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
- ^ 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.
- ^ Long, John (December 2006). "Conversation with Cynthia Levin, Producing Artistic Director for the Unicorn". Camp. pp. 1–8.
- ^ Vernon, Ann (Fall 2003). "The Unicorn Theatre at 30 – celebrating years, survival, and excellence". Kansas City Jewish Life.
- ^ "Cynthia Levin, '77". Park University Alumni Profile. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
- ^ Vernon, Ann (Fall 2003). "The Unicorn Theatre at 30 – celebrating years, survival, and excellence". Kansas City Jewish Life.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Long, John (December 2006). "Conversation with Cynthia Levin, Producing Artistic Director for the Unicorn". Camp. pp. 1–8.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Unicorn Envisions Bright Future". Kansas City Star. 29 August 2004. pp. M6: 1–6.
- ^ "Unicorn Theatre Announces 40th Season". KCMETROPOLIS.org. April 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
- ^ "About Cynthia". Unicorn Theatre website. Archived from the original on 21 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
- ^ "Cynthia Levin, '77". Park University Alumni Profile. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
- ^ Silverman, Robin; John Simonson (December 1995). "Local Heroes". Ingrams. 21 (12): 2–4.
- ^ "Missouri Arts Awards Honorees, 1983-2014". Missouri Arts Council.
- ^ "Cynthia Levin, '77". Park University Alumni Profile. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
- ^ B., Marsha. "News Release: Library Foundation Announces 2009 Pinnacle Award Winners". Johnson County Library. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08.
- ^ "About Cynthia". Unicorn Theatre website. Archived from the original on 21 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
- ^ "Cynthia Levin, '77". Park University Alumni Profile. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 2014-03-14.