So let me get right to the point: Click here to download a PDF of Ilana’s resume.
Modern Masters! with the Boston Pops
Ilana is Associate Directing for Jason Daniely with the Boston Pops again, on a new project he has written celebrating the last 20 years of Tony Award-Winning musicals on Broadway. The show will feature music from Hadestown, Kimberly Akimbo, Hamilton, A Gentleman’s Guide…, and many more!
Featuring Maestro Keith Lockhart, the show will also feature the performing talents of: Joshua Henry, Victoria Clark, Scarlet Strallen, Bryce Pinkham and Darius de Haas. Georgia Stitt will music supervise.
RAGTIME with the Boston Pops
Ilana served as Associate Director to Broadway’s Jason Daniely, as well as choreographed “Henry Ford” and “What A Game!” for Keith Lockhart and The Boston Pops.
The production featured Elizabeth Stanley as Mother, Alton Fitzgerald White as Coalhouse Walker Jr., Nikki Renee Daniels and Sarah, John Cariani as Tateh, A.J. Shively as Younger Brother and Klea Blackhurst as Emma Goldman.
The show opened in Boston, MA at the iconic Symphony Hall in May of 2023, and then transferred to Tanglewood in July of 2023 to help open the Tanglewood season.
The show received rave reviews across the board and Ilana’s Act II choreography of “What A Game” received additional praise.
Barrington Stage Company
Ilana is proud to be spending June and July in her beloved Berkshires, directing and teaching dance for the Musical Theatre Conservatory at Barrington Stage Company.
Ilana had her Barrington Stage Directing Debut on Monday, June 23 at William Finn’s Cabaret with “Anything But Love”, a cabaret celebrating all things in this world outside of romantic love. Ilana is also having a blast teaching talented students the original choreography of Tony Award-Winners Bob Fosse, Michael Bennett, Susan Stroman, Casey Nicholaw, and more.
Cabaret (Cutler Majestic — Boston, MA)
Ilana had her Boston directing debut on an epic scale with “Cabaret”, the capstone to the 2022-2023 Emerson Stage Season. The show celebrated and challenged diversity, gender identity, Judaic history and so much more. The show opened to incredibly warm reception in April of 2023 at the Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston’s Historic Theatre District.
Emerson College (Boston, MA)
Ilana is proud to accept a new role (September thru May) as an Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre in Emerson College’s BFA Musical Theatre program.
In addition to directing annually with Emerson Stage, Ilana will be teaching Advanced Musical Theatre Performance for the juniors and seniors, Contemporary Musical Theatre, Pop Studio, Professional Development, Directing the Musical and more.
The New Musicals Lab at the Ferguson Center
Ilana collaborated with The Ferguson Center for the Arts and Christopher Newport University (CNU) to launch The New Musicals Lab — a summer of new musical development for 9 shows, 15 live performances, 50+ artists, 8 writing teams, 30 actors, 3 workshop labs.
The NML is designed to elevate emerging artists and their development of new musicals in a supportive artistic haven outside of the “Tri-State Bubble”. The final two weeks of the program featured a Writers Residency, serving as an incubator for experienced writers to develop their new musical projects with talent and resources provided, culminating in the recording of demos and a performance opportunity.
In 2021, the NML partnered with Maestra, an organization dedicated to the women and non-binary artists who make the music in the musical theatre industry, to offer two Residency spots to members of the Maestra community.
Ilana served as Director-in-Residence for the inaugural season of the New Musicals Lab (NML) at the Ferguson Center for the Arts and directed, choreographed, wrote and helped guide these new works along to their next steps. In the summer of ‘22, Ilana worked on:
“?????: the Improvised Broadway Musical”
“True North: A Magical New Holiday Musical”
“Madam President: an Optimistic Musical”
“Fever Dreams” and
“(The Untitled Clara Schumann Project)”
Ilana was interviewed by the local NPR in July, you can listen to the extended cut here.
The initial New Musicals Lab 2021 press release can be found here.
The final New Musicals Lab 2021 press release can be found here.
More information about the New Musicals Lab can be found on instgram (@NewMusicalsLab) or on the website: www.newmusicalslab.com
Musical Mentors Collaborative (MMC)
Also during the Pandemic, Ilana partnered with Musical Mentors Collaborative (MMC) to found a Broadway Teaching Fellowship program at Girard College (Philadelphia, PA - Link to donate here). MMC wrapped up 2020 with a wildly successful gala featuring the inimitable talents of Sutton Foster, Jonathan Groff, Yannick Nezet-Seguin (Music Director, The Metropolitan Opera), Emanuel Ax, Jeanine Tesori (Tony Award-winning composer of Fun Home, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Lisa Kron — and more. Ilana is also the Director of Musical Theatre @ MMC.
WE AREN’T KIDS ANYMORE
BY DREW GASPARINI
ALBUM DROP & LIBRETTO RELEASED FOR LICENSING by concord
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Ilana directed and choreographed the world premiere of Drew Gasparini’s new song cycle WE AREN'T KIDS ANYMORE. The Original Cast Album (Feat: Bonnie Milligan, Raymond J. Lee, Lilli Cooper, Nickolas Christopher & Colton Ryan) dropped on April 12th, 2020. The Libretto was released for licensing by Concord Theatricals this summer.
WE AREN'T KIDS ANYMORE is a reflection on adulting. Drew pulls from personal experience about navigating relationships, trying to carve a name for oneself as an artist, and the fine line between wanting more and the dangers of excess. When each moment feels so big and important as it comes, how do you keep sight of meaning and balance in your art and in your life?
Tracy Jones — A Benefit Reading for THE BECHDEL GROUP
a new play by stephen kaplan
Tracy Jones
Meet Tracy Jones, the eccentric, enthusiastic woman who has rented out the back room of “Jones Street Bar and Grille — the Place for Wings and Things” so that she may throw a party…for Tracy Jones.
What happens when one Tracy Jones is brave enough to throw a party for every woman named “Tracy Jones” that she can reach?
Stephen Kaplan’s brilliant, quick new dark comedy explores the timeless topic of: Are we alone-together, or together-alone?
The benefit reading of this play features an all-star cast, including:
Sarah D’Acey Charles
Grace Capeless
Vasthy Mompoint, and
Brad Oscar (Tony Nominee)
A must-see for anyone who has been craving chicken wings. To read more about The Bechdel Group, click here.
Madam President: An Optimistic New Musical
A show about putting
women where they belong:
in office.
Amy, author of the best-selling feminist coffee-table book, “Madam President,” loses faith in herself and her country following Hillary Clinton’s loss in the 2016 election. Her intense sorrow, mixed with a bit of bad weed, leads her into her very own book.
While inside the pages, she meets the past women presidential candidates she so admires, such as Victoria Woodhull, Shirley Chisholm, Gracie Allen, LaDonna Harris, and yes, Hillary Clinton.
Can Amy find her way back home? And, even if she does, will she want to return? Madam President: An Optimistic Musical is a celebration of those women who have blazed the trail, and those who are continuing the journey.
Madam President had an extremely successful workshop in the summer of 2021 at the Ferguson Center’s New Musicals Lab. The cast featured Megan Masako Haley (Wicked, Mean Girls - 1st National Tour, Pacific Overtures @ CSC), Gabi Campo (The Prom, West Side Story (2019 Revival), Ines Nassara (The Wiz, Kate Spade’s Summer “Get Happy” Campaign Vocalist) and Rachel Fobbs (Margaritaville 1st National Tour).
?????: The Improvised Broadway Musical
So… How do I pronounce “?????”
The lights come down. The curtain rises.
And the performers have no idea what will happen next.
????? The Improvised Broadway Musical has all of the heart and magic of a beloved Broadway musical with the raucous insanity of an underground comedy show. A night unlike any other filled with laughter and joy for both avid theatregoers and Broadway newcomers alike. Featuring a rotating cast of veteran improvisers, Broadway performers and special guest stars, we create a brand new, never-before-seen musical on the spot inspired by your suggestion of a title of a musical that doesn’t exist.
No script, no score, no choreography — only limitless possibilities.
Stay tuned for an exciting upcoming announcement from “?????”!
True North: A Magical New Holiday Musical
“Christmas is our Jam!”
Ilana directed the 29 hour reading of “True North: A Magical New Holiday Musical” (nee “Come Find Me: A Christmas Musical”) in October 2019 at the York Theatre (New York, NY).
The project had a successful Zoom reading during the pandemic, as well as an incredibly successful workshop at the Ferguson Center’s New Musicals Lab this summer.
Stay tuned for some exciting updates from this delightful, new holiday musical.
For more information or inquiries, please visit the show’s website.
The Rocky Horror Show
Park square theatre - proscenium mainstage (2019-2020 Season)
“Director Ilana Ransom Toeplitz has asked the actors to walk a fine line between exaggeration and over-the-top and they succeed.”
“Director-choreographer Ilana Ransom Toeplitz keeps the show’s tongue well in cheek, when it is not lasciviously flicking about.”
“…the character’s pronounced defiance of restrictive labels is ahead of its time enough — that there’s room for Anderson to make the role her own, neither a transvestite nor a transsexual but simply a beautiful human.”
“What seems like the riskiest choice in Park Square Theatre’s “Rocky Horror Show” turns out to be a slam-dunk.”
Natalie Shaw (Janet), Gracie Anderson (Frank N Furter), Sara Ochs (Phantom/Dr. Scott) & Rush Benson (Rocky)
“Toeplitz finds new ways to up the outrageousness in a production that appears to have spent a sizable portion of its budget on lingerie and dildos.”
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
act of ct (2018-19 Season)
the 25th annual putnam county spelling bee
Ilana is choreographing The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with ACT of Connecticut, A Contemporary Theatre.
Winner of the Tony and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee has charmed audiences across the country with its effortless wit and humor. Featuring a fast-paced, wildly funny and touching book and a truly fresh and vibrant score by William Finn, this bee is one unforgettable experience. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee follows six awkward adolescents through their daunting and hilarious championship quest. As they navigate the tournament’s pressures, the eccentric coterie finds a new sense of belonging. Along the way, they learn that there is more to life than winning a trophy!
…Spelling Bee is directed by Michelle Tattenbaum with music direction by Katya Stanislavskaya.
2 pianists, 1 DJ, 15 slam poets, 4 dancers: 1 night only.
PIANO SLAM 11
Building on the core tradition of the Dranoff International 2 Piano Competition, the Foundation expands the contemporary repertoire, develops careers for young artists, presents innovative collaborations in the performance arts, and positively contributes to the community via our outreach programs, ensuring young people have a voice through music.
Ilana is directing Piano Slam 11, which takes place on Thursday, February 28th in Knight Hall of Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center.
THE PROM - Broadway 2018-2019
What happens when four stars leave the bright lights of Broadway and take leading roles in a small-town controversy making national headlines? Big drama. Bigger laughs. And the biggest musical showstopper in years!
Ilana is honored to be named the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation’s (SDCF) 2018 Mike Ockrent Directing Fellow.
This annual award puts one emerging director/choreographer on a large-budget musical with a master in the industry.
Ilana was hand-selected by Casey Nicholaw from 170 nominees to work on Broadway’s newest musical comedy, The Prom, directed and choreographed by Tony Award-Winner Casey Nicholaw (Book of Mormon, Mean Girls, Spamalot!, Aladdin, The Drowsy Chaperone, Tuck Everlasting, and Something Rotten!).
The Prom opened to rave reviews on November 16 at the Longacre Theatre on Broadway and closed on Aug 11, 2019.
The Prom is succeeded by a YA novel adaptation, a National Tour in 2020, and an original Netflix movie produced by Ryan Murphy —starring Meryl Streep, James Corsden, Awkwafina, Ariana Grande, Kerry Washington & Nicole Kidman.
And all that jazz...
Ilana directed, choreographed and reimagined the iconic musical Chicago by Fosse, Kander and Ebb. The production was proudly presented by Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute on Hilton Head Island, SC in June of 2018.
Ilana has officially named her reimagining of fosse's iconic choreography as #Fossilana.
““Director and choreographer Ilana Ransom Toeplitz has taken this show to the very heights and you will be thrilled with her astonishing, totally inspired and shockingly fresh outcomes.” ”
Keen Teens 2018 - Off-Broadway Festival of New Work
AHOY, RAISE THE CARRRGGGHHHTAIN!!!!
Ilana directed and choreographed the premiere of Cowperthwait & Lerner's new musical The Caribbean Queen Off-Broadway in Spring of 2018 with the 2018 Keen Teens Festival at Theatre Row.
The libretto of The Caribbean Queen will be published by Samuel French, Inc. in 2018 crediting Ilana as the original director for its Off-Broadway premiere.
The Directors of DirectorFest 2018
Featured (clockwise):
Flordelino Lagundino (Fall Directing Fellow '17)
Ilana Ransom Toeplitz (New Musicals Directing Fellow '16)
Matt Dickson (Fall DirectingFellow '17)
Bonnie Gabel (Fall Directing Fellow '17)
Laura Brandel (New Musicals Directing Fellow '17)
Rebecca Martinez (Fall Directing Fellow '17).
GROUP by Alex Rubin, DirectorFest 2018
featuring Tony-Nominee Jenn Colella & JULIA MURNEY
The Drama League has announced the expansion of its annual DirectorFest into a multi-week New York City event centered around the art of contemporary stage directing.
Ilana is honored to return as an alumna to direct a reading of Alex Rubin's new play, GROUP, which is comprised of an ensemble cast of 5 women and features Tony-Nominee Jenn Colella.
In a quiet New Jersey beach town, four women are about to have a very unusual reunion. Kari, Rachel, Janet, and Joy are the 1988 graduates of Deena Boyd’s Home for Disturbed Young Women, a center for teenagers with eating disorders. Thirty years later, their lives have taken vastly different directions, but there is still one secret that unites them…
You can read more about Ilana, GROUP and DirectorFest here, or in the press releases from Broadway World, TheatreMania, Variety, and Newsline.
Nobody puts Ilana in a Corner...
dirty dancing: the classic story on stage
Ilana was the Associate Director for the 2017-2018 National Tour of Dirty Dancing: the Classic Story On Stage.
Direction by Sarna Lapine
Choreography by Michele Lynch.
Stageplay & original screenplay by Eleanor Bergstein.
You can read more information about the tour and the tour route on the show's website by clicking here.
Many people ask Ilana if she travels with the tour. The answer is no: she travels with the show when it techs and opens, and then is sometimes flown out (after opening) to run understudy rehearsals or check in on the show while it tours.... Do you think the airlines will let her carry-on a watermelon?
Ilana on Sondheim on Sondheim
Sondheim on Sondheim
Ilana is thrilled to be working with Sarna Lapine, David Loud, MTI and the Boston Pops on the new Pops edition of Sondheim on Sondheim that will be premiering with the Boston Pops this summer!
June 15th & 16th at Symphony Hall in Boston and July 8th at Tanglewood in the Berkshires.
Keith Lockhart conducts the Boston Pops.
Directed by Sarna Lapine, Music Direction by David Loud.
Featuring Ruthie Ann Miles, Carmen Cusack, Phillip Boykin, Gabriel Ebert & more.
MARS PATEL has won a 2017 Peabody Award!
mars patel
MARS PATEL has won a 2017 Peabody Award!
The podcast that Ilana has been assistant directing (and makes a cameo on if you listen closely!) was recently awarded the prestigious Peabody Award! "The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel" is one of the only podcasts to ever claim the award.
The Peabody Awards honor the most powerful, enlightening and invigorating stories in television, radio and digital media. Each year, Peabody Awards are bestowed upon a curated collection of 30 stories that capture society’s most important issues—known as the Peabody 30.
Listen to Season 1 and Season 2 (as it's released) here!
Ilana is going to be featured on a PBS documentary.
treasures of new york: The drama league of new york
Ilana is going to be featured on a PBS documentary.
I'll be featured with my fellow-Fellows on the PBS documentary series "Treasures of New York" as they profile the beloved Drama League, this Thursday (3/23 @ 8p) and Sunday (2/26 @ 7p).
PBS filmed and followed our Director's Project Fellowships this past year - and interviewed some the wonderful minds at the Drama League who run that incredible place.
You'll see us talk about our passion for theatre, how we got started, maybe see some embarrassing childhood pictures, and watch as they follow us through professionals week and through our fellowships.
You can read the press release here.
Ilana is directing the NYTB premiere of the new musical reading, THE BRONTË PROJECT.
"Literature cannot be the business of a woman's life." After receiving this crushing response from the poet laureate, Charlotte Brontë went on to write “Jane Eyre”, spearhead her sisters' writing careers, and break through a Victorian "glass ceiling." Literary history is forever grateful. So why did her family resent her and fall apart?
Ilana is directing the NYTB premiere of the new musical reading, THE BRONTË PROJECT.
Ilana is thrilled to be returning to the New York Theatre Barn, this time to direct the NYTB premiere of The Brontë Project:
THE BRONTË PROJECT
Music by Lucas Syed, Lyrics by Sarah Ziegler
Book by Lucas Syed, Sarah Ziegler and Katie Palmer
Starring Carly Kincannon, Patricia Noonan (Death Takes A Holiday), Gilbert Sanchez, and Anne Wechsler
Monday, February 27th ( 7PM + 9PM @ The Cell | 338 W 23rd St., NYC)
The Brontë Project is presented in co-production with Theatre in Asylum.
Ilana is Crazy for You!
crazy for you at Lincoln center
Ilana is thrilled to be working on the 25th Anniversary Concert of her favorite musical, Crazy for You!, directed and choreographed by the incomparable five-time Tony-Award Winning Susan Stroman.
The one-night-only concert is produced by Manhattan Concert Productions and stars Tony Yazbeck, Laura Osnes, Jack McBrayer, Rachel Dratch, Harry Groener, Rachel Bloom, Jerry O'Connell, Nancy Opel, an ensemble of Broadway veterans, and a chorus of 250 singers from around the world.
Crazy For You! is Sunday, February 19th at 8:00 pm at David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center. Tickets to the concert can be purchased here.
Ilana is working on a podcast!
The unexplianable disappearance of mars patel
Ilana is the assistant director to Michelle Tattenbaum on the second season of The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel.
oth season 1 and 2 have been released on iTunes. Listen closely and you can hear Ilana's voice make a cameo on Season 2!
Bah, humbug.
a christmas carol - national tour (theatreworksusa)
Ilana is directing and choreographing the AEA National Tour of A CHRISTMAS CAROL.
lana is directing and choreographing the AEA 2016 National Tour of A Christmas Carol with TheatreWorksUSA, based off the popular Charles Dickens novel.
Click here to find a list of performances near you!
Ilana is directing the premiere of Eric Dietz' new comedy: THE PERMANENT STAIN TATTOO.
the permanent stain tattoo BY ERIC DIETZ
Ilana is thrilled be directing Eric Dietz' new play, The Permanent Stain Tattoo, part of the One-Act Comedy Festival!
PERMANENT STAIN TATTOO by Eric Dietz at the ONE ACT COMEDY FEST
Saturday, October 29th, 2:00 pm & 9:00 pm
PIT Loft (154 W 29th St)
Click here to purchase tickets.
A Perfect Musical Fairytale.
.....With a twist.
Ilana is directing the 29h Staged Reading of Spellbound: A Perfect Musical Fairytale!
Ilana is thrilled to be working with Ben Boecker again on his brilliant, comedic twist on the classic storybook with Spellbound: A Perfect Musical Fairytale.
Friday, October 21 @ 7:30 pm at the Calhoun School
Monday, October 23 @ 3:00 pm at Pearl Studios
It's a MOO-sical!
.....Get it? GET IT?!!
Ilana is directing & choreographing the TheatreWorks USA Fall/Winter Tour of Click, Clack, Moo!
Ilana is directing and choreographing the TYA cult classic, Click Clack Moo! The four-moth Fall/Winter 2016 AEA International ends with two performances at Town Hall on Broadway.
Click here for a tour schedule to find a performance near you.
Ilana is going to Signature Theatre for her Drama League Fellowship!
One of the exciting components of Ilana's 2016 New Musicals Fellowship is assistant directing the developmental labs of two new musicals at Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA:
Skin and Bones
Directed by Joe Calarco. Music & Lyrics by Ben Clark, Book by Andrew Kramer.
U.G.L.Y: A New Musical
Directed by Kent Gash. Music & Lyrics by Darius Smith, Book by Michael R. Jackson.
Ilana is directing the reading of CRUDE at the NYMF!
Ilana is directing the premiere of the new musical political satire, CRUDE, at the New York Musical Festival. Reading dates are set for July 14 (@ 7:30 pm) and July 19 (@ 11:30 am & 7:30 pm) at Playwrights Horizons. Here's our press release.
More information from the NYMF here.
Link to the CRUDE website here.
hat an honor to be sharing this special day with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Daveed Digs, Jesse Mueller, Lupita Nyong'o, Ivo van Hove, James Earl Jones, Aurda McDonald, Sheldon Harnick, Leslie Kritzer and the rest of the theatre community.
Thank you to the Drama League for a wonderful day! Read the Playbill article here.
Ilana is the 2016 Drama League New Musicals Directing Fellow!
Ilana is beyond honored to announce that she is the recipient of the 2016 Drama League's Leo Shull New Musicals Directing Fellowship! It's truly an honor to receive this award, especially in the 100th Anniversary of the Drama League.
In addition to participating in Professionals Week in May, Ilana will be spending August at Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA assisting Joe Calarco in the development of two new musicals. In September, Ilana will present an evening of new musical theatre at the Drama League featuring either a favorite new project or selections from some of her favorite collaborators. Read the press release here.
It's sharkicane? It's a Shaknado? It's a MUSICAL.
Quick, get out of the water! A one-night-only concert reading of the new rock musical parody SHARK ATTACK! is set for Monday, March 28th, 2016 at 6:30pm at Off-Broadway's Elektra Theatre.
A (not-so)-loving rock musical parody the cult TV film "Sharknado", SHARK ATTACK! The Musical! is written by Jordan Wolfe and Patrick Robert Kelly. The concert is directed by Ilana with music direction by Michael Uselmann. Cast includes Philip Bryan, Kristen Martin, Remy Zaken, Rico LeBron, Kelsey Denae, Julia Johanos, Monica Bradley, Max King, and Damian Norfleet.
The Elektra Theatre is located within the Times Square Arts Center at 300 West 43rd St., 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10036. Admission is free with an RSVP. Email SharkAttackMusical@yahoo.com to reserve your seat. Press Release Here.
I don't want to show off.
(Except I 100%, completely do want to show off)
Winter 2016: Directing & Choreographing
he Drowsy Chaperone
Ilana is finally getting her hands and taps on THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, the musical-within-a-comedy. Ilana is directing and choreographing the undergraduate production at Clark University.
Performances are March 17, 18 & 19 at Atwood Hall in Worcester, MA.
Marisol: The Mail-Order Country Music Star!
A new musical by Ben Boecker & Laurel Haines
Marisol the Mail-Order Country Music Star!
Presented by the Manhattan Musical Theatre Lab, MARISOL: THE MAIL ORDER COUNTRY MUSIC STAR is an original staged reading by Laurel Haines and Ben Boecker about a Filipino woman with big dreams of becoming a country music star in Nashville, TN -- and is willing to become a mail order bride to do so.
Thursday, Nov 5 at 5:00p at the Snapple Theatre in Times Sqare.
Presented by the Manhattan Musical Theatre Lab. Read more here.
Emerson Steele in "Roles I Can't Play Now... Or Ever... Except Tonight!"
LIVE at 54 Below
This extremely talented young lady is making her 54 Below solo debut after winning the Theatre World Award for her role playing young Sutton Foster in VIOLET, and most recently playing Mary Phagan in Parade at Lincoln Center.
Join Emerson in her own personal "miscast" concert as she tackles every role under the sun, and then some.
Guest performers include: Annie Golden (Orange is the New Black, Violet, Hair) Derek Klena (Wicked, Bridgets of Madison County) Charlie Pollock (Violet, Urinetown, 9-to-5) and many more.
Fall 2015: Lady Parts at 54 Below
Have you ever faked a cat emergency to get out of a bad Tinder date? Cried reading a Judy Blume novel? Rubbed your best friends back as she sobbed into her half-eaten, tear-soaked sheet cake?
LADY PARTS is a variety-show-paced evening featuring new comedy songs for women, penned by writers of the BMI Workshop. Featuring Laura Dreyfuss (Dear Evan Hansen, Glee) and Ryann Redmond (If/Then, Bring it On) and a whole lotta lady-talent.
Saturday, September 26th at 9:30 pm @ 54 Below. You can purchase tickets here,
Lincoln Center directing debut!
I mean technically it's the Lincoln Center LIBRARY but it's just semantics, really.....
Ilana is directing Nadav Weisel and Britt Bonney's new dark musical comedy, "My Precious Snugglefluff!" as a part of the prestigious "Across A Crowded Room" series.
Please join us on Saturday, August 29th at 2:00 pm at Lincoln Center (.....library).
Practically perfect in every way...
Or something like that?
Ilana returns to Berkshire Theatre Group to teach and choreograph for their 87th Season. Ilana will be choreographing "Mary Poppins" for the mainstage and teaching her signature musical theatre dance class to the college-level apprentices.
Enjoy American Theatre/TCG's announcement of Berkshire Theatre Group's 87th Season!
Summer 2015 at the NYMF
One woman's journey through three incarnations of her life, guided by the voice overs of Morgan Freeman.
Ilana will be directing Brittany Velotta's official selection of the 2015 New York Musical Festival, "Are You There, Morgan Freeman?" this July at the Laurie Beechman.
*Morgan Freeman will technically be there.... kind of... maybe...
"Juliet + Juliet" at the York Theatre Co.
Your favorite secret high school lesbians are back for a commercial reading of JULIET + JULIET at the York Theatre Company!
Tuesday, June 9th @ 2:00pm at the York Theatre (54/Lexington)
Spring 2015. THE REEFER IS BACK.
Ilana directed the return of last years mega-hit, REEFER MADNESS CONCERT, rolling into 4/20 at 54 Below. Same team behind last year's sold-out starry New World Stages success.
Click here to read BroadwayWorld.Com's rave review of the concert!
"Juliet + Juliet" at NY Theatre Barn
Ilana directed the premiere concert of Natalie Tenenbaum's (The Worst People You Know, Benjamin Button) new musical JULIET + JULIET with the New York Theatre Barn. Performance is Monday, March 23rd at 7:00p at the Daryl Roth Theatre in Union Square.
A MAJOR AWARD!
Ohhhhhh ffffuuuu-----
Winter 2014: A CHRISTMAS STORY - First National Tour!
Ilana was the Associate Director on the First National Tour of A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE MUSICAL.
Summer 2014: York Theatre Company
Ilana is on the honorary board of the York Theatre's NEO Program, as well as working on the big NEO10 anniversary concert.
Summer 2014 choreographing with Berkshire Theatre Group
Summer 2014: Berkshire Theatre Group
Ilana is thrilled to be returning to Berkshire Theatre Group this summer! She will be choreographing the opening number of SEUSSICAL in addition to teaching dance to the college-level apprentices.
VIOLET was nominated for 4 Tony Awards!
Including:
Best Revival
Best Direction of a Musical (Leigh Silverman)
Best Leading Actress in a Musical (Sutton Foster)
Best Supporting Actor in a Musical (Joshua Henry)
Alan Cumming in Ilana's Reefer Madness
Ilana is directing and choreographing an all-star benefit concert of REEFER MADNESS on 4/20! (See what we did there?)
Starring Alan Cumming, Christian Campbell, Lea Delaria, James Snyder, Amy Spanger, and other obscenely talented reefer fiends.
Here is a link to the press release.
Produced by Shoshana Feinstein. All proceeds from this starry benefit concert will go to the BabyQuest Foundation.
Let it sing!
Ilana is Assistant Directing VIOLET on Broadway
Presented by Roundabout Theatre Company at the American Airlines theatre, directed by Leigh Silverman, starring Sutton Foster.
VIOLET
Music by Jeanine Tesori
Book & Lyrics by Brian Crawley
Directed by Leigh Silverman
For a limited 10 week engagement. Previews begin March 28th. Opening night on April 20th
A New Play at the Museum of Sex
Ilana directed another project with RAL Productions, "If the Glove Fits." Part of "Perfect Pairings 5" where Directors and Playwrights are paired together to collaborate on a new, original one-act.
The performance will be December 4, 2013 at the Museum of Sex.
Marry Me A Little album!
Ilana did the album editing for Stephen Sondheim on the MARRY ME A LITTLE Album, released by Sh-K-Boom Records in September.
DMV TYRANT by Christopher Durang
Fall 2013: DMV TYRANT
Ilana directed Christopher Durang's DMV TYRANT with RAL Productions on October 16, 2013.
Summer 2013: VIOLET at NEW YORK CITY CENTER
Ilana assistant directed VIOLET at City Center - Encores! starring Sutton Foster.
VIOLET
Music by Jeanine Tesori
Book and Lyrics by Brian Crawley
Directed by Leigh Silverman
Music Direction by Michael Rafter
It's summer 2013 and NOBODY LOVES YOU!
Ilana assistant directed the new musical NOBODY LOVES YOU with Second Stage Theatre.
NOBODY LOVES YOU
Directed by Michelle Tattenbaum
Choreographed by Mandy Moore
Book and Lyrics by Itamar Moses
Music and Lyrics by Gaby Alter
TWO BY TWO with Jason Alexander and Tovah Feldshuh at the York Theatre Company!
Ilana assistant directed the following with the York Theatre Company:
MARDI GRAS and THE LAST WORD (Feb 2-3)
Two one-act operas by Mildred Kayden
Directed by Bill Castellino
TWO BY TWO (Feb 16-18) - SOLD OUT RUN
Starring Jason Alexander and Tovah Feldshuh
Directed by Martin Charnin
Sondheim's 2012 "Revisal" of MARRY ME A LITTLE with the Keen Company
Ilana is moving to NYC to assistant direct Jonathan Silverstein on the Keen Company's Off-Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's MARRY ME A LITTLE at Theatre Row.
MARRY ME A LITTLE
by Stephen Sondheim
Directed by Jonathan Silverstein
Music Direction by John Bell
Starring Lauren Molina and Jason Tam
Ilana is the asssistant choreographer for the 2012 Pittsburgh CLO season
Ilana will be returning to her hometown of Pittsburgh, PA to assist with the choreography for the Pittsburgh CLOs 2012 Summer Season. Go Pittsburgh Steelers!
Ilana will be heading to Washington, DC this spring to assist Eric Schaeffer and Matthew Gardiner at the Tony Award Winning Signature Theatre for their 2012-2013 season.
A new play with the Huntington Theatre Company
Ilana will be assistant directing Jonathan Silverstein on the new play, BEFORE I LEAVE YOU at the Huntington Theatre in Boston.
BEFORE I LEAVE YOU is a new play by Rosanna Yamagiwa Alfaro
"How are things in Glocca Morra?"
Ilana was awarded a Directing Assistantship with the Berkshire Theatre Group. She will be assisting and serving as dance captain on FINAIN'S RAINBOW, directed by Kyle Fabel and choreographed by Whitney V. Hunter.
She will also be directing the original cast in a reading of "Big Babies" by Matthew Wilkas.
"I'm singin', just singin' in the rain...."
Ilana's production of "The Prince and the Pauper" at the Arsenal Center for the Arts was awarded a nod in the "Boston Globe's Critic's Picks."
Ilana also choreographed a production of "Singin' in the Rain" at the Arsenal Center for the Arts.
ALL MY SONS by Arthur Miller
Ilana directed Arthur Miller's "All My Sons" at Bentley University