Daniel Ellis
American Stage Director, Daniel Ellis, continues to garner wide attention for developing new work with renowned artists while bringing innovative and imaginative theater and opera to wider audiences. Most recently, Ellis made his European directing debut as the revival stage director for Barrie Kosky and Suzanne Andrade’s production of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte at the Komische Oper in Berlin and will be directing the production for Cincinnati Opera and Opera Philadelphia in 2017. This March, Mr. Ellis will be at the helm of the European debut of Sir David McVicar’s production of Wozzeck at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, in Geneva. This production made its debut at Lyric Opera of Chicago in 2015.
Among the numerous awards and honors Ellis has received for his work, he was recently awarded the 2nd place award in the 2015 American Prize in Directing Competition for his production of The Beaux’ Stratagem. Lavender Magazine also named the production of the Best Productions in the Twin Cities for the 2014-2015 season. His production of Griffelkin with Minnesota Opera’s Project Opera performed with over 60 children between the ages of 7-17 also won the 3rd Place award in the 2014 American Prize in Directing Competition. Ellis has directed over 10 world premieres including the Off-Broadway production of Frank Gagliano’s comedy, Dancing with Joy. Daniel’s co-directed production of Scarlet Woman for Sunset Gun Productions received the 2011 Best of Fest Award at the Winnipeg Fringe and Edmonton International Fringe Festivals. In October of 2006, the Arkansas Symphony premiered Stay Tuned, an original collaboration between Daniel and the nationally recognized vocal ensemble Five By Design. It has been performed with over 25 symphony orchestras throughout the United States and Canada including Utah, Colorado Springs, Grand Rapids, Charlotte, Vancouver and Edmonton.
Balancing his career with his long-standing commitment to education in the arts, Daniel has received numerous commissions to develop original programming and scripts for such organizations as the Fort Worth Symphony’s Kinderconcerts; The Philharmonic Society of Orange County’s Concerts for Fifth Graders; Swarthmore College; Monterrey Symphony, and the Palm Beach Symphony. He has help to develop and direct many austism friendly children’s perfomances for oganizations such as Minneasota Opera and Palm Beach Opera.
As an associate and assistant director, Ellis has worked for Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Diego Opera, Portland Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Mill City Opera, and Minnesota Opera working with world-renowned directors including Sir David McVicar, Michael Cavanagh, Thaddeus Strassberger, Kevin Newbury, Renaud Doucet, Joel Ivany, Sam Helfrich and David Lefkowich. He is an Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, and a member of AGMA.
