About Geoffrey Edwards
Geoffrey Edwards is an award-winning author and stage director whose productions have been cited for excellence by both the CHICAGO TRIBUNE and SUN-TIMES. In addition to working with such leading American opera companies as the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Opera Theatre, Michigan Opera Theatre, and Piedmont Opera, Mr. Edwards has served as directorial consultant to Italy’s New Opera Festival di Roma and the International Opera Academy in Rome.
As resident stage director for the DuPage Opera Theatre, he has staged a wide array of highly praised productions, including THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO, DON PASQUALE, THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, WERTHER, and MADAME BUTTERFLY. The NAPERVILLE SUN wrote that his COSÌ FAN TUTTE offered “a shining presentation of the composer’s genius, and a lavish production.” The GLEN ELLYN NEWS reported of THE BARBER OF SEVILLE that “Edwards captured the bits of sophistication, gallantry, and intrigue of Beaumarchais’ original classic comedy as the characters unfold the story of their foibles and follies, moving easily from sentimentality to laughter, drama to burlesque.” SUN PUBLICATIONS enthused, “Georges Bizet’s magnificent opera is a feast for the ears, and DuPage’s CARMEN is also a feast for the eyes. Spark-filled and always lavishly colorful, this CARMEN enhances the experience of having seen one of the true giants of the opera world.” The WHEATON DAILY JOURNAL declared that Mr. Edwards’ production of LA TRAVIATA, “through its highly skilled cast and sophisticated staging, is preserving the beauty and passion of this classic work. Last Saturday’s performance was visually and vocally exquisite.”
Among his other opera credits are perennial favorites like TOSCA, touring shows like EL CAPITAN, children’s musicals like SID THE SERPENT WHO WANTED TO SING, and modern works like THE FACE ON THE BARROOM FLOOR. The OAK PARK JOURNAL called his HANSEL AND GRETEL “wonderfully creative, innovative, imaginative, and loaded with talent.” LA RONDINE left COPLEY NEWSPAPERS breathless for superlatives: “Gorgeous . . . superb . . . captivating . . . breathtaking . . . handsomely staged.” The RIVER CITIES’ READER raved, “Kudos go out to visionary stage director Geoffrey Edwards. A packed and appreciative audience spoke by giving THE MAGIC FLUTE a standing ovation.”
As a theatre director, he has specialized in staging acclaimed revivals of classic works. His credits range from ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA to THE LITTLE FOXES, from ANTIGONE to MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL, from CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF to ARSENIC AND OLD LACE. PIONEER PRESS wrote that under his direction “Anton Chekhov’s final play, considered by many to be his masterpiece, has been faithfully and feelingly brought to life. THE CHERRY ORCHARD, though a comedy, is also a wrenching story of loss and waste, as well as a historical harbinger of the revolution that convulsed Russia less than two decades after its debut in 1904. Director Geoffrey Edwards is obviously sensitive to the tragic undercurrents of the play and has managed to bring them to the fore without sacrificing the light tone of Chekhov’s dialogue.” He has staged hit productions of THE MISANTHROPE, BLITHE SPIRIT, and CHARLEY’S AUNT, along with numerous Golden Age musicals. The DAILY HERALD proclaimed, “[Edwards’] staging keeps alive the magic of OKLAHOMA!,” and he has won similar accolades for musical productions from DIE FLEDERMAUS and THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE to A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM.
Mr. Edwards has led Marquee Theatre Company to prominence as one of the Chicago area’s most popular and prolific classical theatres. “Evanston’s Marquee troupe plays to full houses,” applauded the CHICAGO TRIBUNE, and “features top-notch actors. Marquee is very much an extension of artistic director and founder, Geoffrey Edwards.” STAGEBILL concurred: “Marquee Theatre Company has earned a reputation for elegantly produced classic plays in an intimate setting.” Mr. Edwards has staged some two dozen lauded productions for MTC, from MARY STUART, LA DAME AUX CAMÉLIAS, and CYRANO DE BERGERAC to A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL, and THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. He has also directed such blockbuster musicals as SOUTH PACIFIC, THE KING AND I, CAMELOT, and MAN OF LA MANCHA.
An active speaker, lecturer, and university educator, he received his PhD in Theatre and Drama from Northwestern University and has served on faculties in both the United States and Europe. Mr. Edwards’ poetry has appeared in several international anthologies, while his dramatic adaptations and translations have been presented in multiple professional stagings. He has written numerous articles on opera and drama and is the author, with his father, Metropolitan Opera baritone Ryan Edwards, of THE VERDI BARITONE: STUDIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DRAMATIC CHARACTER (Indiana University Press), VERDI AND PUCCINI HEROINES: DRAMATIC CHARACTERIZATION IN GREAT SOPRANO ROLES (Scarecrow Press), and A.K.A. DOC: THE ORAL HISTORY OF A NEW ORLEANS STREET MUSICIAN (book-CD package, Cadence Jazz Books).