Peter Coy Playwright

Directing a play is a mysterious act of collaboration, of being part of an effort in which no one controls its development but everyone influences the progress, from the first reading right through closing night.

When I am directing, I have to fall in love with the play and its playwright. I have to find what in the play makes my breathing quicken, what causes the dopamine to flood my synapses, what makes me sweat. I have to love how each scene promises the next, how I become each of the characters in their aspirations and struggles, how the ending burns itself into my memory. I have to want to live intimately with the play, wake up in the morning wanting to be with it all day long. My job is to realize on stage what the playwright has written. I bring my vision into alignment with the playwright’s vision—merge the two. It’s a shared love and collaboration.

My job as a director at its most basic level, is to get a story told on the stage, one that will keep the audience in their seats, keep them caring deeply about the characters, and keep them absorbed in a need to know what’s going to happen.

There is the question: what are the stakes, what risks are the characters taking? My feeling is that all theater is about loss. Maybe all stories. Loss of something valuable, the more valuable the more compelling the story. Loss and the subsequent gain of something more valuable. Destruction and redemption.

Every play is different. Comedy, drama, tragedy, melodrama, farce, clown, bouffon, extended monologues, wacky physical Monty Python-esque show—the types are limited only by our imaginations. I love them all. And I approach them all knowing that collaboration with the creativity of each person involved in a production is what makes theater alive.

2013

Cyrano in Rehearsalby: Peter Coy

Hamner Theatre, Virginia

by: Peter Coy

Hamner Theatre, Virginia

2012

Landscape/Silenceby: Harold Pinter

Hamner Theater, Virginia

by: Harold Pinter

Hamner Theater, Virginia

2011

Heart's Designby: Caryl Churchill

Hamner Theater, Virginia

by: Caryl Churchill

Hamner Theater, Virginia

2010

Bitter Sauceby: Eric Bogosian

American Shakespeare Center, Virginia

by: Eric Bogosian

American Shakespeare Center, Virginia

2010

All Is Always Nowby: Robert Wray

Hamner Theater, Virginia

by: Robert Wray

Hamner Theater, Virginia

2009

Quartetby: Richard Washer

Hamner Theater, Virginia

by: Richard Washer

Hamner Theater, Virginia

2007

Poe & All That Jazzby: Peter Coy

DC Fringe Festival

by: Peter Coy

DC Fringe Festival

2007

Love Lettersby: A.R. Gurney

Hamner Theater, Virginia

by: A.R. Gurney

Hamner Theater, Virginia

2006

Tales From The Twilight Zoneby: Earl Hamner (adapted by Peter Coy)

Hamner Theater, Virginia

by: Earl Hamner (adapted by Peter Coy)

Hamner Theater, Virginia

2003

The Effect...Marigoldsby: Paul Zindel

Horseshoe Bend Theater, Virginia

by: Paul Zindel

Horseshoe Bend Theater, Virginia

2002

Thresholdby: Brad Stoller

University of Virginia

by: Brad Stoller

University of Virginia

2001

You Know I Can't Hear You...by: Robert Anderson

Horseshoe Bend Theater, Virginia

by: Robert Anderson

Horseshoe Bend Theater, Virginia

2000

The Dining Roomby: A.R. Gurney

Horseshoe Bend Theater, Virginia

by: A.R. Gurney

Horseshoe Bend Theater, Virginia

1997

The Conflictby: Earl Hamner & Jeb Rosebrook

StageWorks, Charlottesville, Virginia

by: Earl Hamner & Jeb Rosebrook

StageWorks, Charlottesville, Virginia

1995

Songs & Sonnetsby: Peter Coy

Jefferson Studio Theater, Virginia

by: Peter Coy

Jefferson Studio Theater, Virginia

1995

Dreams No Mortal Ever Dared...by: Peter Coy

Jefferson Studio Theater, Virginia

by: Peter Coy

Jefferson Studio Theater, Virginia

1992

Richard IIby: Peter Coy

University of Virigina

by: Peter Coy

University of Virigina

1990

Oedipus at Colonosby: Sophocles

Sidney Armus Prod., New York, New York

by: Sophocles

Sidney Armus Prod., New York, New York

1989

The Brothersby: Terence

Sidney Armus Prod., New York, New York

by: Terence

Sidney Armus Prod., New York, New York

1989

The Jazz Singerby: Samson Raphaelson

Sidney Armus Prod., New York, New York

by: Samson Raphaelson

Sidney Armus Prod., New York, New York

1988

Off The Meterby: Peter Zablotsky

Double Image Festival, New York, New York

by: Peter Zablotsky

Double Image Festival, New York, New York

1988

Break Inby: Peter Coy

Windowpane Theater, New York, New York

by: Peter Coy

Windowpane Theater, New York, New York

1987

A Folktale Quartetby: Wm. Elec. Black

Theater of the Open Eye, New York, New York

by: Wm. Elec. Black

Theater of the Open Eye, New York, New York