Cynthia Levin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cynthia Levin is an American stage director and theatre producer. She is the producing artistic director of the Unicorn Theatre (Kansas City) in Kansas City, Missouri.[1]

Early life[edit]

Levin was born and raised in Washington, D.C.[2] She attended Park University in Parkville, Missouri, where she majored in theatre and graduated magna cum laude in 1977.[3][4]

Career[edit]

After college, Levin briefly worked for the Missouri Repertory Theatre (now the Kansas City Repertory Theatre), as well as various summer stock theatre and local Kansas-City-based theatres.[5] In 1979, she was hired by the Theatre Workshop in Kansas City, which became the Unicorn Theatre in the early 1980s.[6] During her early years at the Unicorn, Levin acted, directed, stage managed, and designed for numerous productions.[7] She became the artistic director of the Unicorn in 1982 and has guided the theatre in its mission to produce new and bold contemporary plays,[8] particularly those which have not yet received Kansas City premieres.[9] Levin has served as a director, actor, or designer for over 260 Unicorn productions,[10] and has directed plays for UMKC Theatre and the Coterie Theatre in Kansas City. She has also directed multiple world-premiere readings at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.[11] Levin is a founding board member of the National New Play Network.[12]

Honors and awards[edit]

In 1995, Levin was named one of Kansas City's “Local Heroes” by Ingram’s.[13] In 2000, the Unicorn Theatre received the Missouri Arts Council’s Arts Award.[14] Levin was awarded an honorary doctorate from Park University in 2002.[15] She has also been the recipient of the Pinnacle of Excellence in the Arts Award from the Johnson County Library Foundation,[16] the Human Rights Campaign Award,[17] and the GLAAD Leadership Award.[18]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Varney, Tara (September 2003). "Cynthia Levin and Getting to Level 20: Thirty Years of The Unicorn Theatre". KC Stage. Archived from the original on 21 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  2. ^ Long, John (December 2006). "Conversation with Cynthia Levin, Producing Artistic Director for the Unicorn". Camp. pp. 1–8.
  3. ^ Vernon, Ann (Fall 2003). "The Unicorn Theatre at 30 – celebrating years, survival, and excellence". Kansas City Jewish Life.
  4. ^ "Cynthia Levin, '77". Park University Alumni Profile. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  5. ^ Vernon, Ann (Fall 2003). "The Unicorn Theatre at 30 – celebrating years, survival, and excellence". Kansas City Jewish Life.
  6. ^ Royston, Peter (March 2004). "'All The Risk Is On Stage' or How The Unicorn Got Its Name: Kansas City's Unicorn Celebrates 30 years of Cutting Edge Theatre!". Actor's Equity Association. Archived from the original on 2014-03-21. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  7. ^ Long, John (December 2006). "Conversation with Cynthia Levin, Producing Artistic Director for the Unicorn". Camp. pp. 1–8.
  8. ^ Varney, Tara (September 2003). "Cynthia Levin and Getting to Level 20: Thirty Years of The Unicorn Theatre". KC Stage. Archived from the original on 21 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  9. ^ "Unicorn Envisions Bright Future". Kansas City Star. 29 August 2004. pp. M6: 1–6.
  10. ^ "Unicorn Theatre Announces 40th Season". KCMETROPOLIS.org. April 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  11. ^ "About Cynthia". Unicorn Theatre website. Archived from the original on 21 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  12. ^ "Cynthia Levin, '77". Park University Alumni Profile. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  13. ^ Silverman, Robin; John Simonson (December 1995). "Local Heroes". Ingrams. 21 (12): 2–4.
  14. ^ "Missouri Arts Awards Honorees, 1983-2014". Missouri Arts Council.
  15. ^ "Cynthia Levin, '77". Park University Alumni Profile. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  16. ^ B., Marsha. "News Release: Library Foundation Announces 2009 Pinnacle Award Winners". Johnson County Library. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08.
  17. ^ "About Cynthia". Unicorn Theatre website. Archived from the original on 21 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  18. ^ "Cynthia Levin, '77". Park University Alumni Profile. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 2014-03-14.