Howard Davies
About
Biography
Biography
Respected British stage director who was nominated for a Tony Award for directing "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" on Broadway (1987), Howard Davies won far less applause for his feature film directorial debut, "The Secret Rapture" (1993), the story of a woman who has emotional and psychological battles with her family after the death of her father. He broke into theatre working as an assistant stage manager at the Birmingham Repertory Company in 1968, and in 1972 became associate director of the Bristol Old Vic and a founding member of the Avon Touring Company. Davies was appointed associate director and dramaturg for the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1977. While his directing credits date to 1972 at the Bristol Old Vic, with a production of "Narrow Road to the Deep North," Davies came into his own after joining the Royal Shakespeare Company and directing the 1974 production of "The Beast." "Piaf" (1979) transferred to Broadway in 1981, and was also taped as a PBS special in 1982 (although Davies is credited only as the director of the stage production, not the actual TV production). His London production of "Good" also went to Broadway in 1982, but it was "Les Liaisons Dangereuses," which opened at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in 1985 and made it to Broadway in 1987, which firmed Davies' stature. "The Secret Rapture" began as a stage play Davies directed in 1988, and he also directed National Theatre productions of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (1988) and "The Crucible" (1990), venerable American plays which Davies was able to make accessible for the British audience. He later directed the Broadway revival of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" with Kathleen Turner and Charles Durning. In 1994, he returned to Broadway to direct the revival of "My Fair Lady" starring Michael Moriarty. As with his film work, Davies' TV directing has been limited. He directed "Tales From Hollywood" (1992, In U.S. on PBS/American Playhouse), a story of German emigre writers in the film mecca from 1938-1950 and starring Jeremy Irons and Alec Guinness.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Special Thanks (Feature Film)
Director (Special)
Life Events
1968
Was assistant stage manager at Birmingham Rep
1971
Was associate director, Bristol Old Vic Theatre
1974
Directed "The Beast" for Royal Skakespeare Company
1977
Named associate director and dramaturg, Royal Shakespeare Company
1977
Named artistic director of The Warehouse
1982
Directed televised version of "Piaf"
1987
Nominated for a Tony for direction of "Les Liaisons Dangereuses"
1987
Named an associate director of London's National Theatre
1992
Directed BBC TV production of "Tales From Hollywood"
1993
Made feature film direting debut with "The Secret Rapture"
1998
Staged an acclaimed production of Eugene O'Neill's "The Iceman Cometh" starring Kevin Spacey in London; recreated on Broadway in 1999
2000
Directed the London stage play "Conversations After a Burial"
2000
Staged an acclaimed revival of "All My Sons"
