./Monk Parrots are recipients of LMCC Swing Space Artist Residencies and grants from A.R.T.-New York, Foundation for Contemporary Arts, Hatch Fund, J & S Sullivan Charitable Fund, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, The Puffin Foundation, Tides Foundation, and USA Projects.

Luke is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and Screen Actors Guild-AFTRA. He holds a Master of Fine Arts from The University of Texas at Austin.

His work is published by Next Stage Press.

Short Version

LUKE LANDRIC LEONARD is an American artist, theatre director, actor, playwright, filmmaker, and educator. He is the founder and artistic director of Monk Parrots in NYC, and Assistant Professor of Experimental Media and Performance at Seoul Institute of the Arts. His critically acclaimed opera, theatre, and film projects have premiered in Australia, England, Italy, and the United States and have been described as “outstanding” by The New York Times.

Accolades include Opera Chaser Awards for Outstanding Stage Director and Outstanding Lighting Design. L.L.L./Monk Parrots are recipients of LMCC Swing Space Artist Residencies and grants from A.R.T.-New York, Foundation for Contemporary Arts, Hatch Fund, J & S Sullivan Charitable Fund, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, The Puffin Foundation, Tides Foundation, and USA Projects.

Luke holds a Master of Fine Arts from The University of Texas at Austin. His work is published by Next Stage Press.

EDUCATION:

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS at AUSTIN, Department of Theatre & Dance
• Master of Fine Arts in Directing, 2010
• GPA 3.97

BROOKLYN COLLEGE, City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting, 1998
• Magna Cum Laude

EXPERIENCE:

DIRECTING

Upcoming Productions

MARY AND THE MONSTERS
libretto by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, music by Michael Roth
• Director
World Premiere, Location TBA, New York, NY

PEARLS FOR SPURS
new play by Gates Leonard
• Director
2024 World Premiere, Location TBA, New York, NY

LOVER X
• Writer/Director/Designer
World Premiere, Location TBA

DON JEFFREY
• Co-Director
World Premiere, ACOCo Opera Festival, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia

Recent Productions

LOVE FAIL (AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE)
• Film Director/Designer
2022 Official Selection and Honorable Mention, Tokyo International Short Film Festival
2022 Official Selection, Everyday Arias Film Festival, London, England
2021   Federation Square, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
2020  Yarra Valley Opera Festival, Victoria, Australia

THE AMERICAN OPERA PROJECT—COMPOSERS & THE VOICE: SCENE & HEARD
• Stage Director
2021 Prison Ship Martyrs Monument, Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn, NY

Past Productions

M*CBETH
• Stage Director/Designer
2019 NYC Concert Performance, La MaMa Great Jones Rehearsal Studios, New York, NY
2019  Yarra Valley Opera Festival, Victoria, Australia

THE SHEPHERDESS AND THE CHIMNEY SWEEP
Composed by Hannah Lash
• Stage Director/Designer
2019  Morse Recital Hall, Yale School of Music, New Haven, CT

STONED PRINCE and THE SHEPHERDESS AND THE CHIMNEY SWEEP
Composed by Hannah Lash
• Stage Director/Designer
2019  SITE Santa Fe and Las Puertas, New Mexico

VIRGIL J. LEE NEW PLAY FESTIVAL
“This Can’t Happen Here” by Sarah E. Taylor
• Director/Designer
2019  Long Island University-Post Campus, New York

AMERICAN OPERA PROJECTS & NYU TISCH: THE DINNER PARTY OPERAS
Five operas inspired by Judy Chicago’s installation “The Dinner Party”
• Stage Director/Designer
2018  The Brooklyn Museum, New York

BETH MORRISON PROJECTS: NEXT GENERATION
Concert championing the next generation of opera composers
• Stage Director
2018 National Sawdust, New York

THE SCOTTISH OPERA (WORLD PREMIERE)
Peter Stopschinski's 80-minute treatment of Giuseppe Verdi's "Macbeth", a Gertrude Opera commission
• Stage Director/Designer
2016  Nagambie Lakes Opera Festival, Victoria, Australia

WELCOME TO THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA (WORLD PREMIERE)
• Playwright, Director, Designer
• Collaboration with Monk Parrots, writer Katie Pearl, and composer Peter Stopschinski
2015  59E59 Theaters, New York

BUM PHILLIPS: ALL-AMERICAN OPERA (TEXAS PREMIERE)
• Concept, Director, Designer
2015  The Stafford Centre, Stafford, Texas

THE DIFFICULTY OF CROSSING A FIELD (AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE)
• Stage Director/Designer
2015  Nagambie Lakes Opera Festival, Victoria, Australia

BUM PHILLIPS: ALL-AMERICAN OPERA (WORLD PREMIERE)
• Collaboration with librettist Kirk Lynn and composer Peter Stopschinski
• Concept, Director, Designer
2014  World Premiere, The Ellen Stewart Theatre, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New York, NY

AFTER AN EARLIER INCIDENT: A Dyschronic Romeo & Juliet
• Concept, Director, Designer, Producer
• Collaboration with Monk Parrots and playwright David Todd
2013  La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New York, New York

BUM PHILLIPS, Workshop Performance: Act I
• Stage Director/Designer
2013  Long Island University, Post Campus, Brookville, New York

THE TURN OF THE SCREW
• Stage Director/Designer, Produced by Opera Moderne
2012  Symphony Space, New York, New York

HERE I GO
• Concept, Director, Designer
• Collaboration with Monk Parrots and playwright David Todd
2012  La MaMa Spoleto Open, Spoleto, Italy
2012  59E59 Theaters, Studio C, New York, New York

L'INDIANO VUOLE IL BRONX (ITALIAN PREMIERE)
• Director/Designer
• Written by Israel Horovitz, Translated by Andrea Paciotto
2011 Teatro Elfo Puccini, Milano, Italy
2011 Umbertide, Italy
2010 Perugia, Italy
2010 Trevi, Italy
2010 Nocera Umbria, Italy
2009 Premiered at Teatrino delle Sei, Spoleto, Italy 

THE ART OF DEPICTING NATURE AS IT IS SEEN BY TOADS
• Concept, Director, Designer, Performer
• Collaboration with Monk Parrots
2011  Dixon Place, New York
2010 Lab Theater, Austin, Texas

GAY RODEO BY-LAWS (GRBL)
• Playwright, Director, Designer
• In collaboration with Monk Parrots
2011  Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Swing Space Artist Residency, 14 Wall St., New York

THE DIFFICULTY OF CROSSING A FIELD (TEXAS PREMIERE)
• Stage Director/Designer
• Opera by Pulitzer Prizewinning composer David Lang and Obie Award-winning playwright Mac Wellman
Nominated for eight 2010 Austin Critics' Table Awards including "Best Opera"
2010 The B. Iden Payne Theatre, Austin, Texas

I LIKE THINGS THAT ARE REALLY SOMETHING ELSE, FOR REAL
• Museum-theater piece for Austin Museum Day
2008  The Blanton Museum of Art, Austin, Texas

OUR LADY OF 121st STREET
• Director/Designer
2008  Lab Theater, Austin, Texas

WHY KOREANS DON’T HUG
• Director/Designer
2008  Lab Theater, Austin, Texas

BEAT VOICES
• In conjunction with the exhibition ON THE ROAD WITH THE BEATS
2008  The Harry Ransom Center, Austin, Texas

BAD PENNY
• Director/Designer
2008  The Blanton Museum of Art, Austin, Texas
2007  The University of Texas at Austin, Texas

PITCHED
• 10th Annual New York International Fringe Festival
• Director, Production Designer
2006  Actors’ Playhouse, New York, New York

HEAD/LINE
• Concept, Director, Designer, Performer
2004  BRIC Studio, Brooklyn, New York

THE CRAZY PLAYS
• Revised script for BRIC by Jeffrey M. Jones
• Director/Designer
2003  BRIC Studio, Brooklyn, New York

PERFORMANCE RECORD #1
• Playwright, Director, Designer
2007  Makor, New York, New York
2003  BRIC Studio, Brooklyn, New York

EVIL-IN-PROGRESS
• Playwright, Director, Designer
2003  Little Theatre @ Tonic, New York, New York
2003  BRIC Studio, Brooklyn, New York

WONDER/PLAY
• Playwright, Director, Designer
2003  BRIC Studio, Brooklyn, New York

50FT OF FILM
• Writer, Director, Designer, Performer
2002  BRIC Studio, Brooklyn, New York

MISTER ORIGINAL BUGG
• World Premiere Short Play By Mac Wellman
• Director/Designer
2002  BRIC Studio, Brooklyn, New York

THE WAR IN HEAVEN
• Adapted for the stage, Director, Designer, Performer
2002  BRIC Studio, Brooklyn, New York

DISPOSABLE PLAYS (one-acts)
• Playwright, Director, Designer
2001  DUMBO Theater eXchange, Brooklyn, New York

UNTITLED, 1985
• The Fourth annual d.u.m.b.o. art under the bridge Festival
• Playwright, Director, Designer
2001  DUMBO Theater eXchange, Brooklyn, New York

BONY AND POOT
• Playwright, Director, Designer
2000  DUMBO Theater eXchange, Brooklyn, New York

NIL TO NIGH
• Playwright, Director, Designer, Performer
• Collaboration with Yukihiro Nishiyama
1998  d.u.m.b.o. arts center (dac), Brooklyn, New York

INSIDE THE STATE HOSPITAL
• Playwright, Director, Designer
• Premiered in an evening called “Hours of Danger”
1997  Theater for the New City, New York, New York

CONCERT STAGING

2011   THE SECRET AGENT, Merkin Concert Hall, New York

ASSISTANT TO DIRECTOR

2011   THE SECRET AGENT By Michael Dellaira and J.D. McClatchy, The Kaye Playhouse (New York) 
• Directed by Sam Helfrich

2009   SHAKESPEARE'S SONETTE, Berliner Ensemble (Berlin)
• Directed and Designed by Robert Wilson, Music by Rufus Wainwright

2007   ELEPHANT’S GRAVEYARD, Oscar G. Brockett Theatre (Austin)
• Directed by Laura Kepley, Written by George Brant

1998   WHITE NIGHTS, La Mama, E.T.C. (New York)
• Directed and Adapted by Andrea Paciotto

ACTING *available upon request

OTHER EXPERIENCE:

FILM/VIDEO (screenings are in italics)

FOLLOW ME DOWN (2023, post-production)
• Writer, Director, Producer

LOVE FAIL (2020)
• Adapter, Director, Designer, Cinematographer, Editor
2022 Tokyo International Short Film Festival
2022 Everyday Arias Film Festival, London, England
2021 Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia
2020 Yarra Valley Opera Festival, Victoria, Australia

WHITE FLAGS (2010)
• Director, Director of Photography, Editor
Music video for The Smoking Flowers

ANTIQUATED PLAY (2007)
• Writer, Director, Editor, Performer
2007 NYC Premiere, Throckmorton Fine Art, New York, NY

URCHIN (released by Vanguard Cinema 2007)
• A feature film by John Harlacher, produced by 2 Cities Productions
• Director of Photography
2007 Rapture Cafe, New York, NY
2007 NYC Premiere, Red Room Theatre, New York, NY

THINGS THAT AREN’T EVEN THERE (2004)
• Director, Director of Photography, Editor
• Music video for Pale Blue Dot

TO HAVE THE SUNSHINE (2004)
• Director, Director of Photography, Editor
• Music video for Justin Collins

NO-ACCOUNT FILM (1999)
• Writer, Director, Director of Photography, Editor
2004 Flicker Festival, The Knitting Factory, New York, NY
2000 DUMBO Theater eXchange, Brooklyn, NY

UNEMPLOYED IN NYC: PORTRAITS FOR YUKIHIRO NISHIYAMA (1998)
• Writer, Director, Director of Photography, Performer, Editor
2002 BRIC Studio, Brooklyn, NY
2000 DUMBO Theater eXchange, Brooklyn, NY

SELECTED GROUP SHOWS

2010    "GRBL, February 2010." Short video from extended project, “Gay Rodeo By-Laws.” Exhibited at Rossobastardo Live 2010 during Festival dei Due Mondi/Spoleto Festival 53.

2010    "Everything Means Nothing." Short video. Exhibited at Rossobastardo Live 2010 during Festival dei Due Mondi/Spoleto Festival 53.

2009    "The Time It Takes." Installation. Part of the Downtown Austin Alliance “Holiday Stroll." Congress Ave., Austin, TX

SELECTED PERFORMANCES

2010   THE ART OF DEPICTING NATURE AS IT IS SEEN BY TOADS, The Lab Theatre, Austin, TX

SELECTED GROUP PERFORMANCES

2008    "Big Time," Okay Mountain, Austin, TX

NOT-FOR-PROFIT

MONK PARROTS, Inc. (formerly DUMBO Theatre eXchange a/k/a DTX), New York, NY - 2000 – Present Founding Artistic Director

• Created a mission supporting experimentation in the areas of theatre and performance by established and emerging artists, and expanded it to include opera and musical theatre

• Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit performing arts organization

• Selected and conceived productions geared at pushing artistic boundaries and challenging audiences

• Lead cohort in shaping activities that supported new work development and public presentations

• Cultivated audiences for new works and facilitated talkbacks with audiences and creative teams

• Produced nine original productions, and toured nationally and internationally

• Established and nurtured local and international partnerships with theaters and opera companies

• Researched grants and wrote successful grant applications

• Increased attendance rate by approximately 89% and the combined earned and unearned revenue by approximately 90% from 2010 to 2015

• Generated and managed annual operating budget under $250,000

• Served as Board Member, President and Treasurer since inception

• Oversaw hiring of all staff and independent contractors

• Negotiated and drafted artist contracts and managed rental agreements

• Committed to paying artists equitable wages

• Involved with all aspects of marketing, advertising, and outreach

• Encouraged diversity, inclusivity, and equity through programming and hiring

• Regarded as the “public face” of the company

BRIC ARTS MEDIA (Brooklyn Information and Culture, formerly BRIC Studio) - 2001 – 2004
Creator and Curator

• Created and managed a monthly performance series called “Theater Nexus” that promoted the work of emerging and established playwrights, directors, actors, designers, and musicians

• Reviewed artist submissions, selected talent, negotiated artist fees and contracts, proofread artist biographies for advertising and playbills

DUMBO ARTS CENTER (DAC) - 1999, 2000, 2001
Theatre Arts Coordinator

• Solicited submissions for the annual d.u.m.b.o. art under the bridge Festival

• Selected festival participants

• Compiled all artist bios, proofread, and produced content for festival program

• Scheduled rehearsal and performance dates

  Supplied technical assistance to all artists and companies as needed

• Promoted festival events through email blasts and press invitations

ADDITIONAL TRAINING:

ACTING
• Viewpoints, The SITI Company, New Dance Group, New York, NY
Instructors: Akiko Aizawa, J. Ed Araiza, Ellen Lauren, Tom Nelis, Barney O’Hanlon
• Joseph Chaikin Master Class, La MaMa La Galleria, New York, NY

DIRECTING
• Master Class in Composition with Anne Bogart, New York, NY
• Joseph Chaikin Master Class, Westbeth Theatre Center, NY

PERFORMANCE ART
• Advanced Performance Art, Professor Michael Smith, Univ. of TX at Austin

INSTALLATION/SCULPTURE
• Installation/Sculpture, Professor Margo Sawyer, Univ. of TX at Austin

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

Seoul Institute of the Arts, Republic of Korea
Assistant Professor of Experimental Media and Performance, 2024 – Present
X-Lab (Art & Technology Expression Laboratory): Graduate Course
·  Advanced Media Content Convergence. A laboratory course designed to give space and time for exploring projects combining art and technology. Artists will generate work expressed through and combining various forms of media that support their areas of interest. Topics include light, space, composition, duration, repetition, endurance, sound, movement, story, narrative, and character.
School of Performing Arts, Acting Program: Undergraduate Course
·  Creative Workshop for Actors. An introduction to acting through exercises that explore the creative possibilities of an acting artist. Students study time, space, and character development and create solo and group performances based on their personal stories and daily observations.
School of Performing Arts, Theatre Program: Undergraduate Course
·  English Through Theatre. A seminar and a laboratory-style course designed to improve English speaking and writing skills through the study of theatre. Students participate in theatre games/improvisations, create short, original works based on prompts and personal stories, express themselves through presentations and in writing, and explore English language plays from the Modern and Contemporary eras.

Australian Contemporary Opera Company, Melbourne, Australia
Resident International Stage Director, April 2016 – September 2016
·  Orchestrating Action. Advanced movement and acting intensive for opera singers.  Designed to develop stage presence through physical training that enhance awareness of time and space.  The workshops explore Viewpoints, Ideokinetics, text analysis, physical actions, and devising physical scores for music that culminate in a staged presentation of selected arias.

Long Island University, Post Campus
Adjunct Associate Professor, Fall 2013 – Spring 2015
Department of Theatre, Film, Dance, and Arts Management: Undergraduate Course
·  THE 1 – The Art of Theatre. A practical introduction to theater and performance through exercises and scene study.  Creation and performance of theater pieces in a workshop format. Develop skills for script analysis, physical actions, improvisation, given circumstances, and collaboration; foster a deeper appreciation for the acting craft; and explore ways in which acting can be applied, or inform life beyond the stage.

Long Island University, Post Campus
Guest Director, January-February 2013
BUM PHILLIPS ALL-AMERICAN OPERA, Workshop Performance: Act I
·  Directed 12 theatre majors in new musical-play production presented Feb. 8-10, 2013 at the Little Theater Mainstage.  Introduced students to staging methods derived from Viewpoints training and formal theatre.  Incorporated student-generated staging informed by Suzuki classes at LIU Post.  Collaborated as production designer with LIU faculty and staff.  Produced subsequent performing opportunities for students at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club and Dixon Place in New York City.

MACAULAY HONORS PROGRAM, City University of New York
Instructor - August 25, 2010
Workshop in Ensemble Collaboration and Production
• Introduction to acting, theatre, and ensemble collaboration for non-majors.  Develop an understanding and appreciation for the acting craft and the rudiments that can be applied to other collaborative situations.

THE UNIVERISTY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
Instructor - Spring 2009; Fall 2009; Spring 2010
Department of Theatre & Dance: Undergraduate Course
• TD 303 – Fundamentals of Acting. Developing a respect for acting, skills for script analysis, playing an action, and an awareness of time and space. Exercises derived from Meisner and Viewpoints techniques.

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
Teaching Assistant - Fall 2008
Department of Theatre & Dance: Undergraduate Courses Assisted
• TD 351T – Acting for the Camera. Developing the actor’s sense of awareness to his/her “actor type,” fostering a deeply personal acting style for the camera, and learning about the actor-director relationship by collaborating with film students in the creation of dogma-style films.
• TD 313E – Acting III. Based on Sanford Meisner’s premise that, “Acting is behaving truthfully under imaginary circumstances,” students are introduced to the Meisner technique to help them personalize their association with text, circumstances, and action.

PUBLICATIONS:

Leonard, Luke Landric. “Welcome to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” Colorado: Next Stage Press, 2024.

Leonard, Luke Landric. “Directing The Difficulty of Crossing a Field: A Symbolic and Corporeal Approach.” MFA Thesis. The University of Texas at Austin. University of Texas Digital Repository. 17 Nov. 2010 http://catalog.lib.utexas.edu/search/X?SEARCH=luke+leonard

Leonard, Luke. “On With The Mission (DTX).” Producing Your Own Showcase. By Paul Harris. Ed. Nicole Potter. New York: Allworth Press, 2001.

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Bechtel, Mark. “Bum Rush: The Fat Lady Sings About an Oilers Icon.” Sports Illustrated, 5 October 2015: 12.

Beck, Burt and Tamara. “What’s in a Name?” Rev. of Here I Go, dir. Luke Leonard. 59E59 Theaters. T and B On the Aisle – A Theatre Diary, 30 May 2012, http://tbontheaisleatheaterdiary.blogspot.com/2012/05/whats-in-name-here-i-go-and-lonely-im.html. Accessed 12 June 2012.

Chandler, Adam. “Bum Phillips Inspires an Opera.” Texas Monthly, 30 March 2014, http://www.texasmonthly.com/story/bum-phillips-inspires-opera. Accessed 9 November 2020.

Di Risio, Patricia. “Love Fail.” Rev. of love fail, dir. Luke Leonard. Yarra Valley Opera Festival. StageWhispers.com, 18 October 2020, https://www.stagewhispers.com.au/reviews/love-fail. Accessed 20 October 2020.

Esquer, Nick. “Bum’s The Word: It Ain’t Over Till the Fat Man Spits.” Houstonia, September 2015: 40.

Hinojosa, Richard. “Pitched.” Rev. of Pitched, dir. Luke Leonard. Actors’ Playhouse. NYTheatre.com, 11 August 2006, http://www.nytheatre.com/Review/richard-hinojosa-2006-8-11-pitched. Accessed 29 November 2008.

Jacobs, Leonard. “DUMBO Stages Flying Under Manhattan Bridge.” Backstage 25-31 January 2002: 3.

Loney, Glenn. “Avant Garde in the Vaults at 14 Wall Street.” Rev. of GRBL, by Luke Leonard. The Vaults at 14 Wall St. NYTheatre-Wire.com, 13 June 2011, http://www.nytheatre-wire.com/lt11064t.html. Accessed 9 November 2020.

Marcos, Charlie. “Here I Go.” Rev. of Here I Go, dir. Luke Leonard. 59E59 Theaters. Arterynyc.com, 4 June 2012, http://www.arterynyc.com/2012/06/here-i-go/.

Miller, Alan. “Welcome to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” Rev. of Welcome to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, by Luke Leonard. 59E59 Theaters. Aseatontheaisle.blogspot.com, 12 October 2015, http://aseatontheaisle.blogspot.com/2015/10/welcome-to-kingdom-of-saudi-arabia-at.html. Accessed 9 November 2020.

Oestreich, James. “It Ain’t Over Till the Fat Man Spits.” Rev. of Bum Phillips, dir. Luke Leonard. La MaMa. The New York Times, 21 March 2014, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/22/arts/music/opera-celebrates-bum-phillips-who-led-the-houston-oilers.html. Accessed 9 November 2020.

Plant, Simon. "Toast to Cutting-Edge Opera." The Herald Sun, 7 October 2015, Arts & Entertainment, http://www.pressreader.com/australia/herald-sun/20151007/282836484903733/TextView.

Roberts, David. “Here I Go.” Rev. of Here I Go, dir. Luke Leonard. 59E59 Theaters. Theatre Reviews Limited, 25 May 2012, http://theatrereviews.ceoexpress.com/viewpage.asp?tabid=253&messageid=3520. Accessed 9 November 2020.

Selar, Paul. “love fail (Gertrude Opera and Monk Parrots).” Rev. of love fail, dir. Luke Leonard. Yarra Valley Opera Festival. Limelight Magazine, 18 October 2020, https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/reviews/love-fail-gertrude-opera-and-monk-parrots/. Accessed 20 October 2020.

Selar, Paul. "Opera Review: Nagambie Lakes Opera Festival." Rev. of The Difficulty of Crossing a Field, dir. Luke Leonard. The Herald Sun, 12 October 2015, http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/arts/opera-review-nagambie-lakes-opera-festival/news-story/5e19d728efea4fb9a919cdcde05e9ddd. Accessed 9 November 2020.

Shaw, Helen. “Best of the Fringe 2003.” Rev. of Birdland, perf. Luke Leonard. The Linhardt Theater. The New York Sun, 15 August 2003, Arts & Letters sec.: 12.

Silverman, Robert. “Inside the Bum Phillips Opera (Yes, There is a Bum Phillips Opera).” Deadspin, 19 March 2014, http://deadspin.com/inside-the-bum-phillips-opera-yes-there-is-a-bum-phi-1547379732. Accessed 9 November 2020.

Simmons, Paulanne. “New Ideas.” The Brooklyn Papers/GO Brooklyn, 24 March 2003, Vol. 26, No. 12 ed.: 5.

Simmons, Paulanne. “Odd Couple: DUMBO Theater Showcases new talent in Bony and Poot.” Rev. of Bony and Poot, by Luke Leonard. DUMBO Theater eXchange. The Brooklyn Papers/GO Brooklyn, 20 Nov. 2000, Vol. 23, No. 46.

Smith, Steve. “Gothic Tale Scored in Twists and Turns.” Rev. of The Turn of the Screw, dir. Luke Leonard. Symphony Space. The New York Times, 28 May 2012, New York ed: C6, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/29/arts/music/the-turn-of-the-screw-by-opera-moderne-at-symphony-space.html. Accessed 9 November 2020.

Tanier, Mike. “A Night at the Bum Phillips Opera.” Sports on Earth/USA Today Sports, 14 March 2014, http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/69231956/.

Winter, Gary. “Experimental Theater Grows in Brooklyn.” The Brooklyn Rail, Winter 2003: 52.

GRANTS/AWARDS: LUKE LEONARD/MONK PARROTS

2023              The Puffin Foundation
2023              Creative Opportunity, Alliance of Resident Theatres - New York
2022              Honorable Mention, “love fail,” Tokyo International Short Film Festival
2022              Official Selection, “love fail,” Everyday Arias Film Festival
2022              J & S Sullivan Charitable Fund
2018-2019     Creative Engagement Grant
2018               Tides Foundation Grant
2016               Outstanding Lighting Design, "The Scottish Opera," Opera Chaser Award
2015               Outstanding Director, "The Difficulty of Crossing a Field," Opera Chaser Award
2014-2015      Manhattan Community Arts Fund Grant
2013               Hatchfund Grant
2012               Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant
2012               USA Projects Grant

Residencies
2013              The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC) Swing Space Artist Residency
2011               The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC) Swing Space Artist Residency

Observership
2007              Steven Dietz directing Murderers by Jeffrey Hatcher at Seattle Repertory Theatre

The University of Texas at Austin
2009-10         Jack G. Taylor Memorial Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Fine Arts
2009              ZT Scott Travel Grant
2008              Frank C. Erwin, Jr. Centennial Professorship Travel Grant
2008-09        Jack G. Taylor Memorial Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Fine Arts
2008-09         Morton Brown, Nellie Lea Brown, and Minelma Brown Lockwood Scholarship Fund in Drama
2008              The University Co-Op Cohen New Works Research and Development Grant
2007-08         Francis Hodge Endowed Award
2007-08         Georgia B. Lucas Foundation Fund

Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY
1997               Joseph Davidson Scholarship

Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX
1995               Mel Silverman Scholarship
1993               Mel Silverman Scholarship

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

Actors’ Equity Association
Alliance of Resident Theaters New York
The American Opera Project
Australian Contemporary Opera Company
Barefoot Theatre Company
Beth Morrison Projects
Dramatists Guild of America
Monk Parrots, Inc.
Screen Actors Guild-AFTRA
Theater Communications Group
Opera America

COLLECTIONS:

Throckmorton Fine Art
The Ilardi-Lowy Family
Jack and Nancy Leonard
Natalie Leonard
Jack and Kathryn Lynn
Kirk Lynn
Ben Musselman
Erin Phillips
The de Pury Family
Iliana and Mark Seife
Harriet Taub

VIDEO WORK SAMPLES:

STAGE DIRECTION / PRODUCTION DESIGN

The Difficulty of Crossing a Field – Fourth Telling, 2010, Duration 5:02
Link: https://vimeo.com/55119882

The Difficulty of Crossing a Field – Third Telling, 2010, Duration 5:36
Link: https://vimeo.com/50036470

Bum Phillips: All-American Opera, 2014, Duration 5:47
Link: https://vimeo.com/103372380

The Scottish Opera, 2016, Duration 10:58
Link: https://vimeo.com/188759990

OTHER

NFL Films Presents: Bum’s Opera, 2014, Duration 6:17
Link: https://vimeo.com/110009787

The Scottish Opera – Behind the Scenes, 2016, Duration 3:03
Link: https://vimeo.com/180584319

The Difficulty of Crossing a Field – Behind the Scenes, 2015, Duration 4:45
Link: https://youtu.be/tJEKlPAvbdc 

The Difficulty of Crossing a Field - Teaser, 2010, Duration 1:15
Link: https://vimeo.com/15129296