Andrew Park
Encyclopedia
Andrew Park born in Lafayette, Indiana
is an American Theatre Director and puppeteer
. Park is the current Artistic Director of the John G. Shedd Aquarium and Chicago’s Quest Theatre Ensemble.
in Lafayette, Indiana. After graduating, Park attended Indiana State University
(ISU) to pursue a degree in theater. While still a student at ISU, he became the Artistic Director for the historic Showboat Becky Thatcher in Marietta, Ohio. He directed multiple shows including The Fantasticks
and Barry Manilow
’s obscure musical, The Drunkard. The Showboat also produced his Stephen Foster
and George M. Cohen Tribute, Red, White and Becky as part of their 2000 summer season. Original works have become a trademark of Park’s work.
Park left the Showboat Becky Thatcher in 2000 to pursue his MFA in Directing and Dramaturgy at the Chicago College of Performing Arts
at Roosevelt University
. During the summer of 2001, Park relocated to Glover, Vermont where he worked with Peter Schumann
and the historic Bread and Puppet Theatre. He returned to Chicago to complete his MFA.
In Chicago, Park has created new works with multiple companies as well as directing book shows and musicals. He received a Joseph Jefferson Awards
Nomination for his original production Seashore with TriArts, Inc. in 2002 and became the founding Artistic Director of Chicago’s Quest Theatre Ensemble in the same year. Quest’s first production, Blue Nativity has toured Chicago and other Midwest venues annually since 2002. In 2007, Blue Nativity toured Germany. Park has created over a dozen new works with Quest and received a Jeff Nomination for his original production of The People’s History of the United States.
Park also created a spectacle for the Lollapalooza
music festival in 2005 and directed Circus Crashers at The Actor’s Gym in Evanston, Illinois. In 2006, Park directed Cirque Shanghai at Chicago’s Pepsi Skyline Stage at Navy Pier
and a new production in the Cirque Shanghai franchise, Bai Xi in 2007. After its run at the Pepsi Skyline stage, Bai Xi enjoyed a two month run at the Tropicana Casino and Resort Atlantic City.
Park left Cirque Shanghai in 2007 to become the Artistic Director of Chicago’s John G. Shedd Aquarium. He conceived and served as the Production Artistic Director for Shedd’s new multispecies animal attraction, Fantasea, which will open on October 16, 2009 at the Aquarium.
Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 67,140. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on...
is an American Theatre Director and puppeteer
Puppeteer
A puppeteer is a person who manipulates an inanimate object, such as a puppet, in real time to create the illusion of life. The puppeteer may be visible to or hidden from the audience. A puppeteer can operate a puppet indirectly by the use of strings, rods, wires, electronics or directly by his or...
. Park is the current Artistic Director of the John G. Shedd Aquarium and Chicago’s Quest Theatre Ensemble.
Career
Park developed a passion for acting and directing while attending Jefferson High SchoolJefferson High School (Indiana)
For schools with a similar name, see Jefferson High School.Jefferson High School is a high school located in Lafayette, Indiana, and administered by the Lafayette School Corporation...
in Lafayette, Indiana. After graduating, Park attended Indiana State University
Indiana State University
Indiana State University is a public university located in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States.The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the "Best in the Midwest" seven years running, and the College of Education's Graduate Program was recently named as a 'Top 100' by U.S...
(ISU) to pursue a degree in theater. While still a student at ISU, he became the Artistic Director for the historic Showboat Becky Thatcher in Marietta, Ohio. He directed multiple shows including The Fantasticks
The Fantasticks
The Fantasticks is a 1960 musical with music by Harvey Schmidt and lyrics by Tom Jones. It was produced by Lore Noto. It tells an allegorical story, loosely based on the play "The Romancers" by Edmond Rostand, concerning two neighboring fathers who trick their children, Luisa and Matt, into...
and Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."...
’s obscure musical, The Drunkard. The Showboat also produced his Stephen Foster
Stephen Foster
Stephen Collins Foster , known as the "father of American music", was the pre-eminent songwriter in the United States of the 19th century...
and George M. Cohen Tribute, Red, White and Becky as part of their 2000 summer season. Original works have become a trademark of Park’s work.
Park left the Showboat Becky Thatcher in 2000 to pursue his MFA in Directing and Dramaturgy at the Chicago College of Performing Arts
Chicago College of Performing Arts
Chicago College of Performing Arts is a performing arts college that is housed at Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois. The college has two divisions: the Music Conservatory and the Theatre Conservatory.- History :...
at Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University is a coeducational, private university with campuses in Chicago, Illinois and Schaumburg, Illinois. Founded in 1945, the university is named in honor of both former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The university's curriculum is based on...
. During the summer of 2001, Park relocated to Glover, Vermont where he worked with Peter Schumann
Peter Schumann
Peter Schumann is the founder and director of the Bread & Puppet Theater. Born in Silesia, he was a sculptor and dancer in Germany before moving to the United States in 1961. In 1963 he founded Bread & Puppet in New York City, and in 1970 moved to the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, eventually...
and the historic Bread and Puppet Theatre. He returned to Chicago to complete his MFA.
In Chicago, Park has created new works with multiple companies as well as directing book shows and musicals. He received a Joseph Jefferson Awards
Joseph Jefferson Awards
The Joseph Jefferson Awards are given annually by a volunteer non-profit committee to acknowledge excellence in theatre in the Chicago area. Founded in 1968, the awards are given in tribute to actor Joseph Jefferson...
Nomination for his original production Seashore with TriArts, Inc. in 2002 and became the founding Artistic Director of Chicago’s Quest Theatre Ensemble in the same year. Quest’s first production, Blue Nativity has toured Chicago and other Midwest venues annually since 2002. In 2007, Blue Nativity toured Germany. Park has created over a dozen new works with Quest and received a Jeff Nomination for his original production of The People’s History of the United States.
Park also created a spectacle for the Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
music festival in 2005 and directed Circus Crashers at The Actor’s Gym in Evanston, Illinois. In 2006, Park directed Cirque Shanghai at Chicago’s Pepsi Skyline Stage at Navy Pier
Navy Pier
Navy Pier is a long pier on the Chicago shoreline of Lake Michigan. It is located in the Streeterville neighborhood of the Near North Side community area. The pier was built in 1916 at a cost of $4.5 million, equivalent to $ today. It was a part of the Plan of Chicago developed by architect and...
and a new production in the Cirque Shanghai franchise, Bai Xi in 2007. After its run at the Pepsi Skyline stage, Bai Xi enjoyed a two month run at the Tropicana Casino and Resort Atlantic City.
Park left Cirque Shanghai in 2007 to become the Artistic Director of Chicago’s John G. Shedd Aquarium. He conceived and served as the Production Artistic Director for Shedd’s new multispecies animal attraction, Fantasea, which will open on October 16, 2009 at the Aquarium.