DIRECTING
GALLERY
DRAMA/COMEDY
365 DAYS/ 365 PLAYS
by Suzan-Lori Parks
(Week 5 – Co Director)
NY Public Theater
Queens Theatre In The Park
TRIAL BY WATER
by Qui Nguyen
Assistant Director to John Gould Rubin
Ma-Yi Theatre
Queens Theatre In The Park
Photos
MINSTREL SHOW, OR THE LYNCHING OF WILLIAM BROWN
by Max Sparber
Assistant Director to Rob Urbinati
New Jersey Rep
Long Branch NJ
FOGGY BOTTOM
Assistant Director to Rob Urbinati
Abingdon Theatre, NY
BONFRIEG
LIC One Act Festival 2008
Queens Players – Secret Theatre, NY
CAUSALITY
by Alexis Clements Alexis Clements
Reading
Abingdon Theater, NY
THE PROMO
by Crystal Skillman
Pack Lounge Series 3: Mistaken Identity
Robert Moss Theater, NY
QUEENS SCENES II
A Curious Incident in the Park, Welcome to Jamaica, Palace of Happy Nails
Staged Reading – Queens Scenes II
Queens Theatre in the Park, NY
IN THE OPEN
by Angela Liao
Manhattan Theatre Repertory, NY
QUEENS SCENES I
Two Airports, Grocery Encounter, and The Playwright
Staged Readings
Queens Theatre in the Park, NY
THE RAINMAKER
Bellevue Little Theatre
Photos
MISTER ROBERTS
Bellevue Little Theatre
Photos
THE LISBON TRAVIATA
SNAP! Productions
LEND ME A TENOR
Bellevue Little Theatre
2004 TAG nomination Outstanding Comedy
2004 TAG nomination Outstanding Direction Comedy/Drama
Photos
SPOOGE: THE LOVE AND SEX MONOLOGUES
Shelterbelt Theatre
2003 TAG nomination Outstanding Comedy
2003 TAG nomination Outstanding Sound Design
Photos
THE MARRIAGE OF BETTE AND BOO
Shelterbelt Theatre
2003 TAG nomination Outstanding Direction, Comedy/Drama
2003 TAG nomination Outstanding Sound Design
Photos
CORPUS CHRISTI
SNAP! Productions
2002 TAG Winner Outstanding Direction Comedy/Drama
2002 TAG Winner Outstanding Comedy/Drama
2002 TAG Winner Outstanding Sound Design
Photos
HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES
Bellevue Little Theatre
THREE THE HARD WAY
SNAP! Productions
TAG nomination Outstanding Sound Design
THE HARLEQUIN MANEUVRE
Shelterbelt Theatre
2003 TAG nomination Outstanding New Script
2003 TAG nomination Outstanding One Act Play
Finalist, Strawberry One Act Festival, NYC
Published, The Best of the Strawberry One Act Festival: Volume 1
SHELTERSKELTER 7
Shelterbelt Theatre
Photos
SHELTERSKELTER 6
Shelterbelt Theatre
2002 TAG nomination Outstanding Sound Design
2002 TAG nomination Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a featured role
Photos
SHELTERSKELTER 5
Shelterbelt Theatre
TAG nomination Outstanding new script (COOKING WITH JULIA)
TAG nomination Outstanding new script (SOULMATES)
TAG nomination Outstanding One Act Play (MEDEA)
TAG nomination Outstanding One Act Play (BLOODSUCKER)
Photos
SPIDER
Shelterbelt Theatre
CYBER
Shelterbelt Theatre
THREE TO BEAM UP
Shelterbelt Theatre
TAG nomination Outstanding new script
Photos
WE DON’T SERVE MEXICANS
Shelterbelt Theatre
THE DEADLY SEDUCTION
Shelterbelt Theatre
Shelterskelter 3
MURMURS OF CALIFORNIA
Shelterbelt Theatre
MUSICALS
THE LAST FIVE YEARS
Shelterbelt Theatre
Photos
TOMMY: THE MUSICAL
Shelterbelt Theatre
TAG nomination Outstanding Musical
TAG nomination Outstanding Direction in a Musical
Photos
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
Chanticleer Theatre
TAG nomination Outstanding Musical
TAG nomination Outstanding Direction in a Musical
Photos
COMPANY
Dundee Dinner Theatre
TAG nomination Outstanding Set Design
TAG nomination Outstanding Direction in a Musical
Photos
SOUTH PACIFIC
Chanticleer Theatre
TAG nomination Outstanding Musical
TAG nomination Outstanding Direction in a Musical
Photos
THREE GUYS NAKED FROM THE WAIST DOWN
Shelterbelt Theatre
TAG nomination Outstanding Musical
reviews
THE RAINMAKER
..talented director Don Nguyen bets his Bellevue Little Theatre production on the talents of Nora Vetter and Brian Poole, and the results are as refreshing as the first drops of rain after a long drought…with Nguyen at the helm and the strength of the rest of the cast, this becomes a must-see show..”
John Keenan, Omaha World Herald
MISTER ROBERTS
…because director Don Nguyen knows how to turn a large cast into a true ensemble …attention to detail in staging…The night belongs to Nguyen, who has taken this talent pool about as far as it can go in delivering both laughs and a lump in the throat.”
Bob Fischbach, Omaha World Herald
THE LISBON TRAVIATA
The play’s success greatly depends upon the intelligence of a capable director who can meaningfully connect McNally’s symbolism and motifs… Don Nguyen superbly meets the McNally challenge. While maintaining the proper pacing required to exhibit McNally’s unsung arias, as it were, Nguyen has designed imaginative stage movement patterns to contribute to the vital visual rhythms. In the process, he beautifully bridges the contrasts between the two acts.”
Steve Eskew, The Reader
THE LAST FIVE YEARS
Don Nguyen, however, is very good at what he does. He can spot a show with a lot of promise and then find the people who can make it better than you thought it would be. (I didn’t think I could enjoy another farce until I saw his Lend Me a Tenor.)… Nguyen accomplishes the impossible with the Shelterbelt space. Just look at what he did for Tommy. And now with John Carlson’s help, he’s done it again… Nguyen ends his Shelterbelt reign as artistic director with this thoughtful production. It’s a brilliant way to go out – in style”
Julien Fielding, PerformanceOmaha
Brave, daunting, talented displays of vocal and acting range by two attractive young performers. “The Last Five Years“ is emotionally and musically rich.”
Bob Fischbach, Omaha World Herald
LEND ME A TENOR
Director Don Nguyen keeps the plot moving at a madcap pace that never falters and does a superb job of ratcheting up the anarchy to absurd heights. At the same time, his work here is a study in eye-of-the-storm focus.”
Dee Patney, The Reader
There are endless physical gags and collisions, courtesy of both the script and director Don Nguyen. Nguyen handles his revolving-door comedy on a split set with admirable ease, moving his actors around in what amounts to a miracle of timing.”
Jim Delmont, Omaha World Herald
Don Nguyen, director, has taken already cartoonish characters and stretched them as far as he can. The result is pure hilarity”
Julien Fielding, PerformanceOmaha
Leading the cast, of course, is Don Nguyen as director. The show’s pacing is relentless and never misses a beat, something Nguyen can certainly take credit for”
Jason Keese, Bellevue Leader
TOMMY
Director Don Nguyen and his cast present a vigorous, surprisingly effective “The Who’s Tommy,” a rock opera about a psychosomatically deaf, dumb and blind boy who becomes an idiot savant – a pinball champion and a pop idol…Nguyen’s set pieces, which include sliding panels and a magic mirror, are cleverly designed and used – with all the prop movement smoothly accomplished.”
Jim Delmont, Omaha World Herald
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
The Chanticleer Theatre showed up everyone by staging Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George, brilliantly realized by director Don Nguyen. I never in my life thought I would see this production, especially not in Council Bluffs. If I could trade in all of my theater experiences for one show, this would be the one I’d do it for”
Julien Fielding, PerformanceOmaha
With production values rivaling the Omaha Community Playhouse, director Don Nguyen’s “Sunday in the Park With George” distinguishes itself in nearly every aspect of musical theater.”
Bob Fischbach, Omaha World Herald
THE MARRIAGE OF BETTE AND BOO
Depending on how you play it, “Bette and Boo” could be extremely cruel and insensitive. The doctor tosses the dead babies onto the floor, saying little more than “dead.” But thanks to Nguyen’s insightful direction and the cast’s talents, the piece balances humor with horror. Nguyen unearthed some real acting gems for this production, especially in his actresses…Thanks to the almost surreal performances of the Shelterbelt cast, the production produces some hearty laughs and true moments of zen.”
Julien Fielding, The Reader
THREE THE HARD WAY
Don Nguyen has done a fine job coaxing a smooth ensemble effort from his actors, all of whom are at ease in their roles.”
Jim Delmont, Omaha World Herald
Don directed a very moving production of my play THREE THE HARD WAY. It was an unforgettable experience. I’ve seen that play done 9 or 10 times, and Don made me see it fresh — surprised me, brought me to tears, etc. He’s a kick-ass director and I couldn’t recommend him more highly.”
Linda Eisenstein, Playwright
CORPUS CHRISTI
The retelling of the basic New Testament stories actually is less compelling, a bit episodic, although McNally throws in a twist or two. But theatergoers may find themselves almost counting down to the crucifixion, a sequence beautifully staged by director Don Nguyen.”
John Keenan, Omaha World Herald
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