Ryan Quinn
Assistant Professor | Director | Actor | Coach
“I expected much of Ryan Quinn’s new production, and I got all I hoped for: This was a “Tempest” that gave pleasure of every conceivable kind, one in which Shakespeare’s tale of forgiveness and redemption is retold in such a way as to give like delight to those who know the play well and those who are seeing it for the first time.”
— Terry Teachout, The Wall Street Journal
“Ryan Quinn is an exceptional director. He makes the most of the excellent 2025 company directing with pace, energy and plenty of fun. His "Comedy of Errors" has all the elements that set a Hudson Valley Shakespeare play apart.
— Pete Kramer, The Journal News
Directing Portfolio
My directing work is grounded in actor-centered storytelling, rigorous collaboration, and the belief that rehearsal is a site of shared authorship.
Across classical texts, new plays, and musical theatre, I aim to create brave rehearsal rooms where artists can take bold risks within clear structures. My professional and university work exist in dialogue with one another—each informing how I mentor actors and directors toward repeatable process, leadership, and sustainability in the field.
Selected Directing Work
The Comedy of Errors
Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival / 2025 — Director
A physically driven, ensemble-based approach to Shakespearean comedy that emphasized clarity of storytelling, heightened farce, and actor ownership within a classical form. The rehearsal process focused on precision of language, the reimagining of dated material (particularly the racializing and gendering of Nell), and collaborative play, allowing performers to lead boldly within a tightly structured comedic engine.
Director Interview: WAMC
God of Carnage
Milwaukee Repertory Theater / 2023 — Director
An actor-driven production focused on specificity of language and ensemble tension within a tightly structured contemporary text. Our living room became a playground where language and status were the weapons. The rehearsal process emphasized precision, shared accountability, and childlike abandon, allowing the actors’ individuality to illuminate the play’s volatile emotional landscape.
Review: Broadwayworld
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (World Premiere)
Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival / 2024 — Director
A world premiere developed over the span of three years in close collaboration with the playwright, balancing narrative rigor with ensemble storytelling. The cast remained onstage throughout, becoming the fabric of “the play.” The process incorporated clowning, detailed choreography, deft genre shifts, and highly crafted storytelling as we relentlessly propelled toward the final reveal.
Director Conversation: Instagram Interview
Dad’s Season Tickets (Original Musical)
Milwaukee Repertory Theater / 2001 — Director
An original musical re-envisioned for Milwaukee Repertory Theater following an initial run at the Folklore Theatre in Door County, Wisconsin. The rehearsal room fostered close collaboration between actors, the writer/composer, and the creative team, prioritizing character-driven storytelling and narrative clarity within a musical form.
Review: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Fences
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival / 2022 — Director
Directed at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival with Tony Todd and Ella Joyce, this production of Fences approached August Wilson’s play as a living classical text rooted in ancestry, ritual, and the Blues. Informed by my early experiences witnessing Wilson at work, the rehearsal process emphasized clarity of language, generational dialogue, and the shared act of bearing witness—treating the play not as a monument, but as an ongoing conversation between artists and audience.
Review: Lehigh Valley Press
The Tempest
Fordham University / 2025 — Director
A pedagogical process designed to support advanced student actors in applying professional rehearsal practices while developing independent artistic ownership. The production emphasized ensemble responsibility, text personalization, and collaborative play within a shared imaginative world.
Review: The Fordham Observer
Breitwisch Farm (World Premiere)
Esperance Theater Company / 2018 — Director
A world premiere developed through years of workshops and readings, moving from an NYU thesis to a self-produced third production for my theatre company. Conceived as an homage to The Cherry Orchard, the rehearsal process required rigorous textual analysis alongside the flexibility and collaboration demanded by new work in an unconventional performance space. The production was grounded in community and shared stewardship of narrative in both rehearsal and performance.
Review: Breitwisch Farm
Additional Materials
Additional directing materials, syllabi, and examples of teaching practice are available upon request.