Des McAnuff Biography

Fast Facts

• Won two Tony Awards for Best Director (Musical), one for "Big River" in 1985 and one for "The Who's Tommy" in 1993
• Was honored with the Julia Hansen Award for lifetime achievement in directing in 2005
• Was awarded the Governor General's National Arts Center Award and the Order of Canada in 2013
• Was nominated for two Tony Awards for Best Book (Musical), one for "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" in 1995 and one for "Jersey Boys" in 2006
• Received an honorary doctorate from Ryerson University in 2011, where he had studied Theatre in the early 1970s
• Began his career directing his own plays in Toronto in the 1970s before leaving for New York
• Best known as a Broadway musical theater director who worked on "Jersey Boys," "Big River," and "The Who's Tommy․"
• Has also been involved in the film industry as the director of "Cousin Bette" and "The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle," the executive producer of "Quills," and the producer of "Iron Giant․"
• Is the former artistic director of the Stratford Festival as well as the artistic director emeritus at the La Jolla Playhouse
• Some of his other Broadway productions include "Guys and Dolls," "Jesus Christ Superstar," and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying․"