J.R. Sullivan

J. R. SULLIVAN is a director, writer, and producer. His work has been seen nationally and internationally, most recently with the world premiere of the new musical, Parcel from America, playing Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre in 2022. Jim was the founder of the New American Theater in Rockford, Illinois and led that company as its producing artistic director until 1994. After that, he worked extensively in regional theaters nationwide and served as associate artistic director of the Utah Shakespeare Festival (2002-2009) and artistic director of New York City’s Pearl Theatre (2009-2013). Most recently he served as interim artistic director of the Irish Theatre of Chicago. His New York off-Broadway revival of Lillian Hellman’s Days to Come was named a top production of the 2018 season by the Wall Street Journal. His work for the Pearl, whose resident acting company was presented with a Drama Desk Award in 2011, included critically lauded productions of Hard Times, Richard II, A Moon for the Misbegotten, This Side of Neverland, and the New York premiere of Wittenberg. Jim’s Chicago record includes productions for Northlight, A Red Orchid, and Remy Bumppo theaters. His acclaimed 1995 production of Brian Friel’s Faith Healer extended a four-month sell-out run at the Turnaround Theatre to inaugurate Steppenwolf’s newly opened second stage space. His adaptations of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, written in collaboration with Joseph Hanreddy, have been produced in across the country and internationally.