Stephen Moorer
Encyclopedia
Stephen Moorer is a stage actor, director and producer based on the Central California Coast. He founded the only year-round professional theatre in Monterey County, GroveMont Theatre in 1982, renaming the non-profit organization Pacific Repertory Theatre
in 1994, when the group acquired the Golden Bough Playhouse
in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.
. His parents are George Edward Moorer, a retired salesman and entrepreneur, and Carrol Rothe Moorer, a nurse. When he was 11 years old, his family moved to the Monterey Peninsula
. His mother acted in amateur performances in the San Fernando Valley
, and Stephen got an early taste of performing in community theatre. His first principal role was Miles in The Innocents (based on The Turn of the Screw
), with The Rafters Theatre Guild. Moorer attended the Carmel, California middle and high schools, becoming actively involved in the drama program, acting in and producing shows. In his senior year, he played a criminal mastermind in Wait Until Dark
. From the age of 11 to 17, Moorer also studied theatre at Carmel's Children's Experimental Theatre.
After graduating from high school in 1979, Moorer appeared in a 3-show repertory season at Hartnell Summer Theatre (which was later called the Western Stage). He returned to the Children's Experimental Theatre in 1980 for a paid internship, sponsored by CETA
, studying acting and theatre production. In 1982, he trained in an intensive 16-week summer season at the American Conservatory Theater
in San Francisco.
Moorer has been married three times, to Jeanne Wooster, Mickie Mosley, and Julie Hughett, and he has one daughter, Claire.
. The following year he played Bertram in All's Well that Ends Well
and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing
. He continued playing roles in companies throughout California, including Gunner in Misalliance
(1981); Garth in Philadelphia Here I Come and Cliff in The Woolgatherer
, Lancelot Gobbo in The Merchant of Venice
and Tranio in Taming of the Shrew (all in 1982); Philip in The Lion in Winter
and the title role in an adaptation of Tom Jones
(both in 1983); Mark in Mass Appeal
, Nick in David Mamet
's The Woods and Toumel in A Flea in Her Ear
(all in 1984); George in Of Mice and Men, John Merrick
in The Elephant Man
, Levinsky in Nuts
, Dromio in Comedy of Errors
and Romeo in Romeo and Juliet
(all in 1985); Jack in Charley's Aunt
(1986); and the title role in Robin Hood: The King Returns (1987) by Dan Gotch.
Beginning in 1987, Moorer began to perform mostly with the theatre company that he founded, GroveMont Theatre, later known as Pacific Repertory Theatre
(PacRep). His roles there in dramas, comedies and musicals included The Reporter in How I Got That Story (1987); Sylvestro in Scapino (1988); Williamson in Glengarry Glen Ross
(1989); Valmont in Les Liaisons Dangereuses
(1990); Barry Champlain in Talk Radio
(1992); the title roles in Hamlet
(1993) and Volpone
(2000); Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar
; Johnny in Shimmer
(1998); Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
and Uncle Peck in How I Learned to Drive
(both in 1999).
At the Forest Theater
, for the Carmel Shake-speare Festival, he played Richmond in Richard III
(1993), the title role in Coriolanus
(1997), and Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2000). In 2002, he returned to PacRep, where he revisited the title role in The Elephant Man (2002, opposite Barbara Babcock
). Of this performance, one reviewer wrote, "Moorer reprises his 1988 role ... with skill and dignity. Working with no makeup or prosthesis to simulate Merrick's appearance, Moorer twists his face into a grotesque mask from which a high-pitched, rasping, wheezing voice emerges. From a physical aspect alone, Moorer's performance is skilled and noteworthy. Moorer also delivers a well-executed emotional performance that highlights Merrick's artistic sensitivity and droll sense of humor." He next played Jason in Medea
(2003) (directed by Joseph Chaikin
). His performances as Ned in Elizabeth Rex
and Edward de Vere in The Beard of Avon
(2005), were praised by the critic of the Monterey County Weekly as "two of the greatest performances I've seen during three years of reviewing plays on the Peninsula". In 2007, he played the title role in Macbeth
(2007).
at the Monterey Bay TheatreFest in 1987. At the Golden Bough Playhouse
in Carmel, Moorer directed Pacific Repertory Theatre
's (PacRep) inaugural production of Death of a Salesman
(1995), as well as A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1987, 1994), Amadeus
(1996), Henry IV, Parts 1
& 2
(2002), Henry V
(2002), Passion
(1997), Romeo & Juliet (1991, 1997), Antony & Cleopatra (1998), Cyrano (Wells
adaptation) (1998), West Side Story (2001), Thomas of Woodstock (2001), and The Full Monty
(2006, 2007). Moorer also directed PacRep's inaugural production at the Circle Theatre of the Golden Bough of La Bete
(1995), as well as Sylvia
(1998), Picasso at the Lapin Agile
(2000), Edward III
(2001), Richard II
(2001), Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You
(2002), Henry VI Parts 1
, 2
& 3
(2004), and Richard III
(2004). Of his Shakespeare "Royal Blood" series, Talkin' Broadway wrote, "Moorer ... has assembled a brilliant cast of actors from both San Francisco Bay and Los Angeles.... Moorer's direction is first class as he makes both productions exciting human dramas." Another critic wrote, "director Stephen Moorer handles the time-shifting sequences with a keen immediacy that's become his trademark".
He directed the West Coast premieres of The Madness of King George
(1995), High School Musical
(2007), High School Musical 2 (2009) and Talking to Terrorists
(2006). At other theatres, he has directed The Wizard of Oz (2008), A Midsummer Night's Dream (2007), Othello
(1992), King Lear
(1999), Romeo and Juliet (1991), Nunsense
(1991), Laughing Wild
(1991), and The Merchant of Venice
(1995), among others.
In 2003, Moorer produced and directed a Bay Area Critics' Awards-winning production of Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story
. This production, starring Travis Poelle, opened at the Golden Bough Playhouse in Carmel and moved to San Jose
, playing at the San Jose Stage. The success of the production led to a revival in 2004 at the Post St. Theatre in San Francisco, garnering positive reviews and Bay Area Critics' awards for Best Musical, Best Ensemble, and Best Actor in a Musical (Travis Poelle). Buddy Holly
's widow, Maria Elena Holly
, attended the show at each location, dancing onstage with the cast at curtain call. This production later returned to Carmel for several runs, most recently in 2008.
In 2009, Moorer directed Laughter on the 23rd Floor
for Pacific Repertory Theatre. The Monterey County Herald wrote, "Moorer has staged a terrific version of this play with a fun and talented cast".
, in 1982, acting as Artistic Director, and based the company in the Monterey Playhouse. Since that time, he has continued to lead the organization's activities as a major Monterey County arts institution and the only professional theatre company on the Monterey Peninsula
. In 1986, he oversaw the creation of the GroveMont Theatre Arts Center (now the Hoffman Street Theatre), and in 1990, he directed the renovation of the Monterey Playhouse. In 1993, Moorer spearheaded the campaign to save the Golden Bough Playhouse
, and he has since directed its ongoing development and renovation. In 2008, Moorer moved from being Pacific Repertory Theatre's artistic director to become its Executive Director.
In 1990, Moorer founded the Carmel Shake-speare Festival. This annual summer festival uses all three of PacRep's stages, presenting a rotating repertory of Shakespeare, musicals, children's plays and other classic works of English-language drama. Moorer also founded the Monterey Bay TheatreFest and the Actors-in-the-Adobes programs. He is also the co-founder of the Monterey County Theatre Alliance, a founding Board Member of Monterey Opera Association, the co-founder of Forest Theater
Foundation, and a founding Board Member of Carmel Performing Arts Festival.
Pacific Repertory Theatre
The Pacific Repertory Theatre is a non-profit California corporation, based in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, that produces theatrical productions and events, including the annual Carmel Shake-speare Festival, and is the only year-round professional Equity theatre in the Central California Coast...
in 1994, when the group acquired the Golden Bough Playhouse
Golden Bough Playhouse
The Golden Bough Playhouse is a historic theatre in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California on Monte Verde St., between 8th and 9th Avenues. The playhouse occupies the site of the former Carmel Arts and Crafts Clubhouse, Carmel's first cultural center and theatre, built in 1906-07 on Casanova Street, and...
in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.
Early life and family
Moorer was born in Santa Monica, CaliforniaSanta Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
. His parents are George Edward Moorer, a retired salesman and entrepreneur, and Carrol Rothe Moorer, a nurse. When he was 11 years old, his family moved to the Monterey Peninsula
Monterey Peninsula
The Monterey Peninsula is located on the central California coast and comprises the cities of Monterey, Carmel, and Pacific Grove, and unincorporated areas of Monterey County including the resort and community of Pebble Beach.-Monterey:...
. His mother acted in amateur performances in the San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
, and Stephen got an early taste of performing in community theatre. His first principal role was Miles in The Innocents (based on The Turn of the Screw
The Turn of the Screw
The Turn of the Screw is a novella written by Henry James. Originally published in 1898, it is ostensibly a ghost story.Due to its ambiguous content, it became a favourite text of academics who subscribe to New Criticism. The novella has had differing interpretations, often mutually exclusive...
), with The Rafters Theatre Guild. Moorer attended the Carmel, California middle and high schools, becoming actively involved in the drama program, acting in and producing shows. In his senior year, he played a criminal mastermind in Wait Until Dark
Wait Until Dark
Wait Until Dark is a play by Frederick Knott.-Synopsis:Susy Hendrix is a blind Greenwich Village housewife who becomes the target of three con-men searching for the heroin hidden in a doll, which her husband Sam innocently transported from Canada as a favor to a woman who has since been murdered...
. From the age of 11 to 17, Moorer also studied theatre at Carmel's Children's Experimental Theatre.
After graduating from high school in 1979, Moorer appeared in a 3-show repertory season at Hartnell Summer Theatre (which was later called the Western Stage). He returned to the Children's Experimental Theatre in 1980 for a paid internship, sponsored by CETA
Četa
Cheta was an armed band, organized by the Christian population on the territory of the Ottoman Empire, aiming at anti-Turkish activity. The cheta was usually led by a leader, called voivoda. The members of the chetas were called chetnik....
, studying acting and theatre production. In 1982, he trained in an intensive 16-week summer season at the American Conservatory Theater
American Conservatory Theater
American Conservatory Theater is a large non-profit theater company in San Francisco, California, that offers both classical and contemporary theater productions. A.C.T. was founded in 1965 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Playhouse and Carnegie Tech by theatre and...
in San Francisco.
Moorer has been married three times, to Jeanne Wooster, Mickie Mosley, and Julie Hughett, and he has one daughter, Claire.
Actor
Moorer's first professional acting experience was in 1979 at Hartnell Summer Theatre, playing Ottavio in ScapinoLes Fourberies de Scapin
Les Fourberies de Scapin is a three-act comedy by French playwright Molière. The title character Scapin is similar to the archetypical Scapino character. The play was first staged in 1671 in Paris....
. The following year he played Bertram in All's Well that Ends Well
All's Well That Ends Well
All's Well That Ends Well is a play by William Shakespeare. It is believed to have been written between 1604 and 1605, and was originally published in the First Folio in 1623....
and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy written by William Shakespeare about two pairs of lovers, Benedick and Beatrice, and Claudio and Hero....
. He continued playing roles in companies throughout California, including Gunner in Misalliance
Misalliance
Misalliance is a play written in 1909–1910 by George Bernard Shaw.Misalliance takes place entirely on a single Saturday afternoon in the conservatory of a large country house in Hindhead, Surrey in Edwardian era England. It is a continuation of some of the ideas on marriage that he expressed in...
(1981); Garth in Philadelphia Here I Come and Cliff in The Woolgatherer
The Woolgatherer
The Woolgatherer is a play by William Mastrosimone. It originally premiered at the Theatre at Rutgers University in 1979. It was printed in 1981.The play is William Mastrosimone's first play....
, Lancelot Gobbo in The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice is a tragic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. Though classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies, the play is perhaps most remembered for its dramatic...
and Tranio in Taming of the Shrew (all in 1982); Philip in The Lion in Winter
The Lion in Winter
-Synopsis:Set during Christmas 1183 at Henry II of England's château in Chinon, Anjou, Angevin Empire, the play opens with the arrival of Henry's wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, whom he has had imprisoned since 1173...
and the title role in an adaptation of Tom Jones
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, often known simply as Tom Jones, is a comic novel by the English playwright and novelist Henry Fielding. First published on 28 February 1749, Tom Jones is among the earliest English prose works describable as a novel...
(both in 1983); Mark in Mass Appeal
Mass Appeal
Mass Appeal is a two-character play by Bill C. Davis. The comedy-drama focuses on the conflict between a complacent Roman Catholic pastor and the idealistic young deacon who is assigned to his affluent, suburban parish.-Plot:...
, Nick in David Mamet
David Mamet
David Alan Mamet is an American playwright, essayist, screenwriter and film director.Best known as a playwright, Mamet won a Pulitzer Prize and received a Tony nomination for Glengarry Glen Ross . He also received a Tony nomination for Speed-the-Plow . As a screenwriter, he received Oscar...
's The Woods and Toumel in A Flea in Her Ear
A Flea in Her Ear
A Flea in Her Ear is a play by Georges Feydeau written in 1907, at the height of the Belle Époque.-Plot:...
(all in 1984); George in Of Mice and Men, John Merrick
John Merrick
John Merrick may refer to:* John Merrick , English ambassador to Russia* John Merrick , African-American founder of North Carolina Mutual & Provident Insurance Company in Durham, North Carolina...
in The Elephant Man
The Elephant Man (play)
The Elephant Man is a 1977 play by Bernard Pomerance. The production's Broadway debut in 1979 was produced by Richmond Crinkley and Nelle Nugent, and directed by Jack Hofsiss...
, Levinsky in Nuts
Nuts (play)
Nuts is a 1979 play by Tom Topor. It is a suspense, psychological, and courtroom drama that explores sexual abuse issues, family and social power dynamics, and aspects of the criminal court system. It was staged off-off-Broadway in 1979 and transferred to Broadway the following year...
, Dromio in Comedy of Errors
Comedy Of Errors
Comedy Of Errors was a Glasgow-based progressive rock band formed in January 1984. Their first recording was a demo called "Ever be the Prize", and was recorded at a studio in Blanefield in 1985, and followed by a mini album in 1986....
and Romeo in Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
(all in 1985); Jack in Charley's Aunt
Charley's Aunt
Charley's Aunt is a farce in three acts written by Brandon Thomas. It broke all historic records for plays of any kind, with an original London run of 1,466 performances....
(1986); and the title role in Robin Hood: The King Returns (1987) by Dan Gotch.
Beginning in 1987, Moorer began to perform mostly with the theatre company that he founded, GroveMont Theatre, later known as Pacific Repertory Theatre
Pacific Repertory Theatre
The Pacific Repertory Theatre is a non-profit California corporation, based in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, that produces theatrical productions and events, including the annual Carmel Shake-speare Festival, and is the only year-round professional Equity theatre in the Central California Coast...
(PacRep). His roles there in dramas, comedies and musicals included The Reporter in How I Got That Story (1987); Sylvestro in Scapino (1988); Williamson in Glengarry Glen Ross
Glengarry Glen Ross
Glengarry Glen Ross is a 1984 play written by David Mamet. The play shows parts of two days in the lives of four desperate Chicago real estate agents who are prepared to engage in any number of unethical, illegal acts—from lies and flattery to bribery, threats, intimidation and burglary—to sell...
(1989); Valmont in Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Les Liaisons dangereuses is a French epistolary novel by Choderlos de Laclos.Les Liaisons dangereuses may also refer to:* Les liaisons dangereuses , a 1959 film adapted by Claude Brulé and directed by Roger Vadim...
(1990); Barry Champlain in Talk Radio
Talk Radio (play)
Talk Radio is a 1987 Pulitzer Prize-nominated play written by Eric Bogosian, based on a concept by Bogosian and Tad Savinar. It centers around Barry Champlain, a Cleveland-area shock jock, on the eve of his radio show's national syndication....
(1992); the title roles in Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
(1993) and Volpone
Volpone
Volpone is a comedy by Ben Jonson first produced in 1606, drawing on elements of city comedy, black comedy and beast fable...
(2000); Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
; Johnny in Shimmer
Shimmer (play)
Shimmer is a 1988 award-winning one-man play by American playwright John O'Keefe. It is a solo performance, portraying multiple characters, that describes life on a harsh juvenile detention farm in the Midwest in the 1950s.-Plot:...
(1998); Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is a play by Tennessee Williams. One of Williams's best-known works and his personal favorite, the play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1955...
and Uncle Peck in How I Learned to Drive
How I Learned To Drive
How I Learned to Drive is a play written by American playwright Paula Vogel. The play premiered on March 16, 1997 off-broadway at the Vineyard Theatre...
(both in 1999).
At the Forest Theater
Forest Theater
Founded in 1910, the Forest Theater, in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, was one of the earliest outdoor proscenium theaters west of the Rockies. Actor/director Herbert Heron is generally cited as the founder and driving force, and poet/novelist Mary Austin is often credited with suggesting the...
, for the Carmel Shake-speare Festival, he played Richmond in Richard III
Richard III (play)
Richard III is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1591. It depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of Richard III of England. The play is grouped among the histories in the First Folio and is most often classified...
(1993), the title role in Coriolanus
Coriolanus (play)
Coriolanus is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1605 and 1608. The play is based on the life of the legendary Roman leader, Gaius Marcius Coriolanus.-Characters:*Caius Martius, later surnamed Coriolanus...
(1997), and Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2000). In 2002, he returned to PacRep, where he revisited the title role in The Elephant Man (2002, opposite Barbara Babcock
Barbara Babcock
Barbara Babcock is an American character actress. She is perhaps best known for her roles as Grace Gardner on Hill Street Blues for which she won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress—Drama Series in 1981 and her role as Dorothy Jennings on Dr...
). Of this performance, one reviewer wrote, "Moorer reprises his 1988 role ... with skill and dignity. Working with no makeup or prosthesis to simulate Merrick's appearance, Moorer twists his face into a grotesque mask from which a high-pitched, rasping, wheezing voice emerges. From a physical aspect alone, Moorer's performance is skilled and noteworthy. Moorer also delivers a well-executed emotional performance that highlights Merrick's artistic sensitivity and droll sense of humor." He next played Jason in Medea
Medea (play)
Medea is an ancient Greek tragedy written by Euripides, based upon the myth of Jason and Medea and first produced in 431 BC. The plot centers on the barbarian protagonist as she finds her position in the Greek world threatened, and the revenge she takes against her husband Jason who has betrayed...
(2003) (directed by Joseph Chaikin
Joseph Chaikin
Joseph Chaikin was an American theatre director, playwright, and pedagogue.-Early years:The youngest of five children, Chaikin was born to a poor Jewish family living in the Borough Park residential area of Brooklyn. At the age of six, he was struck with rheumatic fever, and he continued to...
). His performances as Ned in Elizabeth Rex
Elizabeth Rex
Elizabeth Rex is a play by Timothy Findley.The plot involves a meeting between Queen Elizabeth I and an actor from Shakespeare's troupe who specializes in playing women's parts...
and Edward de Vere in The Beard of Avon
The Beard of Avon
The Beard of Avon is a play by Amy Freed, originally commissioned and produced by South Coast Repertory in 2001.In the play, Shakspere abandons his wife Anne Hathaway in Stratford-on-Avon after a visit from a touring company of players. He makes his way to London, determined to be an actor, and...
(2005), were praised by the critic of the Monterey County Weekly as "two of the greatest performances I've seen during three years of reviewing plays on the Peninsula". In 2007, he played the title role in Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
(2007).
Director
Moorer has directed over a hundred productions. His first directing job was A Midsummer Night's DreamA Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream is a play that was written by William Shakespeare. It is believed to have been written between 1590 and 1596. It portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta...
at the Monterey Bay TheatreFest in 1987. At the Golden Bough Playhouse
Golden Bough Playhouse
The Golden Bough Playhouse is a historic theatre in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California on Monte Verde St., between 8th and 9th Avenues. The playhouse occupies the site of the former Carmel Arts and Crafts Clubhouse, Carmel's first cultural center and theatre, built in 1906-07 on Casanova Street, and...
in Carmel, Moorer directed Pacific Repertory Theatre
Pacific Repertory Theatre
The Pacific Repertory Theatre is a non-profit California corporation, based in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, that produces theatrical productions and events, including the annual Carmel Shake-speare Festival, and is the only year-round professional Equity theatre in the Central California Coast...
's (PacRep) inaugural production of Death of a Salesman
Death of a Salesman
Death of a Salesman is a 1949 play written by American playwright Arthur Miller. It was the recipient of the 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play. Premiered at the Morosco Theatre in February 1949, the original production ran for a total of 742 performances.-Plot :Willy Loman...
(1995), as well as A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1987, 1994), Amadeus
Amadeus
Amadeus is a play by Peter Shaffer.It is based on the lives of the composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri, highly fictionalized.Amadeus was first performed in 1979...
(1996), Henry IV, Parts 1
Henry IV, Part 1
Henry IV, Part 1 is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written no later than 1597. It is the second play in Shakespeare's tetralogy dealing with the successive reigns of Richard II, Henry IV , and Henry V...
& 2
Henry IV, Part 2
Henry IV, Part 2 is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed written between 1596 and 1599. It is the third part of a tetralogy, preceded by Richard II and Henry IV, Part 1 and succeeded by Henry V.-Sources:...
(2002), Henry V
Henry V (play)
Henry V is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to be written in approximately 1599. Its full titles are The Cronicle History of Henry the Fifth and The Life of Henry the Fifth...
(2002), Passion
Passion (musical)
Passion is a musical adapted from Ettore Scola's film Passione d'Amore . The book is by James Lapine, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Central subjects include obsession, beauty, power, manipulation, passion, illness, and love...
(1997), Romeo & Juliet (1991, 1997), Antony & Cleopatra (1998), Cyrano (Wells
John Wells (satirist)
John Wells was an English actor, writer and satirist, educated at Eastbourne College and St Edmund Hall, Oxford...
adaptation) (1998), West Side Story (2001), Thomas of Woodstock (2001), and The Full Monty
The Full Monty (musical)
The Full Monty is a musical with a book by Terrence McNally and score by David Yazbek.In this Americanized musical stage version adapted from the 1997 British film of the same name, six unemployed Buffalo steelworkers, low on both cash and prospects, decide to present a strip act at a local club...
(2006, 2007). Moorer also directed PacRep's inaugural production at the Circle Theatre of the Golden Bough of La Bete
La Bête
La Bête is a comedy by American playwright, David Hirson. Written in rhymed couplets of iambic pentameter, the Molière-inspired story, set in 17th century France, pits dignified, stuffy Elomire, the head of the royal court-sponsored theatre troupe, against the foppish, frivolous street entertainer...
(1995), as well as Sylvia
Sylvia (play)
Sylvia is a play about a dog, the couple who adopts her,and the drama that results. It was written by A. R. Gurney and first produced in 1995....
(1998), Picasso at the Lapin Agile
Picasso at the Lapin Agile
Picasso at the Lapin Agile is a play written by Steve Martin in 1993. It features the characters of Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso, who meet at a bar called the Lapin Agile in Montmartre, Paris...
(2000), Edward III
Edward III (play)
The Reign of King Edward the Third is an Elizabethan play printed anonymously in 1596. It has frequently been claimed that it was at least partly written by William Shakespeare, a view that Shakespeare scholars have increasingly endorsed. The rest of the play was probably written by Thomas Kyd...
(2001), Richard II
Richard II (play)
King Richard the Second is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to be written in approximately 1595. It is based on the life of King Richard II of England and is the first part of a tetralogy, referred to by some scholars as the Henriad, followed by three plays concerning Richard's...
(2001), Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You
Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You
Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You is a play by Christopher Durang first performed on December 14, 1979, at the Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York City. It was performed on a bill with one-act plays that included works by David Mamet, Marsha Norman, and Tennessee Williams...
(2002), Henry VI Parts 1
Henry VI, part 1
Henry VI, Part 1 or The First Part of Henry the Sixt is a history play by William Shakespeare, and possibly Thomas Nashe, believed to have been written in 1591, and set during the lifetime of King Henry VI of England...
, 2
Henry VI, part 2
Henry VI, Part 2 or The Second Part of Henry the Sixt is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1591, and set during the lifetime of King Henry VI of England...
& 3
Henry VI, part 3
Henry VI, Part 3 or The Third Part of Henry the Sixt is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1591, and set during the lifetime of King Henry VI of England...
(2004), and Richard III
Richard III (play)
Richard III is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1591. It depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of Richard III of England. The play is grouped among the histories in the First Folio and is most often classified...
(2004). Of his Shakespeare "Royal Blood" series, Talkin' Broadway wrote, "Moorer ... has assembled a brilliant cast of actors from both San Francisco Bay and Los Angeles.... Moorer's direction is first class as he makes both productions exciting human dramas." Another critic wrote, "director Stephen Moorer handles the time-shifting sequences with a keen immediacy that's become his trademark".
The Madness of George III (play)
The Madness of George III is a 1991 play by Alan Bennett. It is a fictionalised biographical study of the latter half of the reign of George III of Great Britain, his battle with mental illness and the inability of his court to handle his condition...
(1995), High School Musical
High School Musical
High School Musical is a 2006 American television film, first in the High School Musical film franchise. Upon its release on January 20, 2006, it became the most successful film that Disney Channel Original Movie ever produced, with a television sequel High School Musical 2 released in 2007 and...
(2007), High School Musical 2 (2009) and Talking to Terrorists
Talking to Terrorists
Talking to Terrorists is a play written by Robin Soans. It was first performed at the Theatre Royal, Bury St. Edmunds, England, on 21 April 2005. The play is written in the style of verbatim theatre where all of the dialogue is taken from real interviews and then recreated on stage...
(2006). At other theatres, he has directed The Wizard of Oz (2008), A Midsummer Night's Dream (2007), Othello
Othello
The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1603, and based on the Italian short story "Un Capitano Moro" by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565...
(1992), King Lear
King Lear
King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The title character descends into madness after foolishly disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological...
(1999), Romeo and Juliet (1991), Nunsense
Nunsense
Nunsense is a musical comedy with a book, music, and lyrics by Dan Goggin. Originating as a line of greeting cards, Goggin expanded the concept into a cabaret that ran for 38 weeks, and eventually into a full-length musical...
(1991), Laughing Wild
Laughing Wild
Laughing Wild is a 1987 play written by Christopher Durang.The show is written for one actor and one actress. The woman's character is emotional and unstable, and talks about hitting someone in the supermarket who wouldn't get out of the way of the tuna fish she wanted to buy. The man's character...
(1991), and The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice is a tragic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. Though classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies, the play is perhaps most remembered for its dramatic...
(1995), among others.
In 2003, Moorer produced and directed a Bay Area Critics' Awards-winning production of Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story
Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story
Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story is a jukebox musical in two acts with a book written by Alan Janes, and music and lyrics by a variety of songwriters. Based on the life and career of early rock and roller Buddy Holly, the musical hews closer to Holly's actual life story than the 1978 film version...
. This production, starring Travis Poelle, opened at the Golden Bough Playhouse in Carmel and moved to San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, playing at the San Jose Stage. The success of the production led to a revival in 2004 at the Post St. Theatre in San Francisco, garnering positive reviews and Bay Area Critics' awards for Best Musical, Best Ensemble, and Best Actor in a Musical (Travis Poelle). Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
's widow, Maria Elena Holly
Maria Elena Holly
María Elena Holly is the widow of rock and roll pioneer Buddy Holly. She owns the rights to his name, image, trademarks, and other intellectual property.-Early years:...
, attended the show at each location, dancing onstage with the cast at curtain call. This production later returned to Carmel for several runs, most recently in 2008.
In 2009, Moorer directed Laughter on the 23rd Floor
Laughter on the 23rd Floor
Laughter on the 23rd Floor is a play by Neil Simon.Inspired by Simon's early career experience as a junior jokesmith for Your Show of Shows, the play focuses on Sid Caesar/Jackie Gleason-like Max Prince, the star of a weekly comedy-variety show circa 1953, and his staff, including Simon's...
for Pacific Repertory Theatre. The Monterey County Herald wrote, "Moorer has staged a terrific version of this play with a fun and talented cast".
Producer
Moorer began working in theatre production in 1981 as Production Manager for Carl Cherry Foundation's New Play Series. By 2006, he had produced over 350 shows. He founded GroveMont Theatre, now Pacific Repertory TheatrePacific Repertory Theatre
The Pacific Repertory Theatre is a non-profit California corporation, based in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, that produces theatrical productions and events, including the annual Carmel Shake-speare Festival, and is the only year-round professional Equity theatre in the Central California Coast...
, in 1982, acting as Artistic Director, and based the company in the Monterey Playhouse. Since that time, he has continued to lead the organization's activities as a major Monterey County arts institution and the only professional theatre company on the Monterey Peninsula
Monterey Peninsula
The Monterey Peninsula is located on the central California coast and comprises the cities of Monterey, Carmel, and Pacific Grove, and unincorporated areas of Monterey County including the resort and community of Pebble Beach.-Monterey:...
. In 1986, he oversaw the creation of the GroveMont Theatre Arts Center (now the Hoffman Street Theatre), and in 1990, he directed the renovation of the Monterey Playhouse. In 1993, Moorer spearheaded the campaign to save the Golden Bough Playhouse
Golden Bough Playhouse
The Golden Bough Playhouse is a historic theatre in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California on Monte Verde St., between 8th and 9th Avenues. The playhouse occupies the site of the former Carmel Arts and Crafts Clubhouse, Carmel's first cultural center and theatre, built in 1906-07 on Casanova Street, and...
, and he has since directed its ongoing development and renovation. In 2008, Moorer moved from being Pacific Repertory Theatre's artistic director to become its Executive Director.
In 1990, Moorer founded the Carmel Shake-speare Festival. This annual summer festival uses all three of PacRep's stages, presenting a rotating repertory of Shakespeare, musicals, children's plays and other classic works of English-language drama. Moorer also founded the Monterey Bay TheatreFest and the Actors-in-the-Adobes programs. He is also the co-founder of the Monterey County Theatre Alliance, a founding Board Member of Monterey Opera Association, the co-founder of Forest Theater
Forest Theater
Founded in 1910, the Forest Theater, in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, was one of the earliest outdoor proscenium theaters west of the Rockies. Actor/director Herbert Heron is generally cited as the founder and driving force, and poet/novelist Mary Austin is often credited with suggesting the...
Foundation, and a founding Board Member of Carmel Performing Arts Festival.