William Wesbrooks

William Wesbrooks

New York University, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development

Clinical Assistant Professor of Music and Music Education: Director of Vocal Performance

Phone: 998-5154
Email: bill.wesbrooks@nyu.edu

• Music and Performing Arts Professions

William Wesbrooks, a native of southern New Mexico, has made his home in New York City for the past thirty years pursuing a successful career as a stage director, playwright, and teacher. Off-Broadway credits include Tovah Feldshuh's critically acclaimed play, TALLULAH HALLELUJAH! which was named by USA Today as one of the "ten best productions" of the year 2000 and the musical revue, THE WATER COOLERS. Other credits include MY FAIR LADY with Gary Beach, THE SOUND OF MUSIC with Mark Jacobi, GYPSY with Dolores Gray, and SHENANDOAH with John Raitt. He staged the musical numbers for Sarah Miles' one-woman show, SHEBA, and has directed national tours of BRIGADOON, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, THE KING AND I, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, and WEST SIDE STORY. He directed both American and European tours of MY ONE AND ONLY with Jodi Benson and Hinton Battle. Regional credits include PRIVATE LIVES, THE MIKADO, THE SECRET GARDEN, and A WONDERFUL LIFE which was awarded both "best musical" and "best director" awards by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. As a playwright he was awarded a CAPS Fellowship and a Ludwig Vogelstein Grant for BEULAH LAND as well as a development grant from the Pilgrim Project. With composer Ronald Strauss he co-wrote the libretto for BARBARY KEEP, a ballad opera which received a 1994 development grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and was produced in the spring of 2001 as part of NYU's new works development project. In collaboration with Maury Yeston he wrote the book for HISTORY LOVES COMPANY and directed that show's world premiere in Chicago. He has served as the director of the Steinhardt School's program in Vocal Performance for the past six years, and during that time has directed productions of RAGTIME, THE MERRY WIDOW, STREET SCENE, HANSEL AND GRETL, THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, INTO THE WOODS, 110 IN THE SHADE, HANDS ACROSS THE SEA, and JACQUES BREL. He is a member of The Dramatists Guild, The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, and Actors Equity Association.