experience informs direction

STEVE KARP

StAGE DIRECTOR

“In the theater, it has been my habit to respectfully delight in referring to the playwright as God, because the playwright is always the first cause. But unlike a novelist whose novel can stand alone, a playwright’s play is written to be performed and is therefore totally dependent upon the collaboration of contributing theater artists. Chief among these artists is the stage director, whose distinct vision of the play, knowledge of dramatic structure, and gift for organization, uniquely equip him to dramatize the play’s story. It will be the director’s thoroughness of preparation and quality of dramatic choices that best insures a successful production. Notwithstanding the importance of the playwright as God, the stage director, in my opinion, occupies the most artistically influential position of responsibility in the theater-production hierarchy. It is ironic that the work of the stage director is so little known or understood.”

From: A Director’s Notebook
Steve Karp, 2009
Written for the Connecticut Critics Circle

In 1992, Karp was honored by the Connecticut Critics Circle with its “Outstanding Director of a Play Award” for his direction of A FEW GOOD MEN at the Westport Country Playhouse.

“The play is brilliantly directed by Steve Karp. He moves his cast of 20 at a fast clip, sustaining the tension of the plot and keeping the ambience and rhythms of military life.”

“The cast, tensely directed as well as drilled by Steve Karp, is ripping  with standout performances.“

MORE OF KARP’S DIRECTING WORK

AN INFINITE ACHE (David Schuler): “At Stamford Theatre Works, under the direction of Steve Karp’s inventive direction, author David Schuler’s tricky piece traces the years from courtship through marriage, parenthood, divorce, reconciliation and old age – all in 90 minutes.”
– Norwalk Hour

THE MUSIC LESSON (Tammy Ryan): “The cast shines under Steve Karp’s inspired direction.”
– Stamford Advocate

K2 (Patrick Meyers): “But the memorable fact about K2 is not so much the play as it is Steve Karp’s striking production. Though playwright Meyers provides the material, it is what Karp makes of it on his pocket-size stage. Karp even creates a stunning avalanche, brought on when men try to pull down their missing rope.”
– Connecticut Post

SOMEONE WHO’LL WATCH OVER ME (Frank McGuiness): “The play’s fabric is delicately interwoven, and at STW director Steve Karp rhythmically and superbly balances the men’s sensitivities and animal energies.”
– Norwalk Hour

FIGHTING OVER BEVERLY (Israel Horovitz): “Mr. Horovitz’s play is tightly directed by Steve Karp with a poignant sense of a time of patriotism and adventure.”
– New York Times

ROUNDING THIRD (Richard Dresser): “Rounding Third, the fast, funny show that opened Stamford Theatre Works 20th anniversary season, is something completely different. It is a theatre of baseball, beer and bar-loungers; buddies, babes and male bonding. It is the kind of comedy where a kid breaks his father’s heart by deserting the pitcher’s mound for the cast of Brigadoon. Director and Stamford Theatre Works founder Steve Karp played baseball from two championship Babe Ruth League teams, to varsity baseball at Tufts, to turning down offers from the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox. We can be happy that he figuratively defected from shortstop to Brigadoon.” 
– Stamford Advocate

  • AN INFINITE ACHE
  • SOMEONE WHO’LL WATCH OVER ME
  • ROUNDING THIRD

LOBBY HERO (Kenneth Lonergan): “What a difference a production makes. Lobby Hero, which was given a decent but eccentric outing in Hartford last year, has returned as a much more nuanced work in the hands of director Steve Karp and an excellent cast at Stamford Theatre Works.”
– Norwalk Hour

COBB (Lee Blessing): “You can say this about Steve Karp: He knows how to play to his strengths. This time out it’s Cobb. Connections are made with Karp’s youthful baseball career and, more importantly, Stamford’s Jackie Robinson. But dramatic concerns take precedence, and Karp’s direction of the small ensemble is as carefully orchestrated and timed as his award-winning work in A Few Good Men.”
– Stamford Advocate

THE MERCY SEAT (Neal LaBute): “The Mercy Seat is meaty adult drama played convincingly under the astute direction of Steve Karp.”
– The News-Times

BELMONT AVENUE SOCIAL CLUB (Bruce Graham): “Steve Karp has always had an awesome talent for directing the all-male (or mostly male) play. His versions of A Few Good Men, The Deal, and The Warehouse, for example, have provided memorable moments in the past. And now Karp offers Bruce Graham’s Belmont Avenue Social Club. He again creates a sacrosanct male world, where men cuss each other out and slap each other on the back and laugh about their ‘broads’ and drink a lot of whisky and play a little pool and plot their little schemes.”
– Westport News

A CLASS “C” TRIAL IN YOKOHAMA (Roger Cornish): “Director Steve Karp puts his 17 actors through the changes and demands of 20 scenes and keeps it all flowing smoothly. His spare stage-sets adapt easily to the fluid action. His casting is impeccable.”
– Westport News

  • COBB
  • A CLASS “C” TRIAL IN YOKOHAMA
  • THE MERCY SEAT
Scroll to Top