Lila Neugebauer

Lila Neugebauer
Born
New York City, New York, U.S.
EducationYale University (BA)
Occupation(s)Director
writer
artistic director
Years active2012–present

Lila Neugebauer (/ˈlaɪlə ˈnɔɪɡəbaʊ.ər/;[1] born 1985) is an American theatre director, writer and artistic director. After studying at Yale University she started directing numerous theatrical productions. She came to prominence directing the Broadway revival of Kenneth Lonergan's memory play The Waverly Gallery (2018) which was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. She has since directed the Branden Jacobs-Jenkins family drama Appropriate (2023), for which she received a Tony Award nomination, Itamar Moses political satire The Ally (2024), and the Anton Chekhov revival Uncle Vanya (2024).

She had directed multiple episodes of the Mindy Kaling created HBO Max comedy series The Sex Lives of College Girls (2021–2022) and she made her directorial film debut with the A24 drama Causeway (2022) starring Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry.

Early life and education

Neugebauer was born and raised in New York City.[2][3] A native Upper West Sider, she grew up seeing plays and was exposed to theatre, and credits her mother for a lot of that.[4] She attended the Hunter College High School,[5] where she performed in Seven Minutes in Heaven by fellow student Lin-Manuel Miranda.[6] Neugebauer played a partygoer.[5] Neugebauer was an English major at Yale University.[5] There she befriended actress and playwright Zoe Kazan.[5] She has said that "one of the best classes I took was a constitutional law class".[2] While in Louisville, she received the 2013 Princess Grace Theater Fellowship Award in partnership with Actors Theatre of Louisville.[7]

Career

One of the standout young stage directors, Neugebauer's stage productions include Tracy Letts' Mary Page Marlowe (2018), Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo (2018), and the world premieres of Sarah DeLappe's The Wolves (2017), The Mad Ones' Mrs. Murray’s Menagerie (2019) and Miles For Mary (2017), Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Appropriate (2016) and Everybody (2017) as well as Annie Baker's The Antipodes (2017).[8] Neugebauer has continued to direct various plays off-Broadway.

She made her Broadway debut as a director for Kenneth Lonergan's revival of The Waverly Gallery which debuted at the John Golden Theatre on September 25, 2018 in previews, and officially opened on October 25. The play, produced by Scott Rudin, is considered a "memory play", and starred Elaine May, Lucas Hedges, Michael Cera, Joan Allen, and David Cromer. The play received widespread critical acclaim, including from Ben Brantley, theatre critic for The New York Times, who described her direction as "fine-tuned."[9] The revival received a Tony Award nomination for Best Play, and a win for Best Actress in a Play (Elaine May).[10] That same year she made her television directing debut for episode of the Duplass brothers' HBO series Room 104.

In April 2019, it was announced that Neugebauer would be teaming up with A24 and Scott Rudin to make her directorial film debut with Red, White and Water, later retitled Causeway.[8] It was announced Jennifer Lawrence was attached as a star in the project, and was written by first-time screenwriter Elizabeth Sanders. The project's principal photography started in mid-June 2019 in New Orleans.[11] From 2021 to 2022 she directed multiple episodes of the Mindy Kaling created comedy series The Sex Lives of College Girls on HBO Max.[12]

In 2023 she directed the Branden Jacobs-Jenkins play Appropriate on Broadway. The production starred Sarah Paulson, Corey Stoll, Natalie Gold, and Elle Fanning. The play, a family drama, revolves around a family trying to sell the house after the patriarch's death only to discover a dark secret.[13] The following year she directed the Itamar Moses political play The Ally at The Public Theater. Josh Radnor stars as a Jewish college professor who is conflicted when asked to sign a political manifesto by a student.[14] That same year she directed Lincoln Center's revival of Anton Chekov's Uncle Vanya at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. The cast includes Steve Carell, Alison Pill, William Jackson Harper, Jayne Houdyshell, and Alfred Molina.[15]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Notes Ref.
2022 Causeway Feature film debut [8]

Television

Year Title Notes Ref.
2018 Room 104 Episode: "Josie & Me" [16]
2021 Maid Episode: "Thief"
2021–22 The Sex Lives of College Girls 3 episodes
2023 The Last Thing He Told Me Episode: "When We Were Young"

Theatre

Year Play Author Venue Ref.
2012 The Aliens Annie Baker San Francisco Playhouse, California [17]
Studio Theatre, Washington, DC [18]
2013 O Guru Guru Guru Mallery Avidon Actors Theatre of Louisville, Kentucky [19]
Red Speedo Lucas Hnath Studio Theatre, Washington, DC [20]
2014 Trudy and Max in Love Zoe Kazan South Coast Repertory, California [21]
The Wayside Motor Inn A.R. Gurney The Pershing Square Signature Center, Off-Broadway [22]
2015 Kill Floor Abe Koogler Claire Tow Theater, New York [23]
Arcadia Tom Stoppard Stephanie P. McClelland Drama Theater, New York [24]
2016 The Sandbox
Drowning
Funnyhouse of a Negro 		Edward Albee
Maria Irene Fornes
Adrienne Kennedy 		The Pershing Square Signature Center, Off-Broadway [25]
The Wolves Sarah DeLappe Duke on 42nd Street, Off-Broadway [26]
Appropriate Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Stephanie P. McClelland Drama Theater, New York [27]
2017 Everybody The Pershing Square Signature Center, Off-Broadway [28]
The Antipodes Annie Baker [29]
After the Blast Zoe Kazan Claire Tow Theater, New York [30]
The Wolves Sarah DeLappe Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, Off-Broadway
2018 Miles for Mary The Mad Ones Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway [31]
Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo Edward Albee The Pershing Square Signature Center, Off-Broadway [32]
Peace for Mary Frances Lily Thorne [33]
Mary Page Marlowe Tracy Letts Second Stage Theater, Off-Broadway [34]
The Waverly Gallery Kenneth Lonergan John Golden Theatre, Broadway Debut [35]
2019 Mrs. Murray's Menagerie The Mad Ones Ars Nova at Greenwich House Theatre, Off-Broadway [36]
2021 Morning Sun Simon Stephens Manhattan Theatre Club, Off-Broadway [37]
2022 Oh God, A Show About Abortion Alison Leiby Cherry Lane Theatre, Off-Broadway [38]
2023 Appropriate Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Hayes Theater, Broadway [39]
2024 The Ally Itamar Moses The Public Theater, Off-Broadway [40]
Uncle Vanya Anton Chekhov Vivian Beaumont Theater, Broadway [41]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2015 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a Play The Wayside Motor Inn Nominated [42]
2017 Sam Norkin Award — Won
2017 Obie Award Ensemble Performance The Wolves Won
2017 Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Director of a Play Nominated
2017 Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Director Nominated
2018 Drama League Award Outstanding Revival of a Play Edward Albee's The Zoo Story Nominated
2018 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a Play Miles for Mary Nominated
2018 Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Play Nominated
2018 Outstanding Director Nominated
2020 Outstanding Play Mrs. Murray's Menagerie Nominated
2022 Rome Film Festival Best First Feature Award Causeway Won [43]
2024 Tony Award Best Direction of a Play Appropriate Nominated
2024 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a Play Nominated
2024 Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Director of a Play Nominated
2024 Drama League Award Outstanding Direction of a Play Nominated
2024 Uncle Vanya Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Tatiana Maslany, Blair Brown, and More Introduce Us to Mary Page Marlowe". TheaterMania. June 19, 2018. Archived from the original on July 2, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "An Interview with Lila Neugebauer". May 31, 2017. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  3. ^ "Meet Lila Neugebauer, the Director Who Should Be on Your Radar". October 29, 2017. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  4. ^ "Meet The Director Behind All the Weird, Brilliant, Deeply Moving Plays You've Seen This Year". June 15, 2017. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d "The Spring of Lila Neugebauer". January 25, 2017. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  6. ^ Shattuck, Kathryn (September 23, 2015). "Lila Neugebauer Directs 'Kill Floor,' but the Cows Are Safe in Her Hands". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  7. ^ "Director Lila Neugebauer Receives a Prestigious 2013 Princess Grace Award in partnership with Actors Theatre of Louisville – Actors Theatre of Louisville". August 7, 2013. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  8. ^ a b c Fleming, Mike Jr. (April 16, 2019). "Jennifer Lawrence Sets Big-Screen Return Aligned With Theater Director Lila Neugebauer, A24 & IAC Films". Deadline. Archived from the original on April 16, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  9. ^ Brantley, Ben (January 27, 2019). "Review: Elaine May Might Break Your Heart in 'Waverly Gallery'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 17, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  10. ^ "The Waverly Gallery". Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  11. ^ "Jennifer Lawrence to Star in Untitled A24 Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. April 16, 2019. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  12. ^ "HBO Max's The Sex Lives Of College Girls almost aces its sophomore run". The A.V. Club. November 16, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  13. ^ "Appropriate (Broadway, 2018)". Playbill. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  14. ^ "The Ally (Off-Broadway, 2024)". Playbill. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  15. ^ "Uncle Vanya (Broadway, 2024)". Playbill. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  16. ^ "Lila Neugebauer". IMDb. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  17. ^ "The Aliens – San Francisco Playhouse". Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  18. ^ "Studio Theatre | The Aliens". www.studiotheatre.org. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  19. ^ "O Guru Guru Guru, or why I don't want to go to yoga class with you – Actors Theatre of Louisville". Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  20. ^ "Studio Theatre | Red Speedo". www.studiotheatre.org. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  21. ^ South Coast Repertory (January 9, 2014). "Excerpts from "Trudy and Max in Love" by Zoe Kazan". Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2018 – via YouTube.
  22. ^ "The Wayside Motor Inn – 2014 Off-Broadway Tickets, Reviews, News, Info, Photos, Videos". www.broadwayworld.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  23. ^ "Kill Floor – 2015 Off-Broadway Tickets, Reviews, News, Info, Photos, Videos". www.broadwayworld.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  24. ^ "Juilliard Drama Group 45 (4th year) : Tom Stoppard's Arcadia ; December 15, 2015 :: Juilliard Performance Recordings – Dance, Drama, Music". jmedia.juilliard.edu. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  25. ^ "Signature Plays – 2016 Off-Broadway Tickets, Reviews, News, Info, Photos, Videos". www.broadwayworld.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  26. ^ "The Wolves – 2016 Off-Broadway Tickets, Reviews, News, Info, Photos, Videos". www.broadwayworld.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  27. ^ "Juilliard Drama Group 46 (4th year) : Jacobs-Jenkins's Appropriate ; December 13, 2016 :: Juilliard Performance Recordings – Dance, Drama, Music". jmedia.juilliard.edu. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  28. ^ "Everybody – 2017 Off-Broadway Tickets, Reviews, News, Info, Photos, Videos". www.broadwayworld.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  29. ^ "The Antipodes – 2017 Off-Broadway Tickets, Reviews, News, Info, Photos, Videos". www.broadwayworld.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  30. ^ "After the Blast – 2017 Off-Broadway Tickets, Reviews, News, Info, Photos, Videos". www.broadwayworld.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  31. ^ "Miles for Mary – 2018 Off-Broadway Tickets, Reviews, News, Info, Photos, Videos". www.broadwayworld.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  32. ^ "At Home at the Zoo: Homelife & The Zoo Story – 2018 Off-Broadway Tickets, Reviews, News, Info, Photos, Videos". www.broadwayworld.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  33. ^ "Peace for Mary Frances Off-Broadway Tickets, Reviews, News, Info, Photos, Videos". www.broadwayworld.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  34. ^ "Mary Page Marlowe Off-Broadway Tickets, Reviews, News, Info, Photos, Videos". www.broadwayworld.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  35. ^ The Waverly Gallery Archived June 15, 2018, at the Wayback Machine ibdb
  36. ^ "Mrs. Murray's Menagerie Ars Nova". www.arsnovanyc.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  37. ^ "Morning Sun". Manhattan Theatre Club. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  38. ^ "SCOTUS Draft Raises Stakes for OH GOD, A SHOW ABOUT ABORTION". www.theatrely.com. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  39. ^ Evans, Greg (December 19, 2023). "'Appropriate' Broadway Review: Sarah Paulson Rattles The Rafters Of History In Powerhouse Production". Deadline. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  40. ^ "The Ally". publictheater.org. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  41. ^ Huston, Caitlin (September 14, 2023). "'Uncle Vanya' to Hit Broadway With New Translation By Heidi Schreck". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  42. ^ "Lila Neugebauer". Internet Off-Broadway Database. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  43. ^ "Winners of the Rome Film Fest 2022". romacinemafest.it. October 22, 2022. Archived from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.