director & playwright
upcoming.
at American Stage
The Figs
by Doug Robinson
directed by Helen R. Murray
The king that rules the magical, ludicrous, kingdom of The Figs is quite actually addicted to figs, mah lord. His more publicly well-received daughter is in love with an inn-keeper in a sort of star-crossed lovers situation. A set of friends - human and swan - are on a journey thrown into existence by the royal family's insanity. All the while, our wily and multiple identity-sporting storyteller keeps us on a track that feels like the “Shrek” universe on an acid trip. But really, this is a story of kindness and what we’ll sacrifice for love. Sometimes stories exist just for the sake of telling stories. World Premiere.
about.
I create work that speaks to our connective tissue as human beings, in a safe space, where a multitude of perspectives are welcome, and what we make together is engaging and thought provoking.
And here's my bio in which I pretend someone else is talking about me.
Helen R. Murray is an award-winning director, playwright, the Producing Artistic Director of American Stage, former Executive Producer of the Aurora Fox Arts Center in Colorado and Artistic Director of the Hub Theatre in Virginia. Her original plays have been produced by the Hub Theatre, Theatre Alliance, ArtsWest, Malibu Playhouse, the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia and have been seen at the Kennedy Center's Page to Stage Festival. She has directed across the country and mentored writers through the Writer's Guild Initiative NYC. In addition to her roles offstage, Helen has worked as an actor in many Washington, D.C. area theaters, including Folger Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, Theatre J, Forum Theatre, Theatre Alliance, Rorschach Theatre, and Keegan Theatre. Helen has also appeared in numerous independent films and commercials. Her co-adaptation of Wonderful Life earned her a Helen Hayes Award nomination for Outstanding New Play, and her original play, Abominable, was nominated for the national Steinberg New Play Award. She is also the recipient of the Puffin Foundation Award for Outstanding Emerging Artist, the Washington Canadian Partnership Award for Leadership in the Arts, and her play Redder Blood won the 2016 Jewish Playwriting Contest.
contact.
I know how much folks want to get their plays and resumés to American Stage, so with all kindness and grace, I ask that you submit those through americanstage.org, and not here on my personal site, so that it gets to the right people in a timely manner. Thank you for understanding!